MIDDLETOWN — A revised project to build a high-rise apartment near an elementary school on Kaplan Drive was reluctantly approved at Wednesday's Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Agency.

In January 2023, Dominick DiMartino of D&V Development of Middletown, who is renovating and repurposing a number of historic buildings downtown, had proposed two, four-story buildings consisting of 148 units near Lawrence Elementary School, and abutting wetlands.

The site comprises 19.2 acres on a 45-acre site, which is subject to a land transfer agreement with the city. In all, 4.8 acres of city land would be given to the developer in exchange for 25.6 acres to be deeded to the city and placed in a conservation easement.

The original application, which was withdrawn in March 2023 and resubmitted, was denied in September 2023. 

The developer incorporated feedback from the wetlands agency and the public in drawing up a new plan that reduced the apartment buildings to a single one with 102 units, and lessened the number of parking spaces from 230 to 142.

Attorney Dennis Ceneviva, who represents DiMartino, told commissioners at their June 5 meeting that the plan is “markedly different” from the others. “The wetlands to be altered by application is zero,” he said. “The most important changes identify an 83 percent reduction in upland review area disturbance, and 92 percent reduction in the area of development."

Over the course of more than a year and a half, many nearby residents, and others relayed how heavy rains have consistently flooded their properties.

Vice Chairman Ken McClellan acknowledged during the July 3 meeting that, as long as the project did not impact wetlands, the commission, which serves to protect such ecosystems, must approve the application.

"This is a horrible place for an apartment building for many, many reasons,” he said ahead of the vote. “... Taking into into consideration all the comments made by people with the existing water problems on their properties, I really wish I could say ... that I cannot approve this," McClellan said.

Commissioner Nanette Albright Fresher, who has visited the site, agreed. "It's a poor place for an apartment building.”

In order to comply with inland wetlands regulations, McClellan said, he had no choice but to vote in favor of the exception.

Chairman Joseph Carta echoed McClellan’s sentiments. "I don't like the location for this, but this is a wetlands commission, and this commission only is concerned with effects to the wetlands," he explained.

"[The project is] completely out of the wetlands. Eighty-something percent of the upland review area is not being altered," he added. 

There has been a great deal of public input, "misinformation and good information on both sides,” Carta said. “For lack of any other way to do this, I will be voting in favor, although I do not agree with the location of this building.”

The application was approved.

For information, go to middletownct.gov.