Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Personal Care Consultation

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TESTIMONIALS

“Staff is great there a great place to work and call your workplace”

Babispyce S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’ve been a nurse for over 40 years, and I am currently a nursing professor. When my mom was recently in the hospital, I knew it would not be possible for her to be completely on her own right away. She loves where she resides and enjoys all of the activities that are offered. My goal was to get her back into her apartment as soon as possible with the support she needed to increase her strength and return to her prior level of wellness she had before she went into the hospital. She was used to walking a couple miles a day. When I reached out to ABC I made it clear that my mom would need somebody who would be willing to walk with her in the morning, and in the evening enabling her to get back to her baseline. I would like to complement all of the staff at ABC who provided my mom such wonderful support after two weeks she returned to her baseline and remained in her apartment. She really enjoyed all of the staff that were with her , they were professional they encouraged her to walk, drink fluids, eat and were instrumental in assisting her to reach her prior level of independence. I would strongly recommend ABC to anybody who is in need of support for their loved one.”

Robin Y.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Mom’s care needs have been progressing over the past month - increased difficulty standing. walking, decreased appetite, increased incontinence. (Part of the expected declining process per her Dr.) Tara has been wonderful in adapting to Mom’s changing needs as they develop and a very helpful partner in troubleshooting. brainstorming how to adapt to best support Mom. It’s also been helpful in my regular communication with Mom’s Dr, to let her know in detail what has come up and how we have approached. Thank you (again) for your talented staff!”

Jeremy H.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Outstanding personal service from this company. All of the caregivers were personable and provided outstanding care to our aunt. I would highly recommend them to anyone who has an elder family member in need. Also, the staff that helped to set up their services was outstanding as well. They made the decisions easy to understand with no hidden agenda. Thank you again to "ABC!"”

KEVIN M.
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“You can't go wrong with this crew. Extremely patient and caring.”

Daniel S.
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“Caring for family can be difficult and challenging at times. It's so nice to know that Always Best Care Senior Services is there to help!”

Cathy K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Taylor, John, and Kristine and their crew are the best. They are patient, understanding, and a joy to work with.”

Daniel S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Sabina always has a pleasant, caring, and respectful attitude. I feel she treats me as she would as her own mother. She treats me the way she would like to be treated. We are a good “team” together.”

Tracy H.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Diana has a total commitment of compassion, empathy, and respect for myself and my family. My daughters feel she is truly a tremendous caregiver. They know I am in good hands. She acknowledges with commitment of my physical, emotional, and practical needs, my quality of life has excelled due to Diana’s help. I look forward to her presence everyday her attitude is exceptional, Diana comes to work daily with a smile on her face. She enters the front door, singing softly ready to work. She has never taken a day off, I have had many caregivers, but Diana is truly the best!”

Anne H.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Tina has been with us since the start, caring for my mom. Tina has nothing but my mom’s best interest at heart. She continues to go above and beyond to care for my mom, and ensure anyone else who may be there also understands my mom’s needs. Tina has even gone so far to rearrange her schedule or give up her free time to stay with my mom to avoid her having someone that doesn’t know her. I can see that she genuinely cares for my mom, and treats her as if she was her own family member. That also goes both ways, my mom lights up when she sees Tina. We consider Tina part of our family.”

David L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care helped our family get through a very difficult time with my mother's care. Kristine and Taylor are a pleasure to work with. They are very knowledgable and had the answers to all our questions. They were able to help with all aspects of the care we needed. I highly recommend them.”

John S.
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“Kristine and John are extremely caring and compassionate about helping their client's and family and making sure they receive the best care available. Highly recommended!”

Greg G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“We needed some home care services for Dad who has dementia, and we made the right decision to trust ABC Senior Services for this support. Dad was lined up with a caregiver who was attentive and helpful, and she and Dad really hit it off. The management and administrative staff from ABC were also very effective and professional. You'll make a good decision to go with ABC Senior Services...”

Liam M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I approached Kristine regarding care for my elderly father. Even though he was outside her service area, she helped to find resources for us. Her commitment to providing outstanding care is only surpassed by her desire to help others. Thank you Kristine!”

Matt B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have known Kristine Lajeunesse for many years now through business networking and she and her Team at Always Best Care are very caring and professional and exactly who you would want on your side if you have a loved one who needs help!”

