As a Public Service, EarthImage.Net Provides an analysis of the impact

of removing "as-of-right" unit additions in the R-6 Zone in Greenwich, CT.

The Planning and Zoning Commission proposes to eliminate this right, and replace it with a "special permit" process 

in accord with adopted recommendations in the updated Plan of conservation and Development.

[Please e-mail comments, questions or corrections to mwf@earthimage.net]

Analysis of the R-6 Zone by Lots, Houses and Land Area

Based on the 2004 ProVal Real Land Database for Greenwich, CT

Present Zoning and Building regulations already have requirements for land area and parking.

An existing single family home-site in the R-6 zone requires 3600 sq. ft. for itself, plus another 4200 sq.ft. for a building permit to create a second unit on the lot.

This is a total of 0.179 acres required.  Thus, after the 2004 assessment year, we had a build-out potential in R-6 of 227 conversions to two-family "by right."

In a similar manner, a conforming two family home in R-6 requires 7500 sq.ft. for itself, plus another 4200 sq.ft. to add a unit, or a total area of 0.2686 acres.

In a similar manner, a conforming three family home in R-6 requires 10,800 sq.ft. for itself, plus another 4200 sq.ft. to add a unit, or a total area of 0.3443 acres.

While the above analysis looks at land area only, it has not considered build-out potential of floor area over existing floor-to-land ratios in R-6, with max total floor area equal to 55% of land area.

Action Agenda from P&Z April 6, 2010 Meeting:  UPDATE:

Sec. 6-98 - Use Regulations for R-6, Multi family and RMF zones

a) (1) All uses permitted in the R-7 zone [BUT NOT]  a two-family dwelling

(2) The following Uses as Special Permit uses …

(A) The building of a [ADDED RULE TEXT IN BOLD] two-family dwelling, conversion from a single-family to a two-family dwelling, addition or alteration to a single-family dwelling to create a two-family dwelling, the building of one or more multi-family dwellings…

[action:] Motion to approve amendment to Section 6-98

Moved by Maitland, seconded by Farricker

Voting in favor: Heller, Farricker, Heimbuch, Maitland, and Marchese  [5-0]

Twenty years ago the State Legislature put a mandate on Greenwich to double its stock of "affordable" housing.  What progress have we made? 

FAR Build-out Potential in the R-6 Zone  [SO WHO LOST & HOW MUCH??]

The ProVal 2004 database shows 254 single-family homes in the R-6 two family zone with under-utilized land for a Floor Area to Land Area Ratio of 55%.

This is a total of 107,145 sq.ft. of building potential, an average of 428 sq.ft. per house.