Government

‘A Reasonable Compromise Has To Be Worked Out’: P&Z Weighs In on Merritt Village Proposal

By |

Questions about the viability of a new parking system, guarantees regarding the set-aside of some below-market units and the potential that a condo-and-apartment complex could loom conspicuously over parts of Park Street rank high among outstanding concerns regarding the proposed development at Merritt Apartments, the chairman of the New Canaan Planning & Zoning Commission said Tuesday night. Most of all, perhaps, the Merritt Village as proposed—a plan that would see 123 units built on a combined 3.29-acre parcel at the edge of downtown New Canaan where 38 now exist—raises questions about “the density of the whole project,” P&Z Chairman John Goodwin said during a public hearing. “One component is—is four stories the right answer or should it be three?—which effectively becomes three-and-a-half [stories] with a roof,” Goodwin said during the hearing, which drew a standing-room only crowd at Town Hall. “And as the planner has noted, there is the issue of how many units. The planner has shared with the commission his analysis that if we were to apply the current most dense project in New Canaan to [the Merritt Village] project, the number that would fall out would be 95 units, so that is a challenge.

News

Letter: Questions Regarding Maple Street Cemetery as ‘Merritt Village’ Plan Unfolds

By |

To the editor,

It will be good to learn more about what is planned for Merritt Apartments, at next Tuesday’s P&Z meeting. But one question is what will happen to the early 19th century Maple Street Cemetery if the plan moves forward, and who owns the 1.13 acre parcel which is now the cemetery? This cemetery is home to 52 founders of New Canaan. The address is 26 Park Street. According to the tax assessor’s records, it’s owned by the Town, sale date 1/1/1900, 1.13 acres.

News

Letter: Concerns Regarding Proposed ‘Merritt Village’ Project

By |

Editor New Canaanite:

We believe the Merritt Village project will fundamentally change the character of New Canaan forever. As one of the condominium associations closest and most immediately impacted by the proposed Merritt Village directly across the street, we object to the granting of permits and the bypassing of zoning regulations for this project. Below are the points we feel have not been adequately addressed by the builder or the zoning committee, and we would like to hear more from P & Z regarding how they plan to protect the interests and home values of the homeowners and neighboring taxpayers of New Canaan. A.) Scale Of The Project Is Too Large And Will Negatively Affect Property Values: Merritt Village project will undoubtedly negatively affect housing prices for our association by “dumping” an unnecessary and unreasonable number of Villages and condos into the New Canaan market.  A study was done on impact of condos above $1M.

Government

‘Merritt Village’ Unveiled: New Details, Concerns from Neighbors Emerge at First Public Hearing of Proposed Development

By |

In considering a dramatic proposal to create up to 123 condos and apartments in an area at the edge of downtown New Canaan where 38 now exist, the town should find out how such a project would impact other property values, officials said Tuesday. Filed this month on behalf of M2 Partners, which owns a combined 3.29-acre parcel fronting Maple and Park Streets—and viewable here on the town website through a dropdown menu—plans for ‘Merritt Village’ call for four 4-floor multi-family dwellings that will include 60 townhouse-style condos and 62 midrise apartment units. According to Planning & Zoning Commission member Tony Shizari, a question central to the project’s merit is: “What will be the impact on the market of introducing several hundred thousand square feet of additional living space?”

“The question goes to the impact on property values,” Shizari said during a regular meeting of P&Z, held at Town Hall. “There are a lot of condos there—although I totally agree that we need single-floor access … But adding 90 units to what is allowable right now, what does that do to that surrounding area? Because that’s a lot of condos right there.

News

Plans Filed To Rebuild ‘Merritt Apartments’ Downtown; Project Would Triple Number of Units

By |

The owners of a combined 3.29-acre parcel fronting Maple and Park Streets downtown are seeking to replace four apartment buildings there with new structures that will roughly triple the number of units available while putting nearly all parking underground. Commonly known as ‘Merritt Apartments,’ the apartment buildings rise as high as three stories and currently include 38 units that offer no elevators and limited handicapped accessibility, according to an application filed June 1 on behalf of M2 Partners LLC. Plans call for four 4-floor multi-family dwellings that will include 60 condominium/townhouse and 62 midrise apartment units, according to the application, filed by attorney Steve Finn of Stamford-based Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP. Composed of townhouse-style structures that meet New Canaan’s aesthetic by using stone, clapboard and shingles, the development “will help to maintain the vibrancy and economy of the downtown area by replacing outdated buildings with a beautiful new complex designed to look like townhouses with distinct and individual elements,” Finn said in a summary attached to a special permit application. “Increasing density will provide retailers with more people living within easy walking distance to downtown providing needed patronage for local stores, shops, restaurants and the movie theater.