Ann B.
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“The client care at Always Best Care Senior Service is outstanding”

Kimberly O.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Rosemary has many great qualities. She is a hardworker, sensitive, has a giving nature and has an immense desire to help my father. Reliability is vital trait in Rosemary. When my father was in the hospital and came home she immediately wanted to be by his side. My father has come to rely and depend on Rosemary. She is always on time whether it is giving medication or administering food and often encourages my father and helps my father maintain his dignity”

Denise D.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care provides caregivers to our building on a regular basis when we are short staffed. Due to our licensing, we can only have CNAs on the floor and Always Best Care has provided excellent CNAs every time we need some extra help. All of their CNAs have been helpful, willing to go above and beyond for our residents and we always have great responses from our own CNAs and supervisory staff. I am so thankful to Michelle and Wilda who will always staff a shift that I need, even if I call 30 minutes before the shift starts. You’ve been such a huge help!”

Kaytee S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have known John and Kristine Lajeunesse for almost 20 years and when my dad needed care following a diagnosis of dementia, I knew there wouldn’t be anyone better to call than them. The caregivers that have worked with my dad have been wonderful. They are true saints to my family, allowing us the knowledge that Dad is okay to stay at home. They have navigated all of the changes in his cognitive state with grace and kept my father’s dignity in place. He was always a very active man and the caregivers have managed to keep him active, even as his health declines.”

Belinda F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care helped me to get care lined up for my uncle, after I received their information from a close friend of mine that also used their agency. My uncle was a very proud man and did not want help from anyone, including family. Taylor met with me and spent time getting to know the ins and outs of my uncle’s care as well as his personality. She asked about his background so that they could look for a caregiver with similar interests. Although he took a turn for the worse rather quickly, the short time care was provided was wonderful. Thank you for your help and compassion.”

Karel O.
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TESTIMONIALS

“My dad’s caregiver is great. He is a man of few words, but she is able to get him talking about all aspects and experiences of his life. They go out regularly and she encourages my dad to participate in the activities put on by the community he lives in. They run errands, go out for meals, or go for a drive just to get a change of scenery. I was nervous at first about how my dad would take having a caregiver come in to help him, but he seems so happy and has great things to talk about after his time spent with his caregiver.”

Martin F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Thank you, Kristine - I am very appreciative of the professional manner with which you and your organization operates. From the initial phone and in-person conversations with Taylor, to the ongoing support of my mother's care - it's been thorough, timely and well managed. I am also struck by how the home-health employees conduct themselves. They are reliable/responsive *and* responsible, and making every effort to work through the challenges day to day with my mother. Thanks for the great job you and your organization are doing. It means a lot to me, especially during this trying time! Best Regards”

Anna T.
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“I wanted to take a moment to thank you and your staff for all of your hard work and dedication to their clients. When my parents finally realized they needed help in their home, I chose ABC as the company I felt would be the best fit. Yes, we have had some ups and down, but when you paired Leah with my parents, it was truly a blessing. My parents love her. She genuinely cares for them and they speak highly of her work ethic. As my mom says, “she is too good to be true”. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your working with me to find the right fit. Well on our end, Leah fits like a glove and I hope she feels the same. She is a special person so I wanted to acknowledge her hard work and dedication to my parents. It makes me feel more at ease knowing there is someone coming to the home to properly care for them. Again I want to thank you all and encourage you to keep up the good work.”

Craig F.
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“My family provides the care to my mother 24/7, we called Always Best Care to provide respite care to my mom while we took some time to ourselves for a weekend. Mom’s caregiver, Gloria, was great and she had the perfect disposition to work with my mom. She was attentive and kept mom well fed and engaged during the time we were away. We would definitely call Always Best Care again when we need some time away.”

Brenda
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“The caregiver that helped my husband and I were so kind to us both, especially to my husband while I spent some time in the hospital and rehab. Our caregiver brought my husband to see me every day while I was at the hospital and at rehab, I knew he was in excellent hands and I could focus on getting stronger again.”

Heather R.
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“i really like my caregiver, Victor very much. Victor is a very patient and observant aide who knows when I need his help. I knew from the first day meeting him that we would get along very well.”

Johnson L.
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““I want to give a huge thank you for the care that Always Best Care provided over the last year and a half. They started out assisting just my dad since he was wheelchair bound and then began providing care to my mom as well who had advanced dementia. The two ladies that helped them both did an amazing job and gave me the confidence that they were being well cared for since I live on the other side of the country. Up to my dad’s passing, his caregivers were there for him to provide comfort and companionship while managing my mom’s emotions as well during the difficult time my dad had. Being a nurse myself and in the healthcare field for a while, I had high expectations which were exceeded by the caregivers and office staff of Always Best Care.”

harry B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Both of Mom’s caregivers are exceptional. They are always professional, calm and extremely patient with my mom. They know how to keep her calm and to manage her anxiety. My whole family is very grateful, knowing that Mom is getting really competent care, great meals and friendly companionship. Thank you.”

