“The number of times the high school has sat down with us neighbors is zero. We demand to be heard.”
Larry Restieri, Old Church RoadBurke Dempsey of Hillside Road said he wondered about unintended consequences of rezoning, and the possibility that other neighbors would rezone to R20.
“We’ll be the only few houses with RA1,” he said. “Others houses will be worth millions and millions. It may lead to more affordable housing. They’ll try to put it in. It’s already happened with Pathways. There will be more density.”
Diana Delano, who said her property abuts fields 3 and 4, said the rezoning proposal was sprung on neighbors with short notice. She said a one page letter from Mr. Heagney invited them to peruse relevant documents at town hall. She said that wasn’t even possible since town hall is closed due to the pandemic.
Ms Alban said the rezone had been discussed since May, but that the commission appreciated the feedback.
“We never want to do something without a dialogue. We like to talk to people and get their input. That’s why we held it open,” Alban said.
“We are very scared,” Ms Delano said.
Several neighbors said they feared GHS having an additional 78,000 sq ft of FAR.
Attorney Heagney and BOE member Joe Kelly said the proposed rezoning did not signal plans for a building spree, but they did note that a new security vestibule outside the glass corridor was in the works.
BOE member Joe Kelly argued in favor of the rezoning so it wouldn’t be necessary to pursue so many variances.
“We don’t want to break rules, knowing we’re 75,000 sq ft over FAR,” he said. “The extra FAR does not give us the freedom to say let’s expand and grow.”
“Looking forward, to the (plans for a safety vestibule) entry area, it isn’t just to make it a little extra secure. It’s about school shootings,” he said. “We want to make sure it’s not easy for a shooter to come in and shoot people. On the school shooting issue we take very seriously.”
The commission and attorney Heagney tried to explain that if the rezone was approved any proposal requiring additional FAR would still have to go through an arduous process involving P&Z and public hearings.
P&Z chair Margarita Alban said, “It’s just the bleachers, the under structures, and the handicapped access, but a lot of people feel you’re doing a total rebuild.”
Noting the commission had been inundated in emails, Alban said, “We’ve struck terror in people’s hearts.”
“If you read the tone of the emails, we’ve scared people. People feel this means the high school is about to embark on construction. I don’t know how to put people’s concerns to rest right now. The intent is not to throw open the barn doors.”
The neighbors weren’t having it. They said they hadn’t even been aware of a 15 year plan.
(The $765,000,000 long term facilities plan was unveiled by architect Russell Davidson in May 2018 at a public hearing at the high schools.)
Attorneys Jonathan Martin and Gillian Ingraham said they were hired by “a substantial number of neighbors” who wanted a cohesive voice. The attorneys said the neighbors want a top notch facility but without rezoning. They noted the future plans for campus were unclear and they feared losing community character and a commercialization of the neighborhood.
“Why are people scared?” Mr. Martin asked. “It’ll diminish their setbacks.”
He said the school could then erect large sports shed very close to neighbors’ property lines.
“There was talk about wanting to be a good neighbor and abiding by the rules, but being a good neighbor would be not going over FAR,” he added. “If my house is out of compliance with FAR, if you change my zone, what precedent does this set?
Steven Miller, whose children attended GHS, said he supported improvements, but said there had been a lack of transparency and communication.
He said he encouraged the BOE to honor its existing MISA commitments.
“And I listen to Mr. Kelly and the idea that he brings up school shootings is appalling. What does it have to do with this hearing? The BOE shouldn’t be trusted with this level of power and authority,” Mr. Miller said.
After public comment, Ms. Alban said she was saddened by the feedback.
“I hear mistrust of us, the P&Z commission. I regret that. I’ve tried hard to do outreach. I hear mistrust of BOE, and I hear discomfort with the town in general in not being responsive. We have a big job to do.”
Commissioner Andy Fox said the pre application for the stadium project was back in March continued through May and June, and shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
“I am kind of taken aback that this rezoning came as a surprise because it was talked about back then,” he said. “I’m taken aback they feel we’re trying to pull a fast one on the zoning. We truly felt it was a good idea. We’re going around in circles on this application. I’m at a loss over what direction to give the application.”
“A variance is meant to be granting an exception. We are running the high school by exception. But people are used to that, and change is making them uneasy,” Alban said.
The application was left open.
See also:
November 2017
Battle Brewing Between Private Schools and Neighbors on Proposed 30% FAR Increase for Schools
June 2018
Study Calls for Total Redesign of Hillside Road, Additional GHS Egress
The Campaign for Greenwich High School MISA Concludes Successful Public-Private Partnership
Feedback Is Plentiful on Greenwich Schools Facilities 15-Year, $750,000,000 Plan