Montville Approves 17,500-Square Foot ‘Mirage Park’ Development

The Town of Montville has approved a 17,500-square foot mixed-use development at 1360 Rt. 32 for a developer who had promised a similar development in Preston, but ultimately had to walk away from the project.

On March 26, the Montville Planning and Zoning Commission approved a proposal by Marriott Plaza LLC to turn 1360 Rt. 32 into a mixed-use development, which has retail outlets on the bottom floor of the building and 36 one-or-two-bedroom apartment units on the top floors. Despite the name, Marriott Plaza LLC has no connection to Marriott, the hotel chain, but instead the company’s principal owner is John Eoanou.

Eoanou had a plan to build a hotel in Preston on Rt. 2 near Foxwoods Resort Casino, but had to eventually walk away from the project after liens and bills for back taxes left a “financial mess,” according to a 2011 article by The Bulletin. The hotel was eventually built, but by a different owner, Patch confirmed with the Preston planning department Tuesday.

Eoanou originally wanted to turn 1360 Rt. 32 into a hotel, but that plan was dropped after it didn’t mesh with Montville’s zoning regulations. Eoanou since came back with the mixed-use development entitled “Mirage Park,” which the Montville Planning and Zoning Commission approved on March 26th with 20 conditions, according to the meeting's minutes.

The Proposal

The proposal is to turn 1360 Rt. 32, a 10.75-acre property, into a mixed-use development. The plan is to have retail outlets on the bottom floor of the building and then one-and-two-bedroom apartments on the top floors.

Overall, there will be 9,000 square feet for retail, with the remaining 8,500 square feet for apartments, according to building plans. The building will have a parking lot with 137 parking spaces, according to building plans.

The building will tie in to the existing city water and sewer lines and the Montville Water Pollution Control Authority has approved the project. With the town’s approval, Marriott Plaza LLC can now begin work on the project.

Patch called a phone number in the application for Eoanou, but the line came up as out of service. Other attempts to find a phone number for Eoanou proved unsuccessful.