Kathleen F.
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“My husband had care from Always Best Care until he passed away. Thankfully he is on his "next journey" and finally pain free, while he was here with us, his caregiver, Craig, did an amazing job caring for him and was here to help us from our first day of services. Craig always managed to get my husband to share stories from his time in the war that even I had not heard before. It was a great way to get to know more of my husband so his memory can continue with others around him.”

Beth F.
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“I am very pleased with the care that Craig gave to my husband. My husband enjoyed having another man to talk to instead of conversation only between him and I. Craig managed to keep him occupied and safe so that I could go and get some time to myself, allowing me peace of mind that my husband was in great hands”

Sonia T.
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“I hired Always Best Care to help my mom who was living with me at home. She was diagnosed with dementia and within 3 months she could hardly do much for herself anymore. I was able to continue working full time while my mom received care from Always Best Care. We had the same caregiver from day 1 and she was absolutely amazing. She kept everyone in the loop with any changes my mom experienced and the regular in person and phone check ins were a great added support to myself and my family. Thank you ABC for all the help and compassion that you showed my mom until her passing.”

Laura
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“They are very caring and easy to deal with. They work with the family and the patient to see that the patient has what is needed for their care. In all we had a good experience with Best Care.”

Elaine G.
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“Our caregiver is the absolute best, you all got lucky finding her.”

Bob G.
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“Anything from Always Best Care is good to have. The care from them has given me my life back. I wasn’t expecting a perfect match on the first caregiver, but Always Best Care did a very good job.”

Claudia B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“We have been using the services of ABC for almost three years, and I have worked personally with John, Kristine, Taylor, Michelle and Wilda, as well as the many wonderful caregivers who have attended to my mother’s needs with great care and attention. Throughout this time, my mother’s care needs have changed many times, and they have always been very responsive to any requests, including the directives of the hospice nurses that work in concert with all of them. Taylor and Michelle are incredibly diligent about keeping on top of issues that arise day-to-day, and running their questions and concerns by me. I remain a loyal customer to ABC because I feel that my mother is getting really great care, and will continue to see the warm, friendly faces she has come to know and trust today and every day. At 94 yrs old, my mother is quite dependent on the care providers for almost all her needs, and they always show up and make her feel safe and secure.”

Rachel C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“It has been a true pleasure working with you and your organization. You all demonstrate empathy and compassion in caring for frail elderly family members and insure distant families are comforted knowing you are there.”

Steve S.
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“Mom’s caregiver is a part of the family, we absolutely love her!”

Joe L.
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“Always Best Care has done a fantastic job in providing us with at-home care for my step-mother while we prepared for her transition to move permanently to a skilled nursing facility. With their help, she was able to spend a full six months at home before moving. We would not have been able to do it without them. All the caregivers we have met and used have been kind and attentive, frequently going the extra mile, whatever that may be on any given day. The office staff is friendly, empathetic and very diligent in keeping all parties informed of all aspects of day-to-day care. They are knowledgeable, respectful and efficient. I would not hesitate in recommending them to anyone who is looking for help in keeping their loved one at home for as long as possible.”

Sarah C.
 In-Home Care Old Saybrook, CT

How does In-home Senior Care in Old Saybrook, CT work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Old Saybrook, CT

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Old Saybrook, CT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Old Saybrook, CT gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Old Saybrook, CT

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Old Saybrook,CT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

 Caregivers Old Saybrook, CT

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

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An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

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Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

Latest News in Old Saybrook, CT

Developer Drops Lawsuit Against Old Saybrook, Adds Affordable Housing to Plan

OLD SAYBROOK – A developer whose proposal to build houses on a riverfront property was rejected in 2021 offered a concession to settle his nearly two-year legal dispute with the town – one of the five houses would be designated affordable.91 Sheffield LLC, registered to Branford builder Mike Picard, returned to the Zoning Commission on Monday to settle its lawsuit against the commission, presenting a concept to build five single-family homes on about 10 acres at 91 Sheffield St., alongside North Cove on the Connecticut Riv...

OLD SAYBROOK – A developer whose proposal to build houses on a riverfront property was rejected in 2021 offered a concession to settle his nearly two-year legal dispute with the town – one of the five houses would be designated affordable.

91 Sheffield LLC, registered to Branford builder Mike Picard, returned to the Zoning Commission on Monday to settle its lawsuit against the commission, presenting a concept to build five single-family homes on about 10 acres at 91 Sheffield St., alongside North Cove on the Connecticut River.

