Another 2-Family Proposed on Small Lot on Homestead Lane in Pemberwick

A new pre-application has been submitted to Greenwich Planning & Zoning to replace an existing three-bedroom single family home and detached garage that dates to 1945 with a 2-1/2 story, 33.6 ft high two-family home at 24 Homestead Lane in Pemberwick.

The applicant is 24 Homestead Lane LLC, registered to Arslan Altaf.

The lot is undersized in the R-6, Coastal Overlay (CAM), and Flood Hazard Overlay (FHO) zones. The parcel is located in an area of Special Flood Hazard AE with a base flood elevation of 18 feet.

The house is 25 ft tall. The proposed two family would be 33.6 feet ft tall. (35 feet is allowed)

Each of the two dwelling units would have 3 bedrooms.

While requirements for parking are for one garage space and 1.6 outdoor spaces for each three bedroom dwelling unit, the applicant proposes 5 indoor spots comprising two tandem parked two-car parking areas plus a single space.

The parking would be at ground level, with the house raised up above it.

Regs allow for tandem parking for parking serving a single unit and allow parking such that cars back out of the driveway onto the road.

According to the application narrative both the single family house, garage and driveway are substantially non-conforming as it relates to location.

Per the application narrative, “the proposed residential development is in harmony with the neighborhood, will not generate excessive traffic or negatively impact the storm sewer infrastructure…”

The property is directly next door to #26 Homestead Lane where a similar proposal for a two-family house on a vacant lot was approved despite some controversy.

The commission went back and forth with the applicant on the size of the house and parking plan, given the on-street parking is tight and there were complaints from neighbors on Pemberwick Road whose driveways and garages at at the back of their properties.They said residents of Homestead Lane frequently blocked their driveways.

The attorney representing the applicant is Casey O’Donnell. He also represented the applicants at 26 Homestead in 2022.

24 Homestead Lane. Jan 17, 2023
24 Homestead Lane after Ida flooding. Sept 5, 2021