Derby residents invited to learn about Marshall Lane plan

DERBY — Residents concerned that the former Marshall Lane Manor nursing home may get converted into a dormitory housing international high school students will want to mark their calendars for this.

The owner of APEX International Education Partners LLC, or AIEP, who submitted an application to the Planning and Zoning Commission last week about his intentions for the property, is inviting residents to a neighborhood meeting.

The meeting has been set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Marshall Lane Manor building, 101 Marshall Lane.

Attorney Dominick Thomas, representing AIEP founder David Guererra, sent letters to residents and encouraged all those in the surrounding neighborhood to attend

“This will allow you the opportunity to review the site plans and floor plans and ask questions in a more informal and open session,” Thomas said in the letter. “(AIEP) is looking forward to presenting its plan to you, and answering any questions and addressing any concerns.”

The PZC earlier this month approved a zone change that potentially could allow a dormitory, with special exception approval, in the former nursing home. The vote was preceded by a lengthy public hearing that drew more than 100 residents, many who expressed concerns and fears about AIEP’s plans for the site.

PZC Chairman Ted Estwan confirmed that AIEP submitted an application to the commission last week. Estwan said the commission, at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, will accept receipt of the application and schedule a public hearing.

The zone change added “education dormitory residences” to the city’s existing regulations that would be allowed in residential zones, only by a special exception, and enables the commission more control over such applications, Estwan had said.

Thomas acknowledged that while the PZC would be holding a public hearing of its own, possibly in mid-November, he said the neighborhood meeting prior to that will give residents a chance to discuss their concerns and ask questions in a much more “informal” setting. He encouraged residents to call or email his office at 203-735-9521 or djt@cohen-thomas.com if they plan on attending.

Guerrera would like to convert the 35,000-square-foot nursing home, which closed in June 2015 due to financial issues, into a dorm that would house foreign students who during the day would attend various private and public schools across Connecticut, including Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame, Sacred Heart Academy, Lauralton Hall and Holy Cross High School, among others.

According to the proposal, Thomas said the dorm would house up to 110 students and up to eight residential staff. He noted that the existing building, situated on 3.4 acres, would not require any major exterior renovations and no additions. The interior would include renovations to kitchen and dining areas, a fitness and exercise facility, common areas, study rooms which would also be used for guidance counseling and tutoring rooms, library, administrative offices and a technology or media center.

Thomas said additional landscaping and buffering would be installed around the property.

In addition, students housed at the dorm would not be able to have cars, or have visitors other than family who would not permitted to stay overnight. Students would be transported to their respective high schools via school buses or vans.