In 2021, the commission unanimously rejected a proposal from 91 Sheffield to use a “planned development district” to build four homes on the Marine Industrial-zoned property.

Then-chair Robert Friedmann argued at the time that the industrial zone was made just four years earlier specifically to prohibit more homes being built in flood-prone areas. The developer appealed, arguing Friedmann misapplied the law and “stifled debate” by dominating the discussion.

Marjorie Shansky, the attorney representing 91 Sheffield, said the developer has since gone “back to the drawing board” in an attempt to compromise with the commission. One of the commission’s points, she said, was that including affordable housing would better reflect the town’s goals, so the developer added a fifth, much smaller home to the plans, which would be designated “affordable.”

Shansky said the one deed-restricted unit accounted for 20 percent of the development, and wouldn’t be moving the town further away from the state-mandated threshold of 10 percent affordable housing stock to remain exempt from its affordable housing law.

The 8-30g statute allows housing developers to bypass most local zoning in towns below the threshold if their development includes affordable units. Currently, just 2.87 percent of Old Saybrook’s housing stock meets the state’s definition of “affordable.”

“We’re not putting you in a hole, we’re not taking you backwards,” Shansky said.

Shansky noted there will be a public walking path and kayak launch, and private docks for the homes. The waterfront has limited use because it has a low draft for boats and is part of the safe harbor where ships are brought during storms, she explained.

The Zoning Commission was receptive to the plan, with some commissioners saying they liked the inclusion of the affordable home. The proposal will be set for a public hearing before an official vote.

“I like this plan a lot better than last time,” Vice Chair Geraldine Lewis said.

First Selectman Carl Fortuna, who attended the meeting as an ex officio member of the commission, said he appreciated the affordable component of the new proposal, and that he thinks Old Saybrook has been “incredibly welcoming” to affordable housing compared to its neighbors.

He said he wants to see the proposal move forward because the property has been blighted for a decade, and is in litigation.

“Like I said, it’s either open space or it’s something else,” Fortuna said. “I am relatively convinced that a [Marine Industrial] district does seem to be a little bit improbable here.”

Friedmann, now a regular member of the commission, was the most skeptical and questioned how the proposal was not spot zoning. But town attorney Matt Willis said spot zoning is rare, and that this spot is conducive to a planned development district and fits a residential use.

He also noted that the five units on almost 10 acres would be less dense than one house per acre – a common zoning restriction that commissions “get beat up for across the country,” he said.

“In this instance, this is creating a new entity where the density is actually less than one dwelling unit per acre, and zoning is having to defend the concept of less than one dwelling unit per acre,” Friedmann said.

Shansky countered that environmental protection and “clustering an appropriate amount of development” were the key concerns for the property, half of which is wetlands along the cove.

“It doesn’t overtax the available landscape and preserves the function and value,” Shansky said.

Brendan Crowley covers energy and the environment for CT Examiner. T: 860 598-0050

[email protected]

Whole Foods Withdraws Old Saybrook Plan, But Officials Say the Project is Moving Forward

OLD SAYBROOK – Plans for a Whole Foods on Boston Post Road are moving forward despite the developers withdrawing an application for a wetlands permit last week, a town official confirmed.Town Planner Chris Costa said she met with the developer, Rhode Island-based Carpionato Group’s attorney on Monday to discuss setting up a preliminary meeting with the town’s Architectural Review Boar...

OLD SAYBROOK – Plans for a Whole Foods on Boston Post Road are moving forward despite the developers withdrawing an application for a wetlands permit last week, a town official confirmed.

Town Planner Chris Costa said she met with the developer, Rhode Island-based Carpionato Group’s attorney on Monday to discuss setting up a preliminary meeting with the town’s Architectural Review Board to talk about the project – which involved building a 40,000-square-foot Whole Foods and redeveloping the rest of the plaza that now houses NAPA Auto Parts and Alforno Trattoria.

The developers were scheduled to meet with the Inland Wetland Commission on Thursday, but withdrew their application last week to continue work on their plans, said Costa, and because state law sets a 35-day window for public hearings.

The Carpionato Group could not be reached for comment.

If approved by the town, the store would be the first Whole Foods along I-95 between Milford and Providence. The closest existing Whole Foods stores to Old Saybrook are about 40 minutes away in Milford and Glastonbury.

Costa said that when the developer resubmits its application for the plaza at the corner of Boston Post and Spencer Plain roads, it will need approval from Inland Wetlands, the Architectural Review Board, and a special permit from the Zoning Commission. That process will also involve a traffic review, and will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and town engineer.

