Developers, borough discussing ‘modifications’ to plan  

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Parcel C at the corner of Maple and Water streets in Naugatuck. -FILE PHOTO

NAUGATUCK — Proposed changes to the development plans for Parcel C have held up the project’s progress.

Developers Rob Oris and John Lombard, working under the name Heritage Downtown, LLC, signed a contract with the borough in October 2015 to buy Parcel C, the vacant lot at the corner of Maple and Water streets, for $150,000.

In June, following a back-and-forth debate over what materials will be used, the Zoning Commission approved a special permit for a 30,000-square-foot medical building planned for the site and officials anticipated that the ground-breaking for the project would come in the fall.

However, months later Parcel C looks like it has for many years: a barren lot in the heart of the borough.

Last week, the Board of Mayor and Burgesses and the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation discussed the project in separate closed-door executive sessions. No action was taken following either meeting.

Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess said the meetings were to discuss modifications to the plans. Officials declined to detail the proposed changes.

“At this time it would not be appropriate for me to comment further until I get direction from both boards,” Hess said.

Officials said the situation is fluid, and it’s possible the project moves forward as originally planned.

The original proposal called for the 30,000-square-foot medical building, which is expected to be taken up primarily by St. Mary’s Hospital, and a 5,000-square-foot building for a restaurant or retail on the site.

Lombard, who met with the Board of Mayor and Burgesses on Dec. 1, called the meeting “productive.”

“There was a vigorous discussion about all the factors involved,” Lombard said. “There was a lot of good ideas shared back and forth. We made a proposal that was very tough to turn down.”

Lombard said one of the reasons the project is moving slowly is that borough officials are being very cautious.

“They have been disappointed before by other developers and they have, from that experience, become very cautious and want to make sure they cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s,” Lombard said.

Lombard pointed to the former Renaissance Place project, which was a plan by developer Alex Conroy to revitalize the borough’s downtown that never came to fruition.

“We are not Conroy,” Lombard said. “He dragged them through years of nothing. Their cautious approach is to be expected.”

Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Ron Pugliese said he wants to see the project move as quickly as possible.

“We are hoping we can come to some agreement with developers and the boards. We want to get shovel in the ground as quick as possible,” Pugliese said. “It has been held up way too long. I am committed to getting it done.”