Greenwich Free Press (https://greenwichfreepress.com/tag/dennis-yeskey/)
After discussion about commercial use, P&Z chair Alban voted against the Historic Overlay on the grounds that approving commercial offices inside Solomon Mead House would be a tipping point for the residential neighborhood. Continue Reading →
During “pre-application” meeting, representatives from Greenwich Hospital Yale New Haven Health discussed possible cancer care facility at the corner of Lafayette and Lake Avenue. Continue Reading →
A crowd turned out to support a Abilis “Coffee for Good” coffee shop on church property at 48 Maple Ave. Continue Reading →
The P&Z commission balked at proposed GCDS proposed lower school athletic fields upgrades mainly because they would generate traffic in an already congested area.
They said they’d prefer GCDS migrate their athletic fields to the school’s Stanwich campus, which is further from the congested GHS/CMS corridor.
They also suggested borrowing locker rooms and toilet facilities from the Greenwich Skating Club in the interim. Continue Reading →
Neighbors in the area of Calhoun Drive and Upland waited for hours to testify against a proposed 4,500 sq ft “carriage house” in front of a historic 1923 house at 21 Calhoun Drive that likely, even if preserved, would no longer be visible from the street. Continue Reading →
“You have all these incentives, and you push back. There is an 8-30g,” contract purchaser Andrew Toth warned, referring to the state statute for affordable housing exempting developers from local zoning regulations. “Property is expensive. You have to have a certain rent roll.” Continue Reading →
“An HO allows additional uses, but it also allows for an increase in square footage in the building, up to 28,800 sq ft….Now there is 12,000 sq ft. …You’re having a Historic Overlay to save the building in perpetuity, but in 20 years the church could add an awful lot and redevelop to 28,000 sq ft.” – P&Z Commissioner Nick Macri Continue Reading →
Several commissioners gave architectural advice on the design proposed for 62 Mason Street after the applicant had done what ARC asked during 3 meetings. The chair asked them to refrain. Then the applicant surprised P&Z by saying a century old Magnolia tree was unhealthy, and needed to come down. That was a surprise considering that was not mentioned at last week’s tree hearing on a different tree. Continue Reading →
At the Dec 18 P&Z meeting the commission reviewed the application for a new Chabad Lubavitch synagogue at the corner of Mason Street and Havemeyer including parking, rooftop playground, and safety given there is an entrance opposite the fire house.
Rabbi Yossi Deren said the commission was being discriminatory and “moving the lines.” The acting chair said the commission was working according to regulations and the process is iterative. Continue Reading →
Music & Arts in Greenwich sought to offer private lessons in four small “chambers” at their retail store. The Zoning Enforcement Officer had determined the lessons were an educational use and therefore not permitted. Applicant’s attorney John Tesei said the lessons were not an educational use, but rather “physical conditioning,” which is a Personal Service, which is allowed in the Central Business Retail Zone. The commission voted unanimously to deny the application. Continue Reading →