Parking was the major question for the project when David Taglianetti, vice president of development for Carpionato Group, met with the Zoning Commission last October to discuss the development.

Town regulations require a 25-foot setback between the road and parking lot, which Taglianetti said would not be enough to meet Whole Foods’ strict parking requirements, which demand 240 spaces in the lot.

At the time, the group planned to apply for an exception from the setback requirements, and for approval to expand the plaza by 12,000 square feet to fit a 40,000 square foot Whole Foods. The developers intend to renovate the remaining 25,000 square feet of the plaza into retail, restaurant and a potential medical office space.

Brendan Crowley covers energy and the environment for CT Examiner. T: 860 598-0050

[email protected]

Drive-thru Moratorium Delays Commercial Tenants in Old Saybrook

OLD SAYBROOK – Plans to bring popular fast-casual chains to the Max’s Place plaza on Spencer Plain Road could be in jeopardy if the Zoning Commission takes much longer to sort out the town’s drive-thru regulations, the shopping plaza’s owner said.Starbucks, Chipotle, Panera and Chase Bank all have leases to open new locations in the plaza on the west end of town that’s anchored by Big Y, but all of them want drive-thru windows.But the town has had a moratorium on drive-thrus since November 2022, an...

OLD SAYBROOK – Plans to bring popular fast-casual chains to the Max’s Place plaza on Spencer Plain Road could be in jeopardy if the Zoning Commission takes much longer to sort out the town’s drive-thru regulations, the shopping plaza’s owner said.

Starbucks, Chipotle, Panera and Chase Bank all have leases to open new locations in the plaza on the west end of town that’s anchored by Big Y, but all of them want drive-thru windows.

But the town has had a moratorium on drive-thrus since November 2022, and voted on Monday to extend to June 2024.

“The tenants aren’t willing to hang on forever,” Tyler Lyman, the leasing agent for Max’s Place, told CT Examiner. “We spent a lot of money on concept plans and attorneys for the leases, and we were under the impression that this was going to get figured out many months ago. We’ve been hanging in there as long as we could with the moratorium, so it’s been frustrating.”

Initially, the regulations were paused through April this year as the commission held several workshops to talk about trends in drive-thrus, where they fit best in town, and how to move forward. Then the moratorium was extended to December, and now to June.

By approving a zoning change last year to allow drive-thru restaurants in a proposed new shopping plaza just south of I-95 on Spencer Plain Road, then-Zoning Chair Robert Friedmann said at the time that the commission unintentionally opened the door for multiple drive-thru restaurants on neighboring properties.

The commission proceeded to put a pause on drive-thru regulations. Zoning Chair Mark Caldarella said the regulations hadn’t been reviewed in a long time and that the commission thought it was a good time to review where they make sense in Old Saybrook.

Caldarella said the commission is “99 percent” done writing its new regulations, but it didn’t have enough time to set a public hearing before the moratorium expired, so they extended it another six months. He said they still hope to have a public hearing in December and make a decision before the end of the year.

A requirement for new locations

Lyman said the plan is to combine “phase one” of Max’s Place – the Big Y, Ulta, Kohl’s and other stores that are already there – with two adjacent properties on Boston Post Road and have four different “pad” sites close to the road for the new restaurants and bank. There could potentially be more pads within the plaza, but the four are where they’re focusing now, he said.

“The town is, I’m sure, concerned with what happened with the newest Dunkin’ Donuts, where the drive-thru does sometimes spill out onto Boston Post Road,” Lyman said. “Without knowing what the town is going to implement, we’ve set up concept plans where there’s no chance the drive-thru would spill onto Boston Post Road.”

Especially since COVID, customer’s habits have changed drastically to the point where drive-thrus are a requirement for a lot of businesses to open new locations, Lyman said. The leases at Max’s Place are contingent on the drive-thrus for the new stores being approved. Now that the moratorium is extended to June, some of the tenants have the right to end their leases, he said.

“It’s really up to the tenants if they want to continue to wait or if they want to pull the plug on the market altogether,” Lyman said. “We can’t really speak to that, but the longer this takes, the higher the chance they walk away.”

In a letter to the commission, Thomas Howley, president of Howley Bread Group with 25 Panera Bread stores in New England, said they’ve wanted to open a Panera in Old Saybrook for several years, but haven’t been able to because of the drive-thru regulations.

Panera is only building cafes with drive-thrus except in urban areas and hospitals, he said. So they were excited when they heard Old Saybrook was rewriting its drive-thru zoning regulations and signed a lease to open a store in Max’s place.

