Editor’s note: this article has been corrected to reflect the commissioner vote count on the 785 Post Road East development

By Kerri Williams

WESTPORT – In a busy night, the Planning & Zoning Commission on Monday made two important decisions.

The commission passed a plan 3-1 that would allow a development at 785 Post Road East build some of its units offsite for special needs individuals. Craig Schiavone, Breanne Injeski, and Paul Lebowitz voted in favor while Michael Calise voted no.

All members, however, supported a broader text amendment that would allow for special needs housing to be built offsite in some instances.

The commission also approved a 30-unit residential development at 455 Post Road East, on the same site as the former Connecticut Humane Society. The vote was unanimous.

Both applications were presented by land-use consultant Richard Redniss, who began 18 months ago requesting offsite affordable units tied to a development at 785 Post Road East. The proposal, for offsite special needs housing at 3 George St. would be built and managed by the nonprofit agency Abilis.

“There have been a lot of different ups and downs,” Redniss said of the numerous times he had come before the board.

In April, it looked like the offsite affordable proposal might be dead when the commission narrowly defeated the text amendment. During that meeting, some members said they would support the idea if only special needs units could be created offsite, while other affordable units would have to be built as part of the main development.

Redniss presented a new text amendment 867 on Monday that limits offsite affordable units to those serving special needs individuals. But even then, some members voiced concerns.

“It seems like every time you come back to the table, it’s more complicated,” commissioner Craig Schiavone said of the plan. “…This is just a muddle to me.”

The proposal was for one unit of affordable housing to be built onsite at 785 Post Road East and for another two units to be located at the George Street location. While the Abilis preferred plan is to have the George Street house contain separate units for special needs individuals, the agency would need to come back before the commission to make that happen. Currently, special needs housing is only allowed on town land. However, Abilis would be allowed to create a traditional group home there without any further approval.

Commissioner Michael Calise wanted to know how he could be certain that Abilis would follow through with the plan to renovate the current home at 3 George St.

Redniss pointed out that the property would be deed restricted as affordable housing and that Abilis intends to use it to create special needs housing similar to that at 136 Riverside Ave., where four Westport special needs individuals currently live.

“We’re in the business of supporting individuals with special needs,” said Jennifer O’Gorman, with Abilis, adding that the property will be used for the individuals currently on the housing wait list. 

Several members of the commission said they were most moved when Kimberly Trudden spoke up during the public hearing portion of the meeting. Trudden, who works at the Riverside Avenue Abilis location, said she was recently talking to a parent of a special needs individual who “cried in my arms.”

Because of a loophole, her special needs son does not qualify for housing, yet she and her husband are aging. The housing at George Street could serve this type of individual, who doesn’t fit into a traditional need category.

“Thank you, Kim,” said Chairman Paul Lebowitz. “This is the whole reason we are here.”

Commissioner Breanne Injeski said she voted in favor of both the text amendment and special permit for 785 Post Road East because Abilis has such a great track record and that their housing is a “great benefit” to the town.

Schiavone said she agreed with Injeski, adding that “in the end, I will support this… I will have faith in Abilis.”

The commission also unanimously voted to approve a text amendment to use a broader definition of a special needs individual so that more people could be served for housing purposes. The amendment, which was previously part of a proposal by Redniss, was one that commission members worked on in subcommittee. 

“I personally look at this that it makes perfect sense to adopt the federal guidelines rather than be restricted by the state guidelines,” Lebowitz said. The change will mean that a “wider scope of people” will qualify for housing.

In another vote, the commission unanimously approved a 30-unit residential development at 455 Post Road East after some members voiced concerns at previous meetings.  Members also approved a text and map amendment that went with the application. 

At the site of the former Humane Society, the development will include the required six affordable housing units onsite as well as underground parking, patios and landscaping.

Redniss had said that he and the developers met with residents at the close by Whitney Glen senior housing development, agreeing to landscaping that would act as a buffer and to provide a new crosswalk for residents. In response to commission concerns about parking, Redniss proposed a new plan that would gain 10 spaces.

“Thank you for the tweaks,” Lebowitz said during the discussion. “The parking looks excellent.”