New Canaan committee approves consultant contract to study three town-owned sites for affordable housing

The New Canaan Affordable Housing Committee voted unanimously to approve a consultant contract with architectural firm Amenta Emma to study three town-owned sites for possible affordable housing development. Christa, Affordable Housing Committee member, said she will present the committee—s support to the Board of Selectmen at its Aug. 19 meeting.

The contract directs Amenta Emma to perform site visits, document base conditions (topography and context), estimate a maximum residential unit count under different parking and massing configurations, and produce simple three-dimensional massing for one preferred option if the committee narrows to a single site. "I'm happy to answer any questions," Christa said, describing the firm as familiar with New Canaan and affordable housing projects.

Committee members focused much of their discussion on the Lumberyard lot, saying its larger size could support a greater number of units and possibly a mixed-use redevelopment. Chris, Affordable Housing Committee member, urged that the consultant—s first-phase work be narrow and focused on yield and immediate feasibility, while acknowledging the town may later pursue a small-area plan or a broader redevelopment process if the Lumberyard emerges as the preferred location. "If that turns out to be something beyond what we ever expected—we should undertake some sort of planning process to reenvision that end of Elm Street," Chris said.

Several members raised schedule and program concerns. The committee discussed an internal target of roughly 75 to 80 units as a near-term need and noted a larger metric the committee referenced as "approximately 150 hue points" toward a moratorium trigger (term used in meeting discussion). Members warned that a more complex mixed-use master‑planning process on the Lumberyard could delay delivery past the committee's stated 2032 target for completed units: "You could easily spend four years master planning that site, and you're not gonna have any units CO'd by 2032," one member said.

Committee members asked the consultant to assume no net loss of commuter parking where applicable and to report how parking requirements affect unit yield. Christa said the contract will estimate the maximum residential unit count while maintaining commuter parking; the contract does not include detailed architectural design or commercial-tenant analysis.

Formal action: Jane, Affordable Housing Committee member, moved to approve the consultant contract; a second was recorded during the meeting and the motion passed unanimously. The committee recorded unanimous approval and noted staff and Christa will follow up with the Board of Selectmen and with any additional contract steps.

The committee characterized the contract as an initial, limited study meant to identify the "art of the possible" for the three sites, not a final design directive. Members said further, site-specific planning, zoning changes or a separate small-area plan could follow depending on the consultant's findings and the town—s policy choices.

Questions for follow-up included: the degree to which the Lumberyard study should be considered within a broader Elm Street area plan; how to preserve commuter parking; whether the town should seek to phase development; and what next contracts and public‑process steps would be needed if the Lumberyard or another site is advanced.