Perry Morgan, project architect, explans the plans for a residential development on the Norden Park site during a meeting today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jennifer Connic for WestportNow.com
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The developers for the Norden Park project, which abuts Westport, explained how the plans fit into the neighborhood and Norwalk during a meeting today at Westport Town Hall.
The project is in Norwalk, but the meeting was held because the Westport Planning and Zoning and Conservation Commissions were asked to file comments to the Norwalk boards and commissions reviewing the project.
The plans submitted by Spinnaker Company, who owns the property, calls for 316 units that are split between four apartment buildings and several townhouse-style homes on the eastern portion of the property.
Currently the site is home to an office park that houses Norden Systems, Gibbs College and Tauck Travel.
Perry Morgan, project architect, said the site is about 75 acres, and the project takes up half of the land.
Of that being used—which is about 35 acres—only 14 acres are being used for the buildings and the rest will remain as open space, he said.
“We want green spaces to be associated with this community,” he said. “We’re not only going to save the trees, but we’re going to educate people about the environment.”
Clay Fowler, of Spinnaker Company, said the office park was built 40 years ago by Norden Systems when different activities took place on the site, including radar testing, and there was some problems with hydrocarbons in the wetlands on the site.
Those wetlands are being mitigated, he said, under the supervision of the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The plans would also include affordable housing if a Norwalk zoning regulation change is approved.
Frank Zullo, attorney for the project, said the zone in which the site is located now does not allow multi-family housing, and the group has asked for a change to allow it.
Also, he said, the changes would require 12 percent of the total units to be deemed as “affordable” under state statutes.
Leonard List, traffic engineer for the project, said the only access for the project would be through Norden Place and there is no access planned for Hiawatha Lane in Westport.
If the Fire Department requires it, however, there may be a road for fire access on Hiawatha Lane, he said, but that has not been required yet.
Zullo said if it was required, there would be an entrance with a “breakaway chain” that a fire truck, police cruiser or ambulance could break in an emergency.
“Only emergency vehicles would be allowed that way,” he said.
List said he believes there would be 130 additional cars during the morning peak hour and 150 additional cars during the afternoon peak hour because of the project.
If there was an industrial project on the site rather than the residential one, he said, there would be approximately 300 more cars during the morning and afternoon peak hour.
The traffic lights in Westport near I-95, he said, would also have a lowered level of service if there was an industrial project, but there would be no change due to the residential plans.
