Residents Split On Revised Cancer Center Plans From Greenwich Hospital

GREENWICH, CT — Revised plans for a new Smilow Cancer Center went before the Planning and Zoning Commission last week.

Greenwich Hospital is seeking to build a new, comprehensive 55,700 square foot, three-story medical building at the corner of Lafayette Place and Lake Avenue, with below-grade parking for 118 vehicles, new driveways, outdoor seating areas and landscaping. Specifically, the project will be built on a 94,869 square foot piece of land located at 16-38 Lake Avenue and 54-64 Lafayette Place. A zoning change is also being requested.

A proposal for a new center was rejected by the commission last summer, and new plans were developed earlier this year.

Neighbors near the hospital said last summer that while a new cancer center is welcome, the building as it was proposed would have impacted the character and feel of the neighborhood, as well as created more traffic problems in the area and compromised neighborhood safety.

Supporters of the project said the new center was badly needed to help provide critical, specialized cancer care to those in need.

During last Thursday's meeting, more of the same arguments were made despite the revised proposal.

Greenwich Hospital President Diane Kelly reiterated that co-locating a new cancer center with the hospital is essential, not only for physicians, but patients and their families. She said prevalence of cancer is rising, and specialized care requires more space.

"We are not talking about another hospital, and we are not talking about a very busy physiican practice with hundreds and hundreds of patients going in all day long," Kelly said. "We are talking about a quiet center integrated in our community that delivers life-improving, life-extending, lifesaving cancer care, respectfully, compassionately and carefully."

Kelly said her team has put the interests of neighbors first and foremost while developing revised plans.

"Over the last 12 months, we have worked with our immediate neighbors to understand and to respect and address these needs, and to balance them with the needs of our entire community. I know we all agree how important this work is," she said.

Hospital Chief Operating Officer Marc Kosak said community engagement has been a "cornerstone" in planning efforts.

"We have heard loud and clear that maintaining the character of the community and the serenity of the neighborhood is important. The revised proposal calls for 30 percent more green space, and an increase in the building setback from the road and the elimination of surface parking, which has all been buried out of sight underground," he said.

Kosak said he's aware of concerns about stormwater runoff, and that hospital officials have met with neighbors and engineers.

"We are committed to using the best practices to mitigate erosion and to control runoff," Kosak added.

On traffic, Kosak said the hospital has repeated a traffic and parking study in conformance with the town's requirements.

"The study demonstrates that the project will not have a significant impact to the roadway network, and that parking can be accommodated within our current parking system," he said.

To address noise, Kosak said the hospital has contracted "with the best in class partner" in Gilbane Building Company, which "is committed to a code of decorum, and regular off hours when our neighbors can trust that construction will be dormant."

In rejecting plans for a new center last year, the commission said the project was "in direct conflict" with the 2019 Plan of Conservation and Development, which serves as the town's guiding light on zoning, conservation and development decisions.

Last Thursday, Amy Souchuns, attorney for the applicant, said the new project accomplishes a number of objectives outlined in the POCD.

Commissioner Dennis Yeskey said he was impressed the hospital team went through and read the lengthy POCD. But he reminded them that this project requires a "big balancing act."

"We want to be a residential town. We don't want to be a commercial town," he said.

Yeskey asked how many Greenwich residents are predicted to use the facility, and he wanted more details about services.

Commissioner Peter Lowe wondered if the project would be "intrusive and disruptive" to the residential neighborhood.

"We think that this is consistent with the surrounding neighborhood. It's certainly substantially different than the prior application, and really tries to implement all of those goals [from the POCD]," Souchuns responded.

Chris Enders from Gilbane had said demolition to make room for the facility would begin in spring 2023 and take about three months. Construction could take 27-30 months, and a lot of excavation would be needed to move rock and materials to accommodate underground parking.

Commissioner Nick Macri said he wanted more information on the construction logistics and a specific schedule for each phase of construction.

During the public comment portion, several residents spoke against and in favor of the new center.

Karen Fassuliotis, a member of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation who lives near Greenwich Hospital, spoke out about the first proposal last year as a resident of the town. She again spoke last week and said the revised plans still don't satisfy the POCD.

"On page 17, the POCD reflects the voice of the community. People stated strongly and consistently that building a better Greenwich involves maintaining small town character and a New England feel. This proposed change does not jibe with that," she said.

"So again, we are looking at a regional, not a community hospital, no matter what Greenwich Hospital said," Fassuliotis added.

Brooks Harris, another Greenwich resident, encouraged the commission to get more testimony from people, like himself, who have gone through cancer treatment. He said a new cancer center would be a "tremendous boon" to Greenwich.

"I recognize there are compromises and neighbors will suffer some things they don't want. There might be some traffic or noise, or the sight of this thing. But I would focus on the other side right now. This is something that will make Greenwich a better town and I would encourage you to spend a little more time with people who have been through this battle and understand what it is these people want to bring to our town and how it will help us stay the great town we are," Harris said.

Town resident Henry Orphys said he can appreciate the benefits of additional cancer center treatment facilities in Stamford, Greenwich or Westchester, but he believes those facilities can be added in a location "that does not impose the hardships on thousands of residents of Central Greenwich that putting this particular center in this particular location would cause."

Orphys said he had concerns with parking, traffic and noise associated with the center, as well as potential water runoff issues.

Michael Franco, a physician and a lifelong Greenwich resident, said Greenwich Hospital is one of the town's gems.

"And the reason Greenwich Hospital has been such a gem is because they've always tried to keep up and provide excellent care for the residents of Greenwich, and this is another effort for Greenwich Hospital to do this," he said.

"As a resident, I have zero problems with Greenwich Hospital trying to make this effort, and I truly hope that we can all come together and figure out a way to make this happen, because if it doesn't happen, it will at best be short-sighted on the town's part."

The agenda item was left open for future discussion. To view application materials, click here.

The day before the planning and zoning meeting, Greenwich Hospital held an outdoor press briefing in which they discussed why a new center is needed.

To read more on that, click here.