Another potential North Haven building department problem could be Tuscan Villa, 415 Clintonville Road, a three-story, age-restricted retirement complex with 59 rental apartments, where $23,051 in fees may be owed.

Undercharges

According to town hall’s online assessor records, total living space at 415 Clintonville Road is 78,210 square feet – 26,574 first floor space, and 51,636 combined second and third floor space.

However, a building permit application submitted June 13, 2003 lists Tuscan Villa’s first floor living space as “22,940” square feet. Second and third floor living spaces are both listed as “22,220” square feet, a combined sum of 44,440 square feet. Adding all three floors gives a total application listed living space of 67,380 square feet.

The application is signed by North Haven building official Dave Maiden.

Town hall building permit B2003-0892, issued September 11, 2003 also lists Tuscan Villa’s total living space as 67,380 square feet.

According to the permit, property contractor Vigliotti Construction LLC, of Branford, was charged $41,898 in first, second, and third floor permit fees for construction.

Based on the building department fee schedule in place during 2003, construction value for permit fees is $65 per square foot for first floor living space, and $45 per square foot for second and third floors. Using those figures, $3,490,900 in construction value was correctly tallied.

However, 78,210 minus 67,380 equals 10,830 in potentially unaccounted living space – 3,634 first floor and 6,923 second and third floor square feet. As that space may not have been originally charged, current construction values would apply: $110 per first floor square foot and $95 per second and third floor square foot.

Multiplying 3,634 by 110 equals $399,740 in uncharged first floor construction value. Multiplying 6,923 by 95 equals $657,685 in uncharged second and third floor construction value. Adding $399,740 and $657,685 equals $1,057,425.

Construction permit fees are $18 for the first $1,000 of construction value, and then $12 for each additional $1,000 of construction value. Charging $18 for the first $1,000 of $1,057,425 leaves $1,056,425; charging $12 for every remaining $1,000 of construction value, and adding $18, equals $12,695 in construction permit fees possibly owed.

Missing permits

Tuscan Villa’s site plan, approvals, and submissions indicate that all 59 units include porches.

However, the 2003 building permit application does not list porch construction measurements. A space on the form for such information has been left blank.

Additionally, town hall’s building file for 415 Clintonville Road does not contain porch permits.

Porch construction permit fees are a flat fee of $75 each. North Haven’s late fee is $100 permit. Therefore, $175 may be owed for each of 59 porches, equaling $10,325 in potentially missing porch dues.

Totals and comments

Adding $12,695 and $10,325 equals $23,020 possibly not charged to Tuscan Villa’s constructors.

A Vigliotti representative, who wished to remain anonymous, said Wednesday that he believed Tuscan Villa’s decks should not have required separate permits. “They’re enclosed,” he said, “so I think they’re part of the structure themselves. The decks are not protruding.”

“That building is one combined structure,” he added.

When questioned about potential living space discrepancy, the builder’s representative referred to a New Haven Savings Bank property appraisal, stamped March 13, 2003, that listed Tuscan Villa’s total space 66,800 square feet, and proposed living space as 53,000 square feet.

“Our appraisal was done by a certified appraisal company,” he said.

Maiden has continued to be unavailable for comment because, according to a Town Hall employee, he has been out of work with a back injury. Maiden previously told The Citizen that he must exercise caution due to state investigations, and cannot be interviewed until after the investigation finishes.

The potential missing porch construction fees were discovered during The North Haven Citizen’s ongoing investigation into the building department. The North Haven Citizen is systematically inspecting condominiums and other large properties throughout town.