An illustration of the previously approved four-story building.
DERBY — A plan to build 105 apartments at the former Lifetouch property on Main Street seems heading toward approval, but the green light won’t flash for another month, officials indicated Tuesday.
“This is part of the process and I respect the process,” said Joseph Salemme, the Shelton developer who wants to build “Trolley Pointe” at 90 Main St., near the on-ramp to Route 8 south off Derby’s Main Street (Route 34 east).
Salemme already received approvals from the Derby Planning and Zoning Commission in January 2021 to build 70 market-rate apartments at the site. However, he returned with a modified plan in November 2021 asking for an additional 35 apartments. The plans call for a six-story building with 62 studio apartments, 39 one-bedroom units and four two‑bedroom units.
According to initial documents filed by the developer, Derby’s zoning rules require 117 parking spaces for the project. The plans show 94 parking spaces.
However, the developer has several options.
“Trolley Pointe” is being submitted as a planned development district, which gives the Derby P&Z wiggle room with the zoning regulations. The developer has asked the Derby P&Z to waive the parking requirements and approve the project with 94 spaces.
Also, Salemme is eyeing state-owned land next to his property that he could purchase for parking. He is also negotiating with the City of Derby to possibly lease about a dozen or so spaces. Last week the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen gave permission to Mayor Rich Dziekan, Aldermanic President Sarah Widomski, and the city’s law firm to work with Salemme on an agreement to use city parking. That agreement is supposed to reach the Aldermen/women in February.
Salemme has said previously he does not expect all tenants to have vehicles, since the apartment building is within walking distance of bus and rail lines.
Several members of the Derby P&Z were chomping at the bit Tuesday to approve “Trolley Pointe,” saying the city finally has a shovel-ready project from a local developer ready to go in the Derby Redevelopment Zone — the stubbornly vacant land stretching from the Derby-Shelton bridge to roughly 90 Main St. along the Housatonic River.
While the Derby P&Z approved 203 apartments on Factory Street (off Main Street) in February 2020, the project has yet to move forward.
Salemme said he is looking to start building “Trolley Pointe” in the spring.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Derby P&Z members Gino DiGiovanni (also on the Board of Aldermen/women) and Dan Blizman urged the commission to approve the project immediately with 94 spaces. DiGiovanni specifically advised against waiting for the Aldermen/women to reach a deal over parking, indicating the bureaucratic process would take too long.
The commission seemed willing to consider it — until members realized they did not have a draft resolution of approval in front of them. The resolution is a document prepared by the city’s planner that contains all the nitty gritty of a project’s approval.
Ultimately the Derby P&Z voted to instruct its planner to write two resolutions of approval, saying those documents will likely be put to vote at the commission’s February meeting.
The extra time also gives the Derby P&Z time to see whether Salemme can reach an agreement over parking spaces with the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen.
