Developer of planned Stratford homes looks to add bedrooms, after rejection

STRATFORD — The developer aiming to construct nearly a dozen single-family homes in the town’s north end is once again seeking to increase the number of bedrooms in the planned but yet-tobe-built neighborhood.

Bridgeport-based Blue Bird Prestige, Inc., is seeking to modify plans that were approved last year to build an 11-lot subdivision at 170 Oronoque Lane, according to an application recently submitted to land use officials.

Kenneth Ciardiello, an attorney representing Blue Bird, wrote in a letter to the Stratford Zoning Commission that the developer now intends to include three bedrooms in each of the homes — a change that would increase the number of bedrooms from 26 to 33.

“Blue Bird requests modification to make all 11 homes three-bedrooms,” Ciardiello wrote. “This will not only improve property values in the area, but also will make the homes more attractive to homeowners with families — a population that Stratford could greatly benefit from.”

The development, which initially called for seven two-bedroom homes and four threebedroom homes on the 3.2-acre property, was unanimously approved by the five-member commission early last year as part of a settlement between the town and property owners.

Earlier this year, Blue Bird asked the commission to approve a similar request to increase the number of bedrooms. But the commission narrowly voted to block the proposal due to concerns around the nature of the court-approved settlement.

At the time, Assistant Town Attorney Kevin Kelly said any changes to the settlement could only come after the parties involved in the case, a group that includes the developers, town officials and neighborhood groups, agree to revisit the settlement and sign off on an increase to the number of bedrooms.

“If there is such an agreement, we would go before the court to seek an amendment to that judgment,” Kelly said in January. “And yes, if that would warrant, come back to the commission. But at this point, it’s the town’s position that it’s premature.”

In his letter, Ciardiello noted that the settlement does not mention the number of bedrooms planned for the project and that representatives for the developer have since consulted with the other attorneys involved in the settlement.

“Blue Bird now returns to this commission to request acceptance of this very minor change to the project, since all parties have had a chance to discuss the modification,” Ciardiello wrote.

Blue Bird officials have described the project as a “condominium-type” development that would include detached homes but also feature shared yards and other common interests that would be maintained by a property manager.

Site plans submitted to the town show most of the homes would be at least 2,000 square feet and include a two-car garage with a driveway. Nicholas Owen, a representative of the developer, previously estimated the homes would sell for between $550,000 and $650,000 after they go on the market.

According to the application, the development would sit on what is now a mostly wooded site that currently features one single-story home. The property is also directly adjacent to the Oronoque Fire Station and near the Oronoque Village condominium complex.

“The project involves the proposed construction of a private road and cul-de-sac along with eleven single family homes,” architects wrote in the initial application. “The existing house on the lot will be demolished as part of the project.”

The project is not the first residential development to be proposed for the site. The previous owners planned to build a similar 11-unit complex with detached condominiums on the property, but despite being approved by town officials in 2013, the project was never built.

After buying the site, Blue Bird had hoped to use the town’s previous approval to move forward with the development. But town officials refused to issue building permits in 2019, citing the length of time since the 2013 approvals and a failure by the developer to completely submit plans.

Blue Bird then sued the town in state court, asking a judge to reverse the decision. An attorney for the company has said the developers later agreed to a settlement with the town that allowed the approval process to resume for the Oronoque Lane project and other housing developments.

The zoning commission is expected to review the proposal during its meeting on May 22, according to town documents.