Greenwich P&Z moves to align regs with state housing law and drafts a traffic/conservation map district

Planning staff presented a package of zoning edits and a draft map district on June 23 to implement Connecticut’s Public Act 25‑1, which changes local review of small multifamily projects and removes parking minimums for developments of 16 units or fewer.

Key regulatory changes staff proposed include: making two‑to‑nine unit residential proposals in certain commercial zones subject to a new 'summary review' (as‑of‑right) process without a public hearing when they meet the statutory criteria; removing local minimum parking for projects of 16 units or less; amending special permit/volume thresholds and residential parking standards to align with the new state limits; and clarifying modular housing language in flood hazard zones. Staff also suggested minor editorial (scrivener) corrections raised by Commissioner Jenkins. The commission discussed wording changes (for instance, removing the word “required” in a parking heading to avoid implying an enforceable minimum), and planned a July 1 effective date to align with state timelines.

Separately, staff showed a draft Conservation & Traffic Mitigation District (CTMD) map intended to preserve municipal ability to evaluate traffic and parking impacts in historically constrained corridors. The current draft covers roughly 2,095 acres — about 6.8–7% of town — below the maximum coverage allowed by the statute (two districts up to 4% each). Commissioners discussed modest boundary expansions (including the hospital vicinity), whether to draw one contiguous district or two 4% districts, and asked staff to refine and seek required interagency (WestCOG) comments before final action. The commission left the zoning edits and the CTMD map open for follow-up but indicated a preference to adopt changes promptly to meet the statutory schedule.