FAIRFIELD, CT — Plans are underway to build a nearly 100-unit affordable housing complex on the north side of Fairfield.
The proposal for development of a 2.3-acre site just off the Merritt Parkway was the subject of a public hearing Tuesday before Fairfield’s Town Plan and Zoning Commission.
The apartment building at 4185 Black Rock Turnpike would include 94 apartments, 29 of which would qualify as affordable housing. The developer is seeking zoning approval under state law Section 8-30g, which dictates the only way officials could deny the proposal is by proving the project poses a threat to public health, safety or “other matters which the commission may legally consider” that outweigh the need for such housing.
“Fears and speculations are not valid reasons for denial,” said attorney Chris Smith, who represented developer Fairfield Medical LLC before the commission.
Section 8-30g applies to towns where less than 10 percent of housing stock meets state criteria to be recognized as affordable. In Fairfield, only 2.47 percent is compliant with 8-30g, according to Smith.
The planned development could fill a need in town for housing for young professionals, including teachers and first responders, as well as seniors, Smith said.
The property — adjacent to a Merritt Parkway entrance ramp and neighboring Hotel Hi-Ho, Barcelona Wine Bar and the Wine Zone liquor store — was approved in 2015 to be the site of a medical office building, but an appeals process left that project unable to move forward, according to Smith.
The design of the apartment complex was dictated by the footprint of the previously planned offices, according to architect John Guedes. The undeveloped site includes a slope, which the developer would accommodate by building six stories on one side of the property and four stories on the other.
The complex would include four floors of apartments — two studios, 24 one-bedrooms and 68 two-bedrooms — as well as 139 parking spaces underneath the units and surrounding the building. Parking was an area of concern for Commissioner Kathryn Braun.
“I’m assuming there will be more people than there are parking spaces,” she said.
Traffic engineer David Sullivan said the approximately 1.5 spaces per apartment included in the proposal were statistically likely to exceed tenant needs.
The building is projected to generate 34 vehicle trips during the peak weekday morning traffic hour and 41 trips in the afternoon peak hour.
Braun asked if the complex would be designed to prevent light pollution.
“I don’t see that this will affect any residential homes or buildings,” Guedes said, noting a nearby hill would block apartment lights from view.
The hearing was continued to a future commission meeting, when the developer will finish its presentation and the public will be able to comment on the project.
