The owners of a Down River Road property are seeking permission to raze an existing two-family house and build two detached single-family homes there.
Homes planned for 6 Down River Road. Specs by AWA Design Group PC, Ravi Ahuja, architect
The plan for 6 Down River Road will “contribute positively to the surrounding area and align with the zoning regulations,” according to a statement that accompanies a Special Permit application filed with the Planning & Zoning Commission.
Each 2.5-story unit will offer 1,250 square feet of living space and a two-car garage, the application said.
“The proposed structures, including buildings, walls and fences, as well as planned activities and landscaping, are meticulously designed to complement the surroundings without hindering adjacent land use or diminishing property values,” it said. “The decision to opt for detached units is in response to the lot’s narrowness, avoiding a large, incongruent structure. Importantly, the new construction adheres to zoning regulations regarding footprint, floor area, height and total building coverage, ensuring consistency with modern design principles and the neighboring properties.”
The .37-acre lot, which includes a 1956-built multifamily home, was purchased for $950,000 in October by a limited liability company that’s owned by another LLC whose principal lives in Stamford, according to Connecticut Secretary of the State records.
The application cites a regulation for a single two-family dwelling. Yet under the New Canaan Zoning Regulations, two detached dwellings are allowed “on common land” by Special Permit in the B Residential Zone if “i. the building shall have side yards of at least 15 feet, ii. required parking spaces are provided behind the front lot line, iii. the lot has continuously contained two detached, single-family structures since prior to July 25, 1969; or the lot contains at least 15,000 square feet, has a lot width upon a public street of at least 100 feet, and contains a lot circle diameter of at least 100 feet, and iv. the Commission shall determine the appropriate separation between the units” (see page 44).
P&Z is expected to take up the application at its Jan. 23 meeting.