P&Z to Again Scrutinize Mason Street Development Submitted Under Workforce Housing Regulation Section 6-110

A proposed development at 62 Mason Street is on the Planning & Zoning Commission agenda on Wednesday night, Sept 4. (Usually P&Z meets on Tuesdays, but it is pushed forward due to the holiday).

A local developer, Albert Orlando of Orlando Development Company, intends to demolish a house built in 1882, and replace it with a 3-story, 7 unit building under section 6-110 of the Greenwich Building Zone Regulation, which is the town’s workforce housing regulation.

Two of the 7 units will be moderate income.

Whereas section 8-30g is a State of Connecticut statute for affordable housing that became familiar to residents when developments were proposed on Sound Beach Ave, and at the site of Post Road Iron Works, section 6-110  is different.

Section 6-110 is specific to Greenwich. It was created to incentivize workforce housing.

At the last meeting, on Aug 6, the P&Z commissioners were divided over the application, disagreeing on the proposed mansard roof for example.

In order to achieve two units of workforce housing for police officers, school teachers, or town hall workers, much will be impacted, including a century old streetscape and shady canopy of mature trees.

The applicant seeks triple the FAR that would be imposed without 6-110.

Some of the commissioners balked at the resulting “massing” of the building at a .9 FAR.

“The CBG zone is .3 FAR, and you’re requesting .9,” Commissioner Nick Macri said at the Aug 6 P&Z meeting. “You’re giving me two units and I’m giving you triple the amount of FAR.”

On Thursday the tree warden held a hearing on the fate of a Town-owned London Plane tree  in front of 62 Mason Street.

The developer wants to cut it down to make way for a proposed 22-foot wide driveway leading to underground parking for 16 cars at his 3-story, 7 unit development.

At that tree hearing several people from the community testified in opposition to cutting down the town tree including Susie Baker, Peter and Isabel Malkin, JoAnn Messina and Francia Alvarez of the Greenwich Tree Conservancy.

Some of the feedback had to do with positioning the driveway directly in line with the town tree. For example, the developer was asked whether it would be possible to angle the driveway. He replied that it would be unsafe.

The tree warden is scheduled to issue his decision on the tree in three business days.

Stay tuned.

See also:

P&Z WATCH: Commission Contemplates Bulky 7-Unit Apartment Building with 20% Moderate Units Aug 8, 2019

Tree Warden Hears Objections to Removal of Town Tree at 62 Mason Street