Following lengthy discussion at an October 11 session, Borough Zoning Commission (BZC) members unanimously approved a 72-bed assisted-living complex for a 3.97-acre site at 37 Church Hill Road (Route 6), known as Church Hill Village.The Newtown Bee.Public CommentThree Approvals

The planned 12-building complex of interconnected structures submitted by Teton Capital Company, LLC, of Old Greenwich would be constructed on what is now a wooded lot on the eastern corner of Church Hill Road and The Boulevard. The sloping site formerly had an agricultural use, but has been vacant for decades.

Voting in favor of the commercial development project were BZC Chairman Douglas Nelson, David Francis, Brid Craddock, Michael Guman, and Claudia Mitchell. The approval followed the BZC's third public hearing on the Church Hill Village project, which would be the first assisted living complex to be built in the borough.

Following the approval, William Donohue, a partner at Teton Capital, said the firm hopes to start development at the site during the first quarter of 2018. Mr Donohue said the project still requires some traffic-related approvals from the state.

Teton's application for municipal sanitary sewer service for the project was scheduled for review by the Water & Sewer Authority (WSA) on the night of October 12, after the deadline for the October 13 print edition of

Church Hill Village would house elderly people, generally over age 75, who require assistance with the activities of daily living, including some nursing care. Last spring, at the developer's request, the BZC created zoning regulations that would allow an assisted living complex in the borough, provided that the applicant meets the terms of those zoning rules. Senior Lifestyle, a Chicago-based corporation in the elderly housing industry, would operate the facility.

During the October 11 public hearing, Richard Frankonis, an owner commercial property at 34 Church Hill Road, posed some questions about the functioning of the recently installed traffic signal positioned at the four-way intersection of Church Hill Road, The Boulevard, and the main entrance to The Village at Lexington Gardens, a retail/office complex.

Joe Vacaro, of 18 The Boulevard, also asked questions about the traffic signal's functioning.

Michael Galante, the traffic engineer for the applicant, said he would bring the two men's concerns about the signal's functioning to the state Department of Transportation (DOT) in seeking to improve the signal's performance.

John Madzula, of 20 The Boulevard, an architect who also is the chairman of the Borough Zoning Board of Appeals (BZBA), posed several questions about the assisted living complex's design. Mr Madzula read a letter he had written criticizing the development project for numerous reasons and stating his opposition, urging that the BZC reject it.

Among his complaints, Mr Madzula said the project would be too densely developed; should not have a driveway entrance at The Boulevard which is a residential street; would create added traffic congestion in the area; would not be in harmony with nearby architecture, and would damage nearby property values, among many other complaints.

Similarly, Mr Frankonis told BZC members that the project is too large a development; would create traffic and pedestrian problems, and would be built at an unsuitable location. He also urged the project's rejection.

Mr Nelson responded that an architectural review of the project for the BZC conducted by consulting architect Hugh Sullivan found that the project's plans meet the terms of the borough zoning regulations, including the Village District regulations.

BZC members reviewed the project under the terms of three lengthy regulatory checklists, deciding to grant the applicant a site development plan approval, a special zoning permit, and a Village District certificate of compliance.

Although she voted to approve the Church Hill Village complex, Ms Mitchell, during the BZC's review of the project, said that too many buildings are planned for the site; voiced concerns about whether the planned architecture is visually harmonious with existing buildings in the area, and questioned whether the project is visually appropriate for a scenic, rural New England village.

During its formal review of the development plans, BZC members found that: the project would be visually harmonious with the neighborhood; protects property values; poses no health or safety hazards; conserves as much terrain and vegetation as possible; meets lighting and noise standards; has properly designed utilities and stormwater drainage features; contains adequate driveways; would not create traffic hazards on nearby streets; conforms to the terms of the 2014 Town Plan of Conservation and Development; would be built with an appropriate design; would employ suitable construction materials; is visually appropriate in relation to architecture in the area; and would not obstruct existing scenic views, among many other findings.

The complex would have buildings which enclose about 66,960 square feet of space. Most buildings would be one-story tall. The property would have two driveways. The main driveway at The Boulevard would be located about 150 feet north of The Boulevard's intersection with Church Hill Road. The service driveway on Church Hill Road would be situated 410 feet east of the intersection of Church Hill Road and The Boulevard.

The complex would have cut-granite curbing along Church Hill Road and The Boulevard.