Politics & Government

Retirement Community May Permit Younger Home Owners

'Anemic' housing market cited for reason to do away with age requirements of new home buyers at Stonegate Village.

Owners of , a housing community for people older than 55, filed an application last Thursday to amend zoning regulations, convert the development into an affordable housing community and in effect, lift the age restriction for prospective residents.

The application cites “anemic sales” and despite claims of a reduction in the selling price of homes by 25 pecent to 30 percent to attract buyers, only 10 have sold since 2009. The application says " and no sales are pending."

Elizabeth Conroy, who lives on Boulder Drive in Stonegate Village, said she likes the community the way it is now and is opposed to young families moving in because, she said, there’s not enough room for children to play safely.

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Other residents are opposed because they bought into the development with the hope of a quiet retirement.

If the application is approved, the management company estimates that "only about one-third of new purchasers will be under 55 – mostly between 45 and 55 with grown children," according to the application.

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As it is, homeowners in the community have to be at least 55 years old and all family members living in the house must be older than 18, according to resident manager Ron Gagnon. The application says most residents are older than 65.

“It’s very quiet here,” Gagnon said of the community. “It’s like this all the time.”

Gagon said 26 of the 28 houses are occupied and that the development's owners, Third Garden Park of Stamford, plan to build up to 80 more houses on the site. Gagnon said a lot of people are interested in moving to the community but they have to sell their current homes first.

Planning Commission Chairman Mike Cherry said that if the town denies the application and despite any opposition by residents of Stonegate Village, the developer could appeal the decision, in which case, the town would have to prove “a significant risk to public health and safety” and that “the risk outweighs the need for affordable housing,” among other things.

The application also says that the management "intend to contine the high quality of management," and "we have no need to compromise the quality of development or its future occupants."

“We have to ask, what can we do, what’s the possibility of being successful and how much is it going to cost,” Cherry said of fighting an appeal in court. “In general, the town loses.”

The Zoning Commission meets Thursday, Feb. 9 in Town Council Chambers and will set a date for a public hearing on the issue.


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