But he said any more delays could jeopardize their “cafe development requirements and revenue expectations,” and could cause them to look elsewhere.

“We don’t want that to happen,” Howley wrote.

David McLellan, the real estate manager for Chipotle, said they are planning a store within the Max’s Place plaza, where everything is on the interior of the lot and wouldn’t back onto any public road. He said they hoped to have the opportunity to work with the town on managing the flow.

“Chipotle’s window is actually simply a pick up window,” McLellan said. “People order and pay for their food with the app on their phone so our stacks are typically about 2-3 cars.”

Max’s Place owner Ron Lyman urged the commission on Monday to set a target date and work towards being finished by then. The discussions have already carried on for a year, he said.

“I’m not sure how many things you can do with drive-thrus, other than if you just want to eliminate them, which it seems like that’s where we’re heading here,” Lyman told the commission.

Caldarella said the commission had brought in businesses to talk about the future of drive-thrus, and how things had changed since the pandemic.

“Whether they’re for pharmacies or banks or restaurants, all three of them are more heavily dependent on drive-thrus,” Caldarella said. “So we wanted to give it the due diligence to review the market against the regulations and see if there are any necessary refinements.”

He said people love Old Saybrook because it’s a beautiful town on the shoreline, but also for the low tax rate. What the Zoning Commission decides can change that, he said, determining whether these new businesses can open and raise the town’s grand list.

“Maybe you folks will be retired in Florida and it won’t matter to you,” Lyman told the commission. “But the rest of us who enjoy the low taxes, I’d hate to see them double or triple over the next seven to ten years, which is the way we could be heading unfortunately.”

Brendan Crowley covers energy and the environment for CT Examiner. T: 860 598-0050

[email protected]

Old Saybrook Whole Foods Moves Forward, Neighbors Worry about Increased Flooding

OLD SAYBROOK – A plan to fit a Whole Foods in the former Benny’s plaza on Boston Post Road received wetlands approval from the town Thursday after neighbors said the project’s increased paving would worsen flooding in their shoreline community.Members of the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission acknowledged that the neighbors in Chalker Beach have real concerns with runoff from development on Boston Post and Spencer Plain roads, but said the issues are mainly outside of the commission’s jurisdiction, and...

OLD SAYBROOK – A plan to fit a Whole Foods in the former Benny’s plaza on Boston Post Road received wetlands approval from the town Thursday after neighbors said the project’s increased paving would worsen flooding in their shoreline community.

Members of the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission acknowledged that the neighbors in Chalker Beach have real concerns with runoff from development on Boston Post and Spencer Plain roads, but said the issues are mainly outside of the commission’s jurisdiction, and that the stormwater controls the developer proposed would help.

Rhode Island-based developer Carpionato Group has proposed turning the old Benny’s plaza at 1654 Boston Post Road into a 40,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market, with another 25,365 square feet of space for retail or medical offices.

The developer said that because of Whole Foods’ strict parking requirements, an additional 0.4 acres will need to be paved to fit 395 spaces.

Commissioner Jay Kulowiec said the new parking lot would increase the paved surface by about 5 percent but that Carpionato made up for the increase through a dual plan to build stormwater controls for both property runoff and an offsite DOT drainage pipe that runs water from Boston Post Road to the wetlands.

“For all this time up until now, it’s basically been discharged uncontrolled,” Kulowiec said of the DOT pipe. “I don’t necessarily know the motivations of the applicant, but they decided to put controls on that discharge even though it’s not coming from their property, so I found that to be a very positive sign.”

Commissioner Laura Parker Gray said she was concerned about whether the area was suitable for a septic system Carpionato Group was proposing.

At the last public hearing in September, engineer Steven Trinkhaus – hired by Chalker Beach residents to provide expert testimony on their behalf – told the commission that the proposed drainage system doesn’t do enough to clean the runoff it collects.

Trinkhaus also said commission members needed to consider the “elephant in the room,” specifically that they didn’t have enough information about the proposed new septic system to determine that it won’t pollute the wetlands. He said he was concerned that putting the septic under a paved lot would hurt the system’s ability to dilute nitrogen, putting the wetlands more at risk.

‘I’m generally on the pro-development side of the coin, but to come in with a plan that has absolutely no provisions for how to handle the wastewater, you can’t act on that plan,” Trinkhaus said. “You’re approving a building use here, and you don’t know if you can even make it work from a septic standpoint. Whether it’s under your jurisdiction or not, it has to be in the plans, and it has to be demonstrated it will function.”

First Selectman Carl Fortuna, attending Thursday’s meeting as a non-voting member of the commission, said the septic system will be reviewed by the Connecticut River Area Health District. He said any leaching from the septic system would end up in the marsh, but the health district would only approve a system if it meets their standards.

