The Westport Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) is scheduled to hear a text amendment Thursday that would allow greater density to facilitate a proposed 32-unit, rental housing development at the former Roger’s Septic Tank property, Mary Young, Planning & Zoning director, said today.
Roger’s Septic, 1480 Post Road East, is the site of a planned 32-unit housing complex. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Text amendment 772, designed to increase density in inclusionary zone two- and multifamily lots, has been submitted by Christopher Smith, attorney for 1480 PRE Associates.
The amendment is scheduled to be heard simultaneously with a site plan application to develop the 1.625-acre property at 1480 Post Road East, the former Roger’s Septic Tank property, into a 32 one- and two-bedroom units, 20 percent affordable, Young said. The property is located in a general business district (GBD) and Residential A zone.
Young said that earlier this year 1480 PRE Associates submitted two additional applications on the property pursuant to the state’s affordable housing statute, 8-30g. While those applications remain pending, Young added they may be withdrawn if the other applications are approved Thursday.
She said the proposed site plan violates a private deed restriction requiring a 45-foot limit of development line between 1480 Post Road East and the single-family neighborhood located to the rear on Cottage Lane.
The restriction was created in 2011 when the 1480 Post Road East property owner Alan Thoele sought and obtained approval to rezone property from residential to nonresidential.
“The Cottage Lane neighbors agreed not to oppose the request provided they would be better protected from future commercial intrusion in their backyards by creating an expanded buffer area,” the announcement said.
According to Young, the redevelopment of Roger’s Septic Tanks for inclusionary two- and multifamily dwellings, “may be considered a win-win-win for the developer, the Cottage Lane neighbors who are most directly affected, as well as the Town of Westport.”
“Allowing adaptive re-use of 1480 Post Road East for multifamily development will enhance property values for both the owner of 1480 Post Road East and surrounding property owners, as the existing site is underutilized, nonconforming in its use as a contractor’s yard and unattractive as it is barren of any defined landscaping,” Young said in her staff report.
Not only will the development enable the permanent abandonment of a nonconforming use, Young said, but it will be “more in keeping with the character of Westport as it includes landscaping providing screening and buffering between it and the single-family neighborhood located on Cottage Lane.”
She added that the site plan maintains the allowable 35-foot, allowable building height consistent with what is allowed in the Cottage Lane neighborhood, Residence A district.
It would also add six more affordable housing units in town, Young said.
“It will be a dramatic transformation from existing to proposed conditions if the project is approved,” Young said.
Her staff report is available on the town’s website http://www.westportct.gov.
