Greenwich Homeowners in Conservation Zones

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Letter to the Editor

I agree with the July 18 letter to the editor from Franklin Bloomer regarding Floor Area Ratio (“FAR”).  The Planning and Zoning Commission (“P&Z”) should indicate publicly when and how it intends to address issues raised at the Land Use Committee forum on house size.

 I disagree, however, with the implication that homeowners should support reinstatement of the same flawed regulations with or without such indication.  P&Z should postpone reinstatement of the 1998 regulations (they should never hold a public hearing on this issue in August anyway) and move quickly to propose a comprehensive proposal that remedies the Conservation Zone and undersized lot issue as well as addresses the concerns regarding the inclusion of attics and basements. 

P&Z proposed to adopt these same regulations in May after the Stamford Superior Court nullified the regulations based on P&Z’s failure to provide proper public notice.  P&Z withdrew consideration of the FAR regulations on May 13^th, following a well-attended public hearing on May 7^th where a majority of the speakers raised concerns regarding these regulations.  The letter of withdrawal from the Town Planner stated, “This withdrawal has been prompted by the desire to re-evaluate and re-consider the proposals for FAR for all residential zones, to revaluate [sic] Conservation Zones and undersized lots, and propose new amendments sometime in the future.” 

What have they re-evaluated and re-considered, exactly?  Where are the “new” amendments that were promised? 

These regulations impact each and every homeowner in Town, some of us in an exceptionally onerous and unfair way.  I believe P&Z should take this opportunity not only to rectify the problems with the regulations, but also to build good will with the community by indicating that they listen to the concerns of the community.