“I assume the professionals at CRAHD will handle that issue, but I see it as a huge improvement to the site, from a drainage point of view and from many other points of view,” Fortuna said.

Commission Chair Colin Heffernan said the public hearing brought out concerns from neighbors who have issues with an old tide gate that wasn’t working, seasonal flooding and other legitimate concerns that would have to be addressed. But those issues are outside the commission’s jurisdiction, which is the impact on the wetlands next to the plaza, he said.

“Our experts have stated on the record that there would not be a negative impact on the wetlands, and that is largely where our jurisdiction, as far as I’m concerned, kind of begins and ends,” Heffernan said. “That is not to say that the neighborhoods that are affected by sea level rise, and by a floodgate that may or may not be operating, and by runoff, shouldn’t be listened to.”

At the public hearing last month, Louis Treschitta, a Chalker Beach resident, said the upland development around Spencer Plain Road had been snowballing and worsening flooding, and that the Carpionato proposal would add to the negative effects on the beach community.

He said he had already raised concerns about the impact runoff from a proposed new shopping center just south of I-95 on Spencer Plain Road would have on the downstream coastal area, and he was told then to bring expert testimony, which is why the residents hired Trinkhaus to show the impact.

“You’re going to ruin everybody’s septic system in the area. You already have a water test that has high E. coli in it,” Treschitta said. “Now this drain water is going to go over other people’s properties, and you’re going to put E. coli in the streets and in people’s yards.”

Geoff Fitzgerald, the engineer working with Carpionato, said that the development on Spencer Plain was different because it involved cutting down a wooded area to build a new plaza, rather than making a “minor increase” in parking to an existing one. And he said the E. coli issue was because of high groundwater in Chalker Beach and other beach communities, not with development upstream.

But Steve Sheehan, an attorney representing the Chalker Beach Improvement Association, said that beach residents were concerned about a higher volume of water flowing from the development area to the beach neighborhood. He said Carpionato could have chosen to build less retail space with a smaller parking lot but the developer wanted the additional retail spaces and potential medical offices, which require extra parking on top of the already high parking demand that Whole Foods brings.

“If they just wanted to put in Whole Foods and they did not need to add these other spaces, they wouldn’t be increasing the [paved] surface area,” Sheehan said. “There’s ways this thing can be done.”

Town Engineer Geoffrey Jacobson had offered two alternatives to lower the impacts of the development – either reducing the size of the building or removing 37 parking spaces from the rear of the building.

But Carpionato’s attorney Ed Cassella said they had already been incorporating alternatives to limit the impact, including a larger detention basin and removing a portion of the building to keep the pavement further from the wetlands. Any further changes wouldn’t be “prudent or feasible,” for the project, he said.

“Attorney Sheehan made the comment that the design of the site is our choice, which is absolutely correct,” Cassella said. “It could be a park, and there would be no stormwater impact. But the site exists as it does today, and from all accounts… the stormwater measures will be beneficial to the wetlands.”

Heffernan asked how Carpionato drew the line between what changes were acceptable and what moved beyond “economically reasonable.”

Cassella said it depends on how much work is being done – in this case, a “full facelift” of the Benny’s plaza. But it comes down to how much the developer is willing to spend for the return they expect to get, he said.

Treschitta questioned why the developer’s profit was a wetlands consideration.

“I didn’t know profit was part of the reasoning to get through wetlands,” Treschitta said. “Are you going to open up Pandora’s Box for other developers to come and say, ‘Hey, it doesn’t meet my profit range, so I want to build bigger.’”

Brendan Crowley covers energy and the environment for CT Examiner. T: 860 598-0050

[email protected]

Old Saybrook Reboots ‘Mariner’s Way,’ Hires Consultant to Draft Fresh Strategic Plan

OLD SAYBROOK – It’s been nearly a decade since Old Saybrook dubbed Route 1 East, “Mariner’s Way,” as part of a push to attract development, but little has changed on the stretch of road connecting Interstate 95 to the town’s Main Street business district.But First Selectman Carl Fortuna said a lot has changed in the last few years, providing the town with new opportunities to ...

OLD SAYBROOK – It’s been nearly a decade since Old Saybrook dubbed Route 1 East, “Mariner’s Way,” as part of a push to attract development, but little has changed on the stretch of road connecting Interstate 95 to the town’s Main Street business district.

But First Selectman Carl Fortuna said a lot has changed in the last few years, providing the town with new opportunities to attract developers to the section of Boston Post Road characterized by mismatched businesses and blighted properties.

