84-Unit Affordable Housing Development Proposed In Greenwich: Planning & Zoning Docs

GREENWICH, CT — A project that aims to add diversity and affordability to Greenwich's housing stock has been submitted to the town, according to Planning & Zoning documents.

The applicant, 200 Pemberwick Road REO, LLC & 0 Comly Avenue LLC - owners of 200 Pemberwick Road and 0 Comly Ave. respectively - is seeking a pre-application review for a proposed assisted housing development under the 8-30g statute.

The development would feature 84 units over 84,264 square feet on four floors above a podium garage, with a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom units.

"The proposed building is intended to be responsive to the 2019 Plan of Conservation and Development in that it would be an 'infill' development on underutilized land, would add diversity to the housing stock and would considerably increase the number of affordable dwelling units in Greenwich," William I. Haslun II, attorney for the applicant, wrote in documents on file with the town.

The two lots, which were previously combined for zoning purposes by the Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission, total 5.5 acres. The site is improved by office buildings totaling 43,150 square feet, located exclusively on the 200 Pemberwick Road property. The office buildings would remain, submitted documents say.

The property has been the subject of numerous applications to the Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission over the years, notably a 1987 application which resulted in the approval of 21 dwelling units along with the office buildings and the establishment of a minimum required 153 parking spaces dedicated to the office use of the total existing 210 spaces, Haslun explained. However, the dwelling units were never built.

Haslun said the existing parking lots, particularly on the 0 Comly Ave. property, are "underutilized."

"The owners intent to maintain a total of 210 parking spaces (reconfigured), 57 spaces to be designated exclusively for the residential use, and 69 of the remaining 153 spaces to be shared between the office use and residential use," Haslun added.

The proposal is expected to go before the Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission in the coming weeks.

The pre-application process allows for a non-binding discussion with the commission about the pros and cons of a proposal before a substantial investment is made in developing plans, reports and studies.