Pathways v. Planning Zoning Comm., No. Cv99-0497666s (Aug. 30, 2002)

2002 Conn. Super. Ct. 11176
CourtConnecticut Superior Court
DecidedAugust 30, 2002
DocketNo. CV99-0497666S
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2002 Conn. Super. Ct. 11176 (Pathways v. Planning Zoning Comm., No. Cv99-0497666s (Aug. 30, 2002)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Connecticut Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pathways v. Planning Zoning Comm., No. Cv99-0497666s (Aug. 30, 2002), 2002 Conn. Super. Ct. 11176 (Colo. Ct. App. 2002).

Opinion

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This case is unpublished as indicated by the issuing court.]

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION
This is an appeal by Pathways, Inc. from a decision of the defendant denying Pathways' application for special permit and site plan approval to convert an eight bedroom house to a convalescent home in the R-20 zone for sixteen individuals on property located at 509 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut.

Section 8-30g provides in part as follows:

Sec. 8-30g. Affordable housing land use appeals procedure. (a) As used in this section: (1) "Affordable housing development" means a proposed housing development (A) which is assisted housing or . . . (3) "assisted housing" means housing which is receiving, or will receive, financial assistance under any governmental program for the construction or substantial rehabilitation of low and moderate income housing.

The court finds that the application filed by Pathways, Inc. is an affordable housing development since it is an assisted housing application that will receive financial assistance under two separate governmental programs for the construction or substantial rehabilitation of low and moderate income housing.

The court finds that Pathways acquired the subject property on April 1, 1998, and continues to own the property.

5.07% percent of Greenwich's existing housing units qualify as affordable housing.

On June 22, 1999, the defendant Planning and Zoning Commission denied the special permit/site plan application of Pathways, Inc. The court CT Page 11177 finds that the plaintiff Pathways, Inc. is aggrieved for the purpose of this appeal since its application for an affordable housing application was denied.

Notice of the denial was sent to Pathways by the Town Planner/Zoning Enforcement Coordinator by letter dated July 1, 1999. That letter reads as follows:

July 1, 1999

Mr. Eric V. P. Brower AICP 81 Holly Hill Lane Greenwich, CT 06830

Mr. Daniel W. Moger, Jr., Esq. Jacques Moger, P.C. 534 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 RE: Pathways — Special Permit/Site Plan #2042 Conversion of existing 8 bedroom house to a Convalescent home for 16 individuals on property located at 509 East Putnam Avenue in the R-20 zone.

Dear Messrs. Brower and Moger:

At a regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission held on Tuesday June 22, 1999 and upon a motion made by Mr. LeBien and seconded by Mrs. Siefert the following resolution was adopted by a 4-0-1 (Voting to deny: Messrs. Joyce and LeBien and Mesdames Siefert and Grant; voting to abstain: Mrs. Barr)

WHEREAS, the Commission held public hearings on May 11 and June 3, 1999 and took all testimony on this item as required by law; and

WHEREAS, the Commission notes that the Pathways proposal is to establish a new group living facility with 16 bedrooms and room for one sleep-in staff member, with shared kitchen and other common areas for those of various ages recovering from mental illness; and

WHEREAS, the Commission notes that Pathways proposes this facility for 16 persons of various ages recovering from mental illnesses, as a "Convalescent" facility under Sec. 6-94 (b)(1) and sought a Special Permit based on this section of the regulations which states, ". . . convalescent homes, or other health care facilities for the elderly. . ." and Pathways stated that this language allows a convalescent home or CT Page 11178 other facility for persons of any age not just elderly; and

WHEREAS, the Commission however does not concur with this interpretation of its regulations, and finds that Pathways' proposed facility for persons of all ages does not come within the plain language of Sec. 6-94 (b)(1) which permits "convalescent homes, or other health care facilities for the elderly"; that the word "elderly" in this section of the regulations does not apply to persons of all ages; that "convalescent homes, or other health care facilities for the elderly" is clear and unambiguous; and therefore that the proposed use and application does not meet the definition of "convalescent home" as set forth in Sec. 6-94 (b)(1) of the regulations; and

WHEREAS, the Commission finds that the number of residents (16) requires a significantly large addition of 5,000 sq. ft., to the already large 8 bedroom house of 4,800 sq. ft. and this number of residents and additional square footage requires a major re-design and expansion of the septic system, and an increase in parking and driveway areas and alternatives should be explored to minimize the impact on the adjacent RA-1 acre Brookridge neighborhood and therefore does not meet the special permit and site plan standards of Sections 6-15 and 6-17; and

WHEREAS, the Commission notes that, per the 4/13/99 memo from the local Department of Health, the local and state health departments approval would be conditional on occupancy of one resident per bedroom which would allow the proposed septic system design to accommodate the proposed occupancy with the projected water useage, and ultimately sewage disposal, based on state classification of a residential group home and not as a convalescent facility under State Health codes; further the Commission notes that the State Health code states that a convalescent facility has medical functions and facilities included in the facility and this plan does not call for such medical on site treatment and therefore the State does not require the septic system to be designed for the convalescent classification; and

WHEREAS, the Commission finds that this site and location on the Post Road may be appropriate for such a use at a smaller scale and the proposed re-use of this 8 bedroom residence as a home for such persons of various ages recovering from mental illnesses might enhance and preserve the unique architecture of the structure and this section of the Post Road streetscape which consists of 4 large Victorian residences with great front lawns and large old trees on oversized lots reflecting an earlier period of town history and development patterns. The Commission suggests that the applicant scale back the addition and number of residents which may then reduce the need for such a large expansion of CT Page 11179 the septic system; and

WHEREAS, the Commission discussed several alternative sections of the regulations which might offer the applicant an opportunity to re-examine and made application to Planning Zoning to modify language to be more inclusive and provide for such a proposed use; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the application of Eric V.P. Brower, authorized agent for record owner Pathways Inc., for a special permit and site plan #2042 for new addition and conversion of an existing 8 bedroom residence for use as a convalescent home for 16 persons at 509 East Putnam Avenue and Brookridge Drive in the R-20 zone per Sec. 6-94 (b)(1) and Sec. 6-17 and 6-15 of the Building Zone Regulations is hereby denied without prejudice.

If you have any questions, please call this office. Very truly yours,

/ss/ Diane W. Fox Town Planner/Zoning Enforcement Coordinator

cc: James Maloney Bruce Dixon Garo Garabedian Caroline Baisley Michael Long Donat C. Marchand Charles Campbell, Jr.

The transcript of the meeting by the defendant Commission held on June 22, 1999, clearly shows that the only grounds that the Commission relied upon the deny Pathways' application was that the application did not fit the definition of § 6-94 (b)(1).

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Related

West Hartford Interfaith Coalition, Inc. v. Town Council
636 A.2d 1342 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 1994)
Wisniowski v. Planning Commission
655 A.2d 1146 (Connecticut Appellate Court, 1995)

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Bluebook (online)
2002 Conn. Super. Ct. 11176, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pathways-v-planning-zoning-comm-no-cv99-0497666s-aug-30-2002-connsuperct-2002.