P&Z worries about Benedict Place complex
GREENWICH — A developer who planned to build a multi-story apartment building on Benedict Court and Benedict Place has purchased another lot in the neighborhood and wants to upgrade the proposal with more units — including more affordable housing.
But the Planning & Zoning Commission had so many questions about the size, scope, fire safety and sewer capacity of the new proposal it tabled the discussion until more information was available.
Developers are looking to build a six-story, 120unit building on 12 separate parcels on Benedict Court and Benedict Place, demolishing the homes, offices and businesses there now. The plan calls for 48 “affordable units,” or 40 percent of the total.
The 120-unit plan is up 10 from the proposal submitted last year, due to another parcel being added to the development site. The developers are seeking to take advantage of the state’s 8-30g law, which gives wide latitude for the construction of affordable housing and severely limits the authority of local land use agencies.
Bill Finger, co-chair of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, told the Planning & Zoning Commission this week that extensive discussions with the developers, Nimbus Realty, had resulted in the latest version. The new proposal, Finger said, has raised the percentage of affordable units from 30 to 40 percent of the total.
Finger said the builders would be able to rent to people who make 80 percent of the area median income, giving them a higher financial reward than in earlier proposals, in exchange for the greater number affordable units. Finger said the Housing Trust Fund would be providing a
“modest” amount to the project, without specifying how much.
“We were OK with the decision to increase the number of affordable units, which obviously is a benefit to the town,” Finger said.
The commission asked how the proposed building would impact the sewer system in central Greenwich, which is near capacity. Commissioners also asked about fire safety and the demand a large new building in central Greenwich could place on firefighting resources.
Attorney Chip Haslun, representing the developers, said a meeting was held last year with the Office
of the Fire Marshal “and nothing was raised that we thought would represent an obstacle to this project going forward.”
The lawyer said the sewer issue was also being addressed: “We’re working on an ongoing basis with the sewer department to resolve these issues,” he said.
Commissioner Dennis Yeskey said the creation of 13 affordable units with three bedrooms was a positive, calling the family-sized units “awfully attractive.” Most affordable-housing units are one or two-bedrooms, he noted.
Commissioner Peter Levy raised concerns about the size of the plan.
“I would go for a lower density, and fewer units,
as opposed to a higher density with more units,” he said. He said he was concerned that a large new residential structure could put the downtown district “in jeopardy” and asked for more specifics: “I would really love to have a much better picture of some of the details.”
A number of area residents have previously criticized the proposal for a six-story building on Benedict Place off Greenwich Avenue, citing increased congestion, parking shortages, noise and air pollution.
The plan also calls for an underground garage to accommodate parking for up to 174 vehicles.
The development proposal was tabled for further review.