Image courtesy of Lessard Design

A large luxury apartment complex proposed for an abandoned factory site near New Haven’s Science Park area received a key approval needed before it can seek building permits last night.

According to plans filed with the city of New Haven, New York City-based developer the Ironburgh Organization plans 371 units in a 6-story, 320,000-square-foot concrete-and-wood midrise building, buffered from houses next door by 21 townhomes. In total, the project will have a floor area ratio of 0.69, as much of the rear of the parcel will be covered by a dog park, parking lot and recreation lawn.

The New Haven City Plan Commission voted 4-1 to approve the project’s site plan after a review Wednesday night, according to the New Haven Independent. Despite the development team’s verbal commitments at a recent community meeting to make 10 percent of the project affordable housing, the project will not have a formal affordability requirement written into its site plan approval. The city is currently studying whether to implement a citywide affordable housing requirement.