Submitted by Mark Fichtel, Greenwich
On Tuesday, April 26 there will be a Zoom meeting at 4:00 pm that will take the next step to move the 52-unit apartment complex at McKinney Terrace (Vinci Gardens) forward.
This will involve constructing the buildings; expanding the parking lot and driveway; adding additional sidewalks, steps, and accessible ramps; and working on utilities, stormwater management, and “sight distance improvements.”
As a resident of Byram, I have serious concerns about another “affordable” housing development in our community.
I hope all the residents of the nearby neighborhood are satisfied with the answers to these questions:
The McKinney Terrace area is already a densely populated neighborhood. Could adding another 50-75+ people have negative results, including increased parking difficulties, traffic problems, danger for the neighborhood children, and stressing local infrastructure?
There is already little green space around McKinney Terrace. Could adding these buildings and expanding paved areas reduce that even more and adversely affect the current neighborhood’s quality of life?
Isn’t it likely there will be a massive loss of trees that will not be good for the environment that seems to be a prime concern for those pushing for “affordable” housing? Is there a contradiction here that will be a negative for the current residents?
Will local homeowners be protected from possible damage from blasting that will likely be needed, since the area has abundant sub-surface rock?
Plans call for 4-story buildings, which are already out of synch with the neighborhood. Though the developers have supposedly withdrawn their comments about increasing the height and number of units, what assurance is there that those options are absolutely off the table for good?
Greenwich Communities has indicated they plan to add 200-225 “affordable” housing units to Greenwich over the next few years. The 52 units here would be about 25% of the total. Are other areas of Greenwich getting their “fair share”? What is the number of units other areas are getting?
This development will further concentrate “affordable” housing in the lowest-income part of Greenwich. Is it possible that because we have less wealth, we have less of a voice?
Have all the RTM District 3 and 4 members done everything they can to ensure that their constituents are aware of these questions, which if not answered correctly could change the nature of our community?
Have all the RTM District 3 and 4 members made sure their constituents know about the Zoom meeting and how to attend it? The information about how to do so, from the Greenwich website:
Via the web:
https://greenwichct.zoom.us/j/88901521350?pwd=Ri9JakFwTXNoc1BLeUhlZE0vMjRGUT09
Password: 0518864
You may listen, and/or participate in this meeting by calling the following:
By Telephone:
(646) 518-9805
(877) 853-5257 (Toll Free)
(888) 475-4499 (Toll Free)
(833) 548-0276 (Toll Free)
(833) 548-0282 (Toll Free)
Webinar ID: 889 0152 1350
Password: 0518864
Mark Fichtel
Byram