Plan To Demolish Nursing Home For 170-Unit Assisted Housing Development OK'd By Greenwich P&Z Commission

GREENWICH, CT — Plans to demolish a 217-bed skilled nursing facility and build a 170-unit assisted housing development with affordable units in Greenwich has been approved by the town's planning & zoning commission.

The commission voted 4-1 on Nov. 25 to approve a final site plan and special permit with modifications.

Greenwich Woods, located on a 15.8-acre parcel at 1165 King St., would be demolished to make way for a four-story assisted housing development where 30 percent of the proposed 170 units (51) would be designated as "affordable" per the state's 8-30g statutes, according to the application.

The Greenwich Affordable Housing Trust Fund previously approved a $100,000 loan for the project's development, the application notes.

Apartments would be a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units.

On-site amenities would include a theater, gym, children's play area, indoor pool, pickleball courts, a community garden, playground and walking paths, along with a roof deck. Over 400 trees are proposed to be planted, the application says, noting parking would be increased from 119 spaces to 294.

The applicant, Eagleview Holdings, received preliminary approval from the commission for the development of a five-story, 215-unit development under 8-30g in December 2023.

A condition of that approval called for a resolution to several issues with Westchester County regarding a sewer agreement which permits the property to discharge up to 50,000 gallons of sewage per day through 2064.

An extension of the sewer agreement or an increase in the amount of gallons per day were not reached.

The applicant reduced the scope of the project to 170 units, which would allow it to stay within the 50,000 gallon per day limit, according to the application.

In its motion to approve last week, the commission noted that before zoning permits can be issued, the applicant must provide a written sewer extension agreement or a new agreement with Westchester, and resolve outstanding sewer infrastructure issues with the village of Rye Brook, N.Y.

If there is no extension or agreement reached, the applicant must develop plans and initiate the process to construct and install an on-site sewer treatment facility to handle the wastewater maximum average daily flows required, the commission noted. The facility would have to be up and running before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

An item was added to the commission's motion to approve stating if the applicant fails to obtain an agreement from Westchester for the forecast sewer capacity needs, the commission would encourage the applicant to explore other alternatives which would provide housing options to the town, specifically through a conversion of the nursing home to residential.

Greenwich Planning & Zoning Chair Margarita Alban said such a conversion would feature market rate housing.

"Our message is, 'Look, we encourage you to try and find a path to add housing diversity,'" Alban said. ""We're looking to do below market, but we're also looking to do housing options."