By Kerri Williams

WESTPORT – The Planning & Zoning Commission got another early look Monday at a Spinnaker Real Estate Partners proposal for a 165-unit residential development on Riverside Avenue, with members continuing to question the number of affordable units proposed.

During a third pre-application, or non-binding discussion, commissioners for the most part praised the look and feel of the proposed development, which is planned for a portion of the space where the proposed Hamlet development would have been. In a recent design change, the building height has been lowered by three feet to about 70 feet.

But several members pointed out that the percentage of planned affordable units in the most recent plan is still lower than the amount required by the town. In making its calculations, Spinnaker tied the affordable unit percentage to the market rate number of units, while the town uses the total number of units to make its calculations.

When using the total number of units to calculate, the percentage of affordable units being proposed is 16 percent, instead of the 20 percent that is required by the town, Commissioner Breanne Injeski said.

“I don’t know if this adds up for me,” Injeski said. We are faced with the 8-30g reality.”

In response, Matthew Edvardsen, the owner of Spinnaker, said that no other town in the state requires 20 percent affordable housing in such residential projects.

“We have a challenge here to make that work,” said Adam Blank, land-use attorney for Spinnaker. “Something’s got to give. We can do it at 220 units.”

Spinnaker representatives also said that the affordable units may look different if the company does not receive a state Brownfield Grant for environmental remediation. Edvardson said the company is not sure it will meet the requirements for that grant, which could save them a significant amount of money. If not, the below-market units will be mostly one-bedroom ones to make up for the cost differential, he said.

Several commissioners said that making their decision without all the information would be difficult. 

“For me as a commissioner, it’s difficult to make a decision until all the numbers are in,” said commissioner Craig Schiavone. “We are in limbo.”

P&Z Chairman Paul Lebowitz said that he believes the parcel can handle the density of this project because of its location near I-95 and the train station. But he added that the town needs to benefit from the project. “Why would someone who doesn’t live there come down?” he asked. 

Kerri Williams

^{_{Kerri Williams is an award-winning writer and journalist. She has worked as a reporter at the Norwalk Hour, as Living editor at the Darien News-Review, and managing editor for the Norwalk Citizen-News. For Westport Journal, she is a reporter as well as a gardening columnist, writing “Cultivating with Kerri.” She recently published her first children’s book – “Mabel’s Big Move,” based on her daughter with special needs.}}