Perhaps these P&Z commissioners should advocate for 8-30g projects next door to their own homes
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Commissioner Dennis Yeskey shared concern about having two buildings – one with mostly the affordable units and one with mostly luxury condos – but noted there was no regulatory or legal support to deny the application on those grounds.
“You have these token couple units thrown between the buildings, but there’s basically an affordable housing rental building and a high end luxury condo building,” Yeskey said.
“We’re still on a slippery slope with 8-30g’s,” Yeskey said, giving some examples including a recent application that proposes all luxury units and a payment in lieu to Greenwich’s housing authority.
“The next one might be remote – ‘We’re going to build this building here but put the affordable units in Port Chester.”
He said it was an issue of equity.
Commissioner Peter Lowe said Mr. Yeskey’s concern was worthy.
“Does it pass the smell test?” he asked. “Is paying lip service through a cross-over units satisfy the spirit of the 8-30g regulation? That is worthy of consideration.”
“The appearance of this is there is a tokenism and potential for a slippery slope. I’ve felt this from the beginning as well.”
Mr. Yeskey lives on Londonderry Drive in a 5,524 sq.ft., 5-bedroom home on 2 acres, while Mr. Lowe owns a more modest home on Indian Field Road; neither has 8-30g neighbors, and I don’t imagine they want any. A planning and zoning commission is probably a necessary evil in a crowded town like Greenwich, but when its members leave the traditional concerns of zoning and start preaching about “social justice”, I reach for my revolver.*
*Said about :culture”, not by Goering, as I’d supposed, but by playwright Hanns Johst — I’ve never heard of him, nor have you, I’ll wager.
