Proposed 45-Unit Housing Development In Fairfield Faces New Hurdle

FAIRFIELD, CT — The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has written to the Fairfield Town Plan and Zoning Commission recommending that the group deny an application for a 45-unit housing complex at 812 and 820 Reef Road and 155 Forest Ave. in Fairfield due to potential flooding concerns.

In a pair of letters from Brian P. Thompson, director of CT DEEP's Land and Water Resources Division, the agency recommends that the commission deny a proposed zoning change on Reef Road to allow the complex, and also deny the application's coastal site plan.

"Accordingly, the proposed increase in residential density on the subject sites represents a significant increase in hazard to life and property, and would knowingly put people in harm’s way from future coastal storms and flood events," Thompson wrote. "Therefore, we find the project inconsistent with the policies of the [Connecticut Coastal Management Act], and we recommend that the proposal be denied."

The proposed four-story complex — three stories would be used for housing — is being developed by Piekarski Investments, LLC and falls under the state's 8-30g housing regulations, which requires a portion of the units must be deemed affordable. A total of 14 of the 45 units would be considered affordable.

Fairfield resident Andrew Piekarski is the principal owner of the development company, and it is represented by Fairfield-based law firm Russo & Rizio, LLC. Attorney Christopher Russo said the firm was still reviewing the CT DEEP's correspondence, and declined to comment at this time.

Several residents who live in the Reef Road area oppose the planned housing complex, and launched a petition on Change.org in an effort to convince the Town Plan and Zoning Commission to deny it.

As of Friday, the petition had gathered more than 650 signatures.

"The flood risk that currently exists for this area is expected to increase with sea level rise, and more severe storm events are expected to increase with climate change," Thompson wrote. "Prudent coastal management planning and development recognizes the potential hazards of each coastal site and avoids locating uses and placing people in predictable, life-threatening hazardous conditions. The potential increase in residential density in the eligible area for the [Reef Road Housing Zone], including the applicant’s subject parcels, represents a significant increased hazard to life and property from future coastal storms and flood events and is therefore inconsistent with the policies of the [Connecticut Coastal Management Act]. Accordingly, we recommend that the proposed new RRHZ overlay district be denied."

The Town Plan and Zoning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed housing complex on July 22. The commission has until Aug. 5 to complete the public hearing, and has until the end of October to decide on the application.