The Thursday, Sept. 5 meeting of the Architectural Review Board/Village District Design Advisory Committee served as a catch up on the biggest residential development projects currently in the works in Wilton — and a preview of the heavy agenda coming up for the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, Sept. 9.
Here’s where each of the projects stands ahead of Monday’s P&Z meeting, with the latest updates from developers and reactions from ARB/VDDAC.
19-21 River Rd. — Kimco Redevelopment
What is it: Kimco’s redevelopment of the southern portion of its Wilton Center campus into a 168-unit residential/commercial complex with ground-level retail.
What to watch: Kimco is the largest landowner in Wilton Center and the project aims be the first one approved under Wilton Center’s new form-based zoning code. The height, bulk, and number of units will make it far and away the largest development in downtown.
Where were we: Kimco underwent a lengthy pre-application process with P&Z and other town entities dating back to December 2021. The project was formally submitted earlier this year and met with considerable public opposition. Members of the Commission began to express new concern as well about the final design submitted by Kimco. In a move that came as a surprise to P&Z, on July 27, Kimco announced it would withdraw its application and resubmit in the fall with changes to the design. That meeting also included a clash between Commissioner Mark Ahasic and the Commission leadership — Chair Rick Tomasetti and Vice Chair Melissa-Jean Rotini — over whether Ahasic should be permitted to read aloud from the letters of opposition sent by members of the public.
What happened at ARB/VDDAC: Kimco outlined a series of changes to the proposed design, which include eliminating the fifth-story lofted space, creating a larger public plaza, turning a planned bike room at street level into a coworking space, and eliminating an unpopular street-facing frosted glass element. Members of the VDDAC praised the revisions and agreed to submit a report to P&Z recommending in favor of the project.
What’s next: P&Z will hold its fifth public hearing on the project on Monday, Sept. 9. So far, prior public hearings have not permitted comment from the public, due to a Commission rule that stipulates that the applicant and Commission must conclude the presentation and their dialogue before hearing from residents. If Kimco can complete the presentation on its new design, and the Commission finishes its Q&A period, then public comment can be made. If not, it will be postponed until a future meeting.
12 Godfrey Pl.
What is it: The five-story, 42-unit residential building known as Wilton Lofts, is currently under construction in Wilton Center.
What to watch: The project is Wilton’s first 8-30g affordable housing development in some time. It was originally proposed as a smaller, more architecturally-driven building. However, when P&Z refused to approve the project until after the Wilton Center master plan could be completed, the developer withdrew it and resubmitted the project under 8-30g, effectively strongarming the town into accepting this second design.
Where were we: The project was (reluctantly) approved by P&Z last spring and has been under construction throughout the summer.
What happened at ARB/VDDAC: Architect Rich Granoff presented a series of minor changes to the building design, which included removing muntins and transom windows, adding a chimney feature that functions as trash chute ventilation, and inserting metal grill covers on the façade beneath all of the living room and bedroom windows as part of the building’s heat pump system. The members of the VDDAC were generally supportive of the changes, with some elements like the removal of the transom windows being called an improvement to the prior design. They voted to recommend the application to P&Z, with one note to Granoff to explore reducing the height of the new chimney feature.
What’s next: The project is currently listed under ‘Communication Items’ on P&Z’s Monday agenda, which may mean that the Commission will discuss whether to treat the changes as minor modifications that P&Z staff can approve without a formal review at the commission level.
118 Old Ridgefield Rd.
What is it: A four-story, 20-unit mixed-use residential/commercial building with ground-level retail that is currently in the pre-application phase. During pre-app, an applicant and the Commission can engage in a non-binding dialogue about a project to finetune the details before it is formally submitted. At this stage, there is no public comment.
What to watch: This was one of the sites anticipated for redevelopment as part of the Wilton Center Master Plan process and the new zoning overlay that came out of it. The project incorporates a public arcade at street level and is designed in a way that would integrate with a potential future Riverwalk. This is also a project by Granoff Architects, the same company behind 12 Godfrey Pl.
Where were we: The project was submitted for pre-app review last spring and was heard at P&Z on July 8. The Commission suggested revisiting the design for something more bold.
What happened at ARB/VDDAC: The applicant team presented the newest design, which incorporates a much larger arcade, nearly twice as much retail space, and 20 apartments instead of the prior 24. The VDDAC was generally positive about the new design, though they encouraged the team to explore simplifying the massing (shape) of the building.
What’s next: The project is scheduled to return to P&Z for a second pre-application hearing on Monday, Sept. 9. As with all pre-applications, there will be no public comment.
What else is on the docket at P&Z?
In addition to these projects, the Commission’s Monday agenda includes a new pre-application hearing on the Toll Brothers’ redevelopment of 15 Old Danbury Rd. into a 208-unit residential complex. An earlier version of the project, pictured above, was heard in pre-app back in May when one ARB member called the design, “A big, ugly box.”
The Lake Club is also back with a new application to construct pickleball courts, a project that was previously withdrawn following an outcry from neighbors. This application will be accepted at the meeting, but it will not proceed to a presentation or hearing yet.
The Monday, Sept. 9 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission starts at 7 p.m. and will be held on Zoom; the agenda is available on the Town website. Members of the public can submit written comments via email by noon on Monday, Sept. 9. To participate in the public hearing, public comments can be made by Zoom
during public comment periods.