“Pre-pandemic, we had a bit of a sluggish housing market,” Fortuna said. “It wasn’t the case four years ago, and it wasn’t the case nine years ago, but it is the case now that there’s more of a desire to live on the shoreline and work on the shoreline. So there just may be a better opportunity now than has existed, not only in the last nine years, but maybe 20 years.”

The town is putting aside $89,910 to develop a new strategic plan for Mariner’s Way, selecting a bid from economic development consultants Camoin Associates to refresh the vision for the area that the town can pitch to interested developers.

“We shouldn’t just sit and wait,” Fortuna said. “If investing $80,000 gives us a return in tax dollars over three to five years, we have to try. It’s an underutilized area of town that I think the townspeople would like to look better, and maybe have some attractions that will give them a reason to go there.”

A vision for “Mariner’s Way”

In 2014, the town adopted a plan to revitalize the stretch of Route 1 between Saybrook Junction and Ferry Point, calling the collection of businesses and former industrial sites “Mariner’s Way.” Consulting group CivicMoxie out of Massachusetts was brought in to come up with a vision to put underutilized properties back into use – particularly a 17.84-acre section near the I-95 off ramp that was home to Custom Marine until 2000.

But Selectman Matt Pugliese, who previously served as chair of the town Economic Development Commission, said the 2014 plan focused on marine industrial uses because that’s historically what’s been in the area.

That plan called for a new Marine Recreation Business zone, which would incorporate the existing businesses oriented towards recreation on the Connecticut River, while allowing larger developments like hotels, college or university buildings, large-scale retail or a sports complex.

Pugliese said a historic use isn’t necessarily the best use, and the area seems to be ripe for housing development. The west end of Mariner’s Way is a stone’s throw away from the train station at Saybrook Junction, and both said there could be opportunity for housing there – especially with the state government’s focus on transit-oriented development.

Both also said the area could be a fit for light industrial uses, potentially for subcontractors of Electric Boat in Groton. There’s a need to house Electric Boat workers as well, Fortuna said, in addition to the already increased demand for housing in Old Saybrook.

Old Saybrook Economic Development Coordinator Jennifer Donahue said the new study would have a market analysis and economic opportunity study to look at how much housing is needed and what kinds of development is realistic.

Pugliese said the town needs that data to know what the market will support, and know what developers to talk to.

“It doesn’t make sense for us as a town to go out and spend our time trying to talk to somebody and build housing if we don’t have any information from our side to show why housing makes sense,” he said.

Challenges and opportunities

The former Custom Marine industrial property is contaminated with petroleum, hydrocarbons and other pollutants, which environmental consultants Tighe and Bond estimated in 2017 would cost about $1.72 million to remediate. Other former industrial properties in the area would also need cleanup before development.

Fortuna said he doesn’t believe the need for environmental cleanup is scaring away developers. The main problem before, according to Fortuna, was a lack of sewers and a sluggish housing market. There are still no sewers, but there’s more opportunity for housing, he said.

If there is a developer interested in a contaminated site, the town can help them connect to grants for cleanup, he said. But the developer has to come first.

“We’re not here to just assist the property owner to drive up the price of the property. That may scare off developers,” Fortuna said. “The idea would be to partner and say, ‘Look, you guys come to your price, then we will work with the developer in getting remediation.’”

Donahue said getting all sides to buy into a vision is key. The land is all privately owned, so the owner and a new developer have to come to an agreement independent of what the town wants. But it also means getting boards and commissions to agree on any changes, like zoning regulations that may need to be revised to allow a development.

“In past efforts, a lot of work was done by a lot of different people, but everybody wasn’t always in alignment with each other,” Donahue said.

Fortuna said they know some of the property owners are willing to sell, and some are actively looking for a buyer. But the town’s role isn’t to force anyone to do anything, Fortuna said. Pugliese said the town’s role is to let the owners know what might be possible so they can talk to the right developers.

“If there’s an opportunity, I think the residents of this town would like us to investigate that and see if we can make something happen,” Fortuna said.

Pugliese said Mariner’s Way is one of the largest pieces of town available for development. Cleaning up brownfields for development is better than clearing green space for it, he said. It’s also a central thoroughfare for the town, and connects to I-95, Route 9 and the Amtrak station, he said.

“Heading south, you get off I-95 and you’re right into Mariner’s Way,” Pugliese said. “So there’s a lot of value in making sure it greets and welcomes residents and visitors to the community.”

Brendan Crowley covers energy and the environment for CT Examiner. T: 860 598-0050

[email protected]

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