Decision Made On Proposed 261-Unit Development In Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Zoning Board this week denied a proposal to construct 60 townhomes and a 201-unit apartment building with associated amenities at 23 Barry Place, the site that formerly housed the Conair Corporation in Waterside.

A motion to deny was approved 3-1. Members cited concerns with the proposed density, scale and compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood. The board also said there were concerns with traffic, safety and neighborhood livability.

"I think everyone on the board would support an application that did not have the density that this one has," Zoning Board Chair David Stein said during the board's Jan. 5 meeting. "I think this project that's being proposed is really... too much for that area."

In a memo outlining concerns with the proposal, the board said "the density is grossly inconsistent with the surrounding residential neighborhoods."

The project was brought forward by Continental Family Holdings LLC and Conair co-founder Leandro Rizzuto Jr.

The property was originally part of an 11.7-acre site that was recently subdivided to allow for the new Wings Arena ice skating rink.

Old Greenwich's Innis Arden Golf Club borders the site on the western and southern sides.

There are also Metro-North train tracks and commercial/industrial uses along the entire northerly border, and much of the easterly border is across the street from Saint Clement Church.

Until recently, the property at 23 Barry Place contained one large building that served as a warehouse and office facility for Conair. It also was a site for Pitney Bowes at one point.

Residents previously voiced opposition to the project, saying they were worried about potential traffic impacts and environmental concerns at the site.

Derek Daunais, an engineer who worked on the project, said in October the site was found to have some areas of contaminated soil many years ago.

The site was cleaned to suit the industrial use of the property, but it would have had to be remediated further to a meet federal and state residential standards.

Some residents supported the project, including the Rev. Carlos Rodrigues of nearby Saint Clement Church, who submitted a letter in support of the project and spoke during a public hearing in October.

"I like the whole idea of the design and giving affordable housing. I think it is something that's going to improve the neighborhood, and it will be a blessing to the neighborhood," Rodrigues said then.

Board member Jerry Bosak voted against denial on Monday.

"Speaking to residents there, I think it's something that's willfully wanted in that area by the vast majority of the residents," Bosak said.

Three applications were submitted - one to change the zoning map at the site from manufacturing to residential, one for special permits, and the other one for site and architectural plans.