New apartments coming to North East business district after site plan approval

MILLERTON — New apartments are coming to North East’s business district along Route 44 after Planning Board members approved site plan documents.

Lilly Simons and her mother, Lauren, presented plans to convert a building that was once a restaurant and then an office building on Route 44 across from North East Ford. Simons plans to turn the building into an eight-unit apartment complex with five one-bedroom apartments, two two-bedroom apartments and a single studio.

The Planning Board granted site plan approval at its Wednesday, Aug. 26, meeting after three months of discussion on the application.

Now that the Planning Board has granted site plan approval, the developers can finalize building permits from the town’s Building Department and get started on the renovation work. Simons said plans only call for interior floorplan changes and adjustments to the parking lot to install an electric vehicle charger on the property and create more communal green space for residents.

“The basic, original footprint of the building we’re not really changing much,” Simons said. She added that some light landscaping is planned. Simons expects contractors to begin work over the fall and winter, with hopes the renovations will be complete by May 2027.

The apartments will be the first residential development in the Town of North East’s Boulevard District — a commercial zone that stretches along Route 44 from the eastern edge of the Millerton village border to the Connecticut state line. Residential development became possible in the commercial district after the town approved changes to its zoning code this year.

Simons said she was excited to provide new housing options in the community. “We’re excited about contributing to the community,” she said. “And providing something that everybody has said is really needed.”

She also expressed gratitude to town officials that helped through the approval process. Simons first appeared before the board in June. She said Planning Board members’ and town officials’ help exemplified their desire to bring more housing to Millerton.

“We really do want to give a sincere thank you to the Planning Board,” Simons said. “We appreciate the support. All of them were really great throughout the whole process.”