Plan for CT affordable housing would make 9-story towers among tallest buildings in suburbs

After the town of Berlin rejected his plan for a mixed-use project on the Berlin Turnpike, a developer is proposing a 158-unit affordable housing complex in two nine-story towers.

If Nicholas Morizio’s plan is approved, he’d be constructing two of the tallest buildings between Hartford and New Haven.

While Berlin and the vast majority of Connecticut suburbs and rural communities shun the prospect of mid-rise or high-rise buildings, the town might end up with no say over Morizio’s proposal because he filed it under the state’s 8-30g law.

That statute vastly curbs the authority of local zoning commissions over affordable housing plans. Berlin, with slightly less than the state’s goal of 10% affordable housing, is subject to that law.

Morizio’s project is proposed for about 12 acres behind the ABC Supply Co., about a mile and a half south of Newington.

It would create 158 one- and two-bedroom apartments, with 30% of them set aside as affordable. The plan is for twin buildings each with 79 apartments.

Meriden and Middletown have apartment towers of 10 stories or more, but Morizio’s Berlin project would otherwise be the tallest residential building north of New Haven and south of Hartford.

Attorney Timothy Sullivan of Wisniowski and Sullivan LLC is expected to present details about the proposal when it goes to a hearing before the commission Thursday at 7 p.m. at town hall. Sullivan represents Morizio and his development company, Colliers International.

Last year, the commission turned down Morizio’s proposal for 106 apartments on the same property. He had proposed two four-story buildings and one three-story building, with of 74 market-rate apartments and 32 units meeting state criteria to qualify as affordable.

His representatives at the time said it met the goals of Berlin’s long-range development plan by bringing both residential and commercial development to the turnpike. But commissioners rejected it. Morizio sued, claiming that decision was arbitrary and illegal; the case is still pending, but has been dormant for the past months.

With the current proposal, Sullivan cited the 8-30g law when filing for the zoning text amendment and site plan approval. Projects that meet the terms of that law have an enormous advantage at the local regulatory level; municipalities can reject them only if they prove a substantial health or safety risk that outweighs the need for affordable housing.

In the current application to the planning and zoning commission, Morizio specified that each building would have 39 one-bedroom units, with 27 leased at market rates. Six would be set aside for tenants earning no more than 60% of the state’s median household income, and another six would priced for people earning 80% or less.

Each building would also have 40 two-bedroom units, with 28 going at market rate. Six would be priced at the 60 percent of median income cap, and another six would be at the 80 percent figure.

The rents on all affordable units would be governed by state formula for 40 years, rising only in line with increases in median family income. That average currently is $112,600 a year.

For the one-bedroom at 60% of median income, the monthly rent would be $1,056. That would increase to $1,337 for units based on a maximum of 80% of median income.

Rents for the affordable two-bedroom units would be capped at $1,244 at the 60% level, and $1,544 at the 80% mark.

As for construction styles and materials, Morizio’s plan specifically promises “The affordable units shall be indistinguishable form the market units.”