The July 1 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting features a pre-application discussion about the renovation and expansion of an existing, non-conforming two-family house at 37 Arcadia Road, on the corner of Park Ave in Old Greenwich.
The property is between a single family neighborhood and commercial zone with the US post office across the road on Arcadia, and a Citgo gas station at the opposite corner of Park Ave.
The two-family house is grandfathered as a two-family in the R12 single-family zone, though it does not appear to be a two-family house today.
It is currently configured with one unit upstairs and one downstairs.
The structure dates back to about 1936.
According to the Assessor’s office at Greenwich Town Hall, the property sold from James Stevenson Campbell, Executor, to Goodwin Developments LLC on June 11, 2025 for $1,550,000.
The proposal is to reconfigure the units to be side-by-side, and add a floor to expand upward as well as outward, while retaining the existing front wall facing Arcadia.
The renovation and expansion would modernize the house while staying within the town’s zoning regulations. No variances would be sought.
View of 37 Arcadia from Arcadia. Applicant’s file
View of side of 37 Arcadia from Park Ave. Photo: applicant’s file
View of rear of 37 Arcadia from Park Ave. Photo: Applicant’s file
The file indicates the property owner is James Campbell of Redding and the authorized agent is James Goodwin of Greenwich.
A narrative from Jake Goodwin of Goodwin Developments LLC said that by increasing parking from 4 spaces to 6, the two-family home would be less non-complaint with regulations, and that adding traditional pitched rooflines would be more in line with the established character of the residential neighborhood.
The proposal would increase the number of bedrooms from 5 to 6.
Total square footage would increase from 2,592 sq ft to 3,026 sq ft, which is within allowable FAR.
“The proposed work has been carefully designed to remain in full compliance with all zoning code requirements, including height, coverage and setbacks,” Goodwin says in his narrative.
Public Comment
The application file includes concerns from the neighboring property owner at 39 Arcadia Road, Robert Popham, who notes the house today appears to be a single family residence and suggests that a side-by-side configuration with carports topped by bedrooms would not only be out-of-character with the neighborhood, but headlights from the carports would shine into his dining room, car doors would slam and car exhaust would waft onto his property.
His letter notes the proposed peak height of the structure would increase from 25 ft to 34 ft, and that the length of the structure would increase so that almost all of the southern residence would sit beyond the existing footprint. He states that the result of those increases would cut off his light, views and airflow.
A further concern is that the two units might be operated as AirBnb style, short term rentals. The neighbor’s letter notes that Goodwin Developments was established last fall as “All Other Traveler Accommodation,” and the website for Goodwin Developments refers to “Your perfect getaway awaits!”
The neighbor also questions whether the non-conforming two-family use should continue to be grandfathered given the extent of the proposed work and expanded footprint.
The briefing session prior to the P&Z meeting is scheduled for 1:00pm on Monday, June 30.
The July 1 meeting starts at 4:00pm P&Z and is via Zoom.
See also:
Up to the Minute Greenwich Property Transfers, May 28-30, 2025