'It will be a big building.' Controversial 102-unit complex in New Canaan given final green light
The complex at the corner of Weed and Elm Streets will be 30% affordable housing
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After more than four years of debates, the New Canaan Planning and Zoning Commission officially approved a controversial 102-unit, four and a half story development at the corner of Weed and Elm streets on Tuesday, saying they were only giving it the green light, to comply with a court order.
"It will be a big building," admitted Arnold Karp, the president of Karp Associates, which is leading the project. "It will be landscaped, but like everything else in town, change is hard."
Karp says he originally wanted to build senior housing on the site, but when the town rejected that idea, he pivoted to town houses.
When the town also rejected that idea, he went with the current plan, which will be about one third affordable housing.
"This isn't out of spite, this is what we got approved," Karp said. "You need a fair amount of market housing to make up for the lower paying rent people."
Neighbors told News 12 off camera they were concerned something that big was wrong for an area mostly made up of single-family houses.
However, thanks to a Connecticut State law called 8-30g, a judge ruled because the plans call for 30% affordable housing, the town was forced to approve it.
"As soon as somebody hears about affordable housing, they decide it's an element they don't want in their town," said Karp.
But state Sen. Ryan Fazio, who represents the area, said this case "is emblematic of the state taking away more and more local control from citizens in their towns and cities to choose their own destiny."
Fazio made the argument, and site a big part of his 2024 campaign, with signs in the area even urging residents to vote for him to "save Weed Street."
"We can find a way to create more housing, and more housing availability and affordability without letting developers ignore local zoning," he said.
But Karp says he tried to get the community involved, claiming that even after the judge's ruling, he proposed a compromise that would be about half the size and the final plan, but still could not come to an agreement.
"Local control means the people that are local actually have to be willing to have a conversation with the big bad developers," he said. "Once the town refuses to have conversations with the developers, they shouldn't be surprised that they end up with large issues."
Fazio, who is currently running for governor, says the root issue is with that state law.
"(Developers) have all the leverage," he said, "so it's kind of a bad situation for everybody, and i think there ways to reform this."
Karp tells News 12 they are still working on exactly what the final design is going to look like, but the plan is break ground this fall.
