Plans for a luxury apartment complex at 71 South Shore Drive were met with a critical tone by public attendees at a Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) meeting on April 6.

An application to construct the complex was submitted by the Branford-based company Vigliotti Construction for a 56-foot, 21,000-square-foot four-story building that would occupy 3.4 acres of land. It would sit adjacent to the Village at Mariner’s Point assisted living facility. The site would be bounded by Silver Sands Road to its north and west, Catherine Street to its east, and the Cosey and Silver Sands beaches to its south. Parking for residents will be available at the front of the building.

Many of the apartments in the building will be facing Long Island Sound to respect neighbors’ privacy.

Vigliotti had proposed a similar project at the same location in 2005 when it was originally designed to be a six-story building. Since then, it has been reduced in height, and its original direction on the property was rotated towards the Long Island Sound to enhance its views of the beach.

The revamped project would include a large lobby area, a fitness room, a business center, and a rooftop bar. The amenities, especially its rooftop bar and business center, are a part of Vigliotti’s goal with the project to attract young professionals to its units.

“These apartments are going to be for high-end professionals. That’s the idea for development, to bring in younger people, more vibrant people, affluent people to the area,” said Leonard Fasano, a partner with the New Haven and Branford-based law firm Fasano, Ippolito, Lee & Florentine, who represented Vigliotti at the meeting for their plans.

Ray Sullivan of the Sullivan Architectural Group, who has come up with the designs for the four-story complex, added to the goals of the project’s targeted demographic.

“Looking at that young professional [demographic] - they really like to move around, they like to go to different places; rooftop amenities [are] a popular draw for that young clientele.

The PZC asked the representatives if any of the apartments would be designated as 8-30g affordable housing to fall in line with the goals laid out in East Haven’s Affordable Housing Plan.

“It is our desire to have some affordable units in the building because young professionals starting out still need something affordable for them,” said Planning and Zoning Department head Joe Budrow.

Fasano said developers are open to providing below-market-rate housing, which would designate them as affordable.

The Town Council approved the Affordable Housing Plan in March, with the five-year goal “to provide for a variety of housing choices in East Haven for people and families of all income, ages, and characteristics.” Regarding 8-30g-designated housing, the Connecticut State Statute requires that 10% of a municipality’s total housing stock be deemed affordable according to Area Median Income levels.

According to Land Use Attorney Jennifer Coppola, 8.27% of the housing stock in East Haven is deemed affordable by regional economic statutes of the Connecticut Department of Housing.

The revamped project was met with several concerns from impassioned residents attending the meeting. Residents expressed to the PZC worries about increased traffic, uncertainty about future upgrades to the building, the potential negative environmental impacts in the beach area, and noise pollution.

“Anyone who lives out there [around the beach] really enjoys the summer breeze off the ocean, which carries all of the noise with it… you’re going to have a lot of issues with the rooftop bar,” Cynthia Spargo. “Who’s going to be maintaining that bar’s going to close at 9 o’clock every night?”

Denise Santabarbara said she was worried about traffic and noise, particularly due to the proposal’s proximity to The Village at Mariner’s Point and the uncertainty surrounding its future.

“If this becomes low-income housing, you’re going to have a [lot] of people [ticked] off. And I don’t mean to sound mean, but I’m sorry, where are we going in this town? We’re coming low-income housing; we’re building up our neighborhoods. It used to be a great town. I’ve lived in this town for 35 years; 35 years, I’ve raised my children. I moved here because it was a good town. I moved here because it was a family town,” she said.

Other residents voiced concerns about the building’s size and its location.

“[The building] is way too big for that land, and to have four stories high - I’ll be swimming in my pool, and people will be watching me,” said Monica Buonocore, who lives on Catherine Street. “I’m all for progress, but I think we’re overbuilding in this town, especially down here at the beach.”