At Tuesday’s P&Z meeting the commission discussed Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich’s pre-application to expand and renovate their home at 38 Field Point Road for their “Chabad Center.”
In February 2023, after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Byram merged with First Lutheran, the First Lutheran Church property was sold for $10.7 million to Chabad.
P&Z commission chair Margarita Alban kicked off the Tuesday’s discussion with three words: “Parking, parking, parking.”
The property has an existing legal non-conformity for the parking. There are 20 parking spaces today, and they propose to have 24 including one new handicap space.
“With any religious institution, big events, big holy days that fall during the week, during the day, how are we going to accommodate?” she asked.
Attorney Bruce Cohen for the applicant said that back in 1957, the Zoning Board of Appeals made a decision granting a special exception for parking for the Lutheran Church.
Alban said if Chabad is able to secure parking “within your control and within the distance” the commission understands that that is acceptable.
“That is what our regulations allow,” she said.
She noted that attendance at First Lutheran had dwindled over the years, and Chabad would likely be well attended.
According to the application, “Chabad proposes to remove the building’s existing second floor and redistribute that floor area to the building’s main level and basement for use by its congregation.”
The main floor would include a sanctuary with seating or 228 persons (reduced from 238); classrooms for religious education purposes; three offices for staff, a library, kitchen, small lounge, lobby and spacious foyer and reception area to allow members to socialize before and after services. The basement would remain predominantly dedicated to storage and mechanical space, except for the addition of a new mikvah, which is a ritual bath used in Judaism. The mikvah would be accessible from the exterior of the building to provide privacy.
Mr. Cohen said in 1945 the Lutheran Church purchased the property and it featured Judge James Mead’s home. They converted the house to a chapel with a rectory and Sunday School, and used that from 1945 to 1956. Then, in 1957 they tore that home down and built a new church.
“They needed special exception because unlike today where houses of worship are permitted uses in the CGB zone, it wasn’t at the time,” Mr. Cohen said. “They got a special exception and a variance for parking.”
He said based on the requirement of one parking space for every 10 pews, that added up to 23.
Eighty (80) spaces would be required under today’s regulations based on a seating capacity of 238 seats.
Ms Alban said that in past proposals from Chabad to Planning & Zoning, they had said many congregants walk to services.
“If there is any kind of estimate to that, that would be very helpful to us,” Alban said. “If you have an estimate we can get a sense of whether or not you are aggravating the non-conformity. Also the classroom uses, what days, etc. Because there is tons of available parking around you that you can use – except during the middle of the week days.”
Mr. Cohen said the addition proposed would not add to traffic, and that when they return to P&Z, they would bring a study to confirm existing traffic conditions and establish available of additional parking.
“Our main regular usage is on the weekend where there is lots and lots of public parking available. We’ll give you an estimate of what that adds up to as well,” Cohen said.
“We have a wonderful architect to help us,” he said referring to Richard Granoff whose renderings were shared.
“We have to satisfy the commission that the addition that we’re proposing will not result in a more detrimental parking situation,” Mr. Cohen acknowledged.
Commissioner Nick Macri said the applicant should provide concrete details on agreements for use of nearby private parking lots prior to going before the Architectural Review Committee.
Mr. Cohen said the use of the synagogue was currently for religious services and religious classes, and both of those functions had been moved from the Chabad’s property at 75 Mason Street.
“That should be considered as well. One of the reasons the synagogue wanted to make this change is because the situation was fairly tight at 75 Mason Street,” Cohen said. “This is part of the effort by Chabad to provide a more appropriate place of worship.”
Photo of the property at 38 Field Point Rd when it was home of the First Lutheran Church.
