Townhome Development A Rare Compromise On Affordable Housing In Fairfield, Attorneys Say

FAIRFIELD, CT — Affordable housing proposals are not a rarity in Fairfield. Neither is neighborhood opposition to such plans. However, it is unusual for a developer and its new neighbors to come together in compromise.

Nevertheless, that’s what attorneys representing developer 888 Oldfield LLC and a group of involved residents said happened when they addressed the Town Plan and Zoning Commission during a virtual public hearing Tuesday night.

“I’m pleased to report that the applicant and my client, the neighbors, engaged in a very respectful and productive dialogue,” said attorney Joel Green, on behalf of 16 homeowners who live near 888-898 Oldfield Road. “These are the kind of dialogues that we need to be having in Fairfield for the benefit of the town and its residents.”

The developer, represented by lawyer John Fallon, had originally planned to build 17 rental units on the 0.71-acre site. However, following discussions with the community, the project was reduced, first to 13 units, and finally, to 10.

“I think it’s a healthy way for us to proceed at a time when I know Fairfield is sensitive to affordable housing,” Fallon said.

The land is currently occupied by two single-family homes. Under the developer’s proposal, the houses would be replaced by four 40-foot buildings with a total of 10 two-bedroom townhome-style rental units. Each new residence would come with a garage underneath, and the complex would have another 11 surface parking spaces.

The zoning compliance and coastal site plan application discussed Tuesday was made under state law Section 8-30g, which dictates the only way the commission could deny the proposal is to prove it poses a threat to public health, welfare and safety that outweighs Fairfield's need for affordable housing. Section 8-30g applies to towns where less than 10 percent of housing stock meets state criteria to be recognized as affordable.

Three of the units would be set aside for affordable housing, said Fallon, adding he expects the complex’s tenants to be seniors and young professionals.

By reducing the density of the project, the developer will be able to construct the buildings 47 feet back from Oldfield Road. Fallon said his client has also agreed to put in a screening buffer of evergreen trees.

Behind the proposed development is a small swale, said civil engineer Jeff Gordon, who noted the project will include permeable pavers on the driveways to manage stormwater and that the first floors will be above elevation due to the site’s location in a flood zone.

Following questions from commissioner Kathryn Braun about the nearby marsh, Gordon clarified that by consolidating the development, the structures will be further from the tidal area than originally planned.

Streetside, the project is expected to generate about five or six car trips during peak travel hours, according to traffic engineer Mike Galante. Traffic was a major concern for one neighbor in attendance Tuesday, who did not share the collaborative sentiments expressed by Green and Fallon.

“You can’t fight 8-30g, but there is a lot of opposition,” said Matthew Sanders, who lives across the street from the site and remarked that traffic generated by the development was a source of worry for himself and his fellow residents. “Large complexes can go in just about anywhere that there’s any space.”

The commission will vote on the application at a future meeting.