The Largest Development In East Lyme Moves Toward Construction

With very little fanfare, East Lyme's Zoning Commission recently approved the site plan for the first phase of what Town Zoning Official William Mulholland describes as "the biggest project East Lyme has ever seen." 

The Gateway Development Project is a bold plan for a mixed use residential and retail development on a roughly 150-200 acre site off exit 74 that extends from Boston Post Road to Ancient Highway in East Lyme. At its last meeting, the Zoning Commission gave the go ahead for the first phase, which will be the construction of 275 housing units.

The meeting drew very little public attention because it happened to coincide with East Lyme High School's graduation. Essentially, however, this is a done deal. Although additional permits and approvals will be needed, the overall conceptual plan of development was approved years ago. As long as the site plans match the conceptual plan, the Zoning Commission has no cause to reject it.  
 
The Gateway Plan Development District was formally adopted by the East Lyme Zoning Commission in 2008. The conceptual plan for the entire development was approved after many lengthy public hearings. Based on public comment, the number of housing units originally proposed for the site was reduced from 475 to the current 275.

After changes requested by the Zoning Commission regarding architectural details, infrastructure, lighting, drainage, landscaping, buffers, sidewalks and open space were incorporated, the plan of development for both the commercial and residential areas was approved. 

Ordinarily, the development would have moved forward at that point but 2008 was the year the economy really tanked and the developers shelved the project. Last year, as the market began to rebound, the plans were dusted off and now the project is moving forward briskly. Mulholland anticipates that construction will begin in September.   

What Does Gateway Development Include?  

The first phase of the development, which the Zoning Commission approved, will be the construction of 275 one- and two-bedroom residential units that will be rented, rather than sold, at market rate. There are no single family homes. The development includes 10 buildings, with a clubhouse, a swimming pool, and walking trails.

"It's very upscale," said Mulholland.

The second phase, which is still pending site plan approval by the commission, is the commercial development. This will be located south of and adjacent to True Value Hardware and extend to the Pattagansett River. The zoning district, created specifically for the Gateway Project, allows for offices, restaurants, retail, health clubs, trade schools, a hotel and conference center, and for research and development facilities.

The conceptual plan, which is already approved, is a proposal for a village style shopping area, with boulevards, built around a "town green" in the center. The developer's intent is to anchor the retail district with a "big box" store (the buzz is that Costco might be interested but that's not certain at this point).

In their approval of the conceptual plan in 2008, the Zoning Commission stated that the largest store can be no larger than 42,000 square feet and at least 25 percent of the retail area must be stores of 20,000 square feet or less, although there could be up to five "junior" anchor stores. 

When seen on the zoning district map, the property owned by Gateway is very large. However, it includes an extensive area of wetlands that cannot be developed and the Zoning Commission also required the developer to add even more open space to the conceptual plan, so the development, when complete, won't be overwhelming. 

It will, however, be the largest single development in East Lyme.