Darien P&Z To Hear Subdivision Proposal, Zoning Amendment

DARIEN, CT — Darien’s Planning & Zoning Commission is scheduled to continue work on the town’s long-range development plan and consider several land-use proposals, including a four-lot residential subdivision on Mansfield Avenue, during its upcoming meeting Tuesday night.

The commission will meet Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. in Room 119 at Darien Town Hall, 2 Renshaw Road. The meeting is scheduled to be held in person, according to the agenda.

One of the items of note on the agenda is a public hearing on a proposed subdivision at 471 Mansfield Ave. The application, submitted by the Missionary Society of Connecticut Inc., seeks approval to subdivide the approximately 14.45-acre property into four single-family residential lots, each ranging from about 2.44 to 2.60 acres.

The proposal is designed as a conservation subdivision, which uses modified lot width and side-yard requirements to allow for additional preserved open space on the property.

The parcel is located on the west side of Mansfield Avenue, about 200 feet south of Stephen Mather Road, in the town’s R-2 residential zone.

Also scheduled for a public hearing is a proposed amendment to the town’s zoning regulations that would allow specialty veterinary office uses in the Designed Business (DB) zone. The amendment, submitted by 50 OKHN LLC, would add the use as a permitted principal use, establish a definition for specialty veterinary offices and set minimum parking requirements of one space per 200 square feet of gross floor area.

During the general meeting portion of the agenda, the commission is expected to continue a workshop discussion on the 2026 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) with consultants H&H. The discussion is expected to include the chapter focused on nature, sustainability and climate, as well as designed versions of the first five chapters of the draft plan.

Commission members may also deliberate and potentially take action on several previously heard applications.

Among them is a proposal from Darien Land Trust LLC to remove an existing asphalt driveway at Piacentini Preserve, 96 Hoyt St., and construct a five-space public parking area to improve access to the preserve. The public hearing on that application closed March 3.

The commission may also review a proposal from the Country Club of Darien at 300 Mansfield Ave. to modify two existing tennis courts in order to create four pickleball courts and one tennis court, along with related site work. The hearing on that application also closed March 3.

Another item scheduled for deliberation involves an application by Oliver Wilson Development LLC for 45 Old Farm Road, which proposes grading, excavation and filling associated with construction of a new single-family home, pool, HVAC equipment and related site improvements.

Additional agenda items include an update on accessory dwelling unit (ADU) approvals, a report on the commission’s accomplishments for 2024-2025 and reports from the chairman and planning director.

The full agenda with links to application materials can be found here.