RTM Halts Greenwich Avenue Intersection Project

GREENWICH, CT — Plans for an intersection project in downtown Greenwich have come to a screeching halt following a vote by the Representative Town Meeting on Monday night.

The town's legislative body voted 114 to 72 with 12 abstentions to overrule the Municipal Improvement status for the project which was granted in September by the town's planning & zoning commission. The RTM's vote effectively stops the project from moving forward in its current form.

Under the town charter, property owners can appeal MI status to the RTM. Several residents ended up making an appeal, which sent the matter back to the town's legislative body for consideration Monday night.

The proposed project encompassed the Greenwich Avenue, Arch Street and Havemeyer Place intersection and the Greenwich Avenue, Fawcett Place and Grigg Street intersection.

The project has been the subject of intense debate over the past year.

Similar to the Greenwich Avenue/Elm Street project that was completed last year, aesthetic improvements, more green space and plantings would have been added.

Proponents said the number one priority is public safety. "Bumpouts," as they're called, would have been added to decrease crossing times in crosswalks, improve sightlines and the safety for pedestrians and motorists.

Opponents argued the construction would encroach upon trees and war monuments, change the character of the historic district in the area, take away precious parking spaces, and not improve safety.

The project was to be funded entirely through a $2.8 million state grant. With the project killed, future grants for a revised project are not guaranteed.

"DPW will determine the next steps for the project in the coming weeks," said Renee Wallace, a communications specialist for the Greenwich Department of Public Works, in a statement to Patch on Tuesday afternoon. "Any revised project will be required to reapply for grant funding money and compete against other projects across the state."

The debate around the intersection project continued Monday night with over 20 speakers.

"We want Greenwich Avenue to be attractive and safe, safer for all users, but we don't want to lose what we care about. The first principle of the Plan of Conservation and Development is that we preserve community character, of which historic preservation is an important part," said Louisa Stone, an RTM member from District 10, who appealed the MI status. Stone is also former chair of the planning & zoning commission.

Greenwich resident Leslie Petrick said alarm bells should be going off about the proposed improvements. She said the town has not guaranteed that 100-year-old beech trees won't be harmed during construction.

"This is the most beautiful section of Greenwich Avenue. The reason it is so beautiful is because of the old trees and the parklike setting where the World War I memorial stands. I don't think it's a stretch to reference the Joni Mitchell song: They paved paradise and put up a parking lot," Petrick said.

Diane Fox, chair of the Greenwich Preservation network, said the area of the proposed work contains some of the most significant historic features of Greenwich. The old town hall, post office and Havemeyer building are in close proximity to each other.

"This intersection is the heart of Greenwich life and history. While it shouldn't be frozen as is for all time, any changes at this intersection should be made in a manner to protect, preserve and where possible enhance the history and historic nature of this crossroads," she said.

Before Monday's RTM meeting, First Selectman Fred Camillo, who has been a strong supporter of these intersection improvement projects, tried to clarify rumors about tree removal, parking, the impact to war monuments and other fears of residents with a letter to the editor.

During Monday's meeting, Camillo noted that Connecticut has had its worst year of pedestrian deaths, and Greenwich isn't immune.

"Make no mistake about it, this is about public safety. I heard a speaker referring to the ambiance of that part of the Avenue. It's a concrete boulevard. I grew up here, too, and I love Greenwich Avenue as much as anybody here. This enhances it," Camillo said. "Public safety is number one, but this does make it look better. It adds 2,000 square feet of green space, but people are focusing on a piece of grass that hardly anyone goes on in front of the Board of Ed. building."

Alan Gunzburg, chair of the First Selectman's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, said over the last month, 12 people in Connecticut have been killed after getting hit by cars, including a friend of his who was a well-known figure at a school for the blind in Hartford several weeks ago.

"For too long, I've attended meetings in this town asking and reminding anybody who will listen about safety, accessibility and inclusion. I've not come here today for that meeting. I'm not asking you for safety, accessibility and inclusion. Instead, I came here today to remind you and everyone in this room and in the Town of Greenwich, this town is out of compliance with federal law," Gunzburg said. "The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed last century and signed into law by George Bush. These are my civil rights and the civil rights of everyone else who is disabled. "

RTM member Dan Quigley pointed out that the project was supported by the Greenwich Police Department, Fire Department, Commission on Aging, Greenwich Communities (housing authority), and the First Selectman's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities.

"This evening we have before us a unique opportunity to make Greenwich a leader in public safety and to advance the quality for all of our residents," Quigley said. "Some opponents of this project have relied on what amounts to scare tactics to make their point. They say they will lose our heritage and that we'll betray our history. The only thing that is betrayed by these statements is our intelligence. We will not be losing our history, but rather connecting it to the future."