By Tom McDermott
First Selectman Updates Preserving History
Fred Camillo thanked everyone who testified at the July 21 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting regarding the pre-application process and possible demolition of 2 Greenwich Avenue. He had spoken to Gov. Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong and DECD Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe. He also sent letters to Tong and Todd Levine at the State Historic Preservation Office, asking for intervention to save 2 Greenwich Avenue. “…I do remember the Pickwick Arms Hotel and I’ve heard for the past 50, 60 years how everybody laments that it was torn down, along with a lot of history.”
Hold the Mandates
Camillo said he would hold a press conference July 24 in Greenwich, asking the state legislature and the governor to “immediately halt all zoning mandates from Hartford.” He had heard from two utilities and was speaking to another, and they “do not have the capacity anymore to do these big projects.” Three of Camillo’s neighbors—young families who lived in standard 1,500-square-foot homes—tore them down and replaced them with 4,000- or 5,000-square-foot homes for their growing families. They were told, after the fact, that CNG didn’t have the capacity. At a meeting with CNG, the utility admitted to Camillo that it was an issue “all over the place.” At his department-head meeting, Camillo instructed everyone that “when applications come in, you have to check with the utilities before you grant an application.”
Camillo pointed to drainage and flooding problems in every town, “because the infrastructure can’t handle all the building that went on.” He mentioned that Greenwich Communities is about to start building 52 units at McKinney Terrace and another 52, he thought, at Armstrong Courts. “I don’t even know if we can do that now.”
More Water
Camillo thanked Parks and Recreation and Department of Public Works crews for their preparation and response to the recent storm. “They were all over it.”
The Cultural Arts Advisory Committee is reviewing spots for a Bush statue and will make recommendations. On July 29, the town planned to make its annual proclamation commemorating the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Camillo appointed Frederick Lee Jr. to represent the town on the new Water Authority Citizen Regional Board.
Selectman Updates
Sustain & Preserve
Selectwoman Lauren Rabin reported that she and Selectperson Rachel Khanna attended a Sustainability off-site meeting. “We want to be sustainable, we want to have open space, but then we have all these mandates about more impervious surface.” One thing Rabin took away from the meeting was to try to interact with landscapers to make sure they’re aware of nonnative plants in the area so they can encourage homeowners to avoid them.
In the prior week, Khanna had toured the Grass Island Treatment Plant and thanked Rich Feminella and Alyssa Beck. “The facility is able to process 12.5 million gallons of waste a day. We currently generate seven-to-eight million gallons.” Following up on waste and Plastic Free July, Khanna said that Waste Free Greenwich’s website has many recommendations on how to reduce plastic use.
Greenwich will apply for its 2027 Sustainable CT certification. In 2024, the town received a silver award. Khanna said she thought the town could reach gold certification next time.
Khanna was also active in trying to save 2 Greenwich Avenue and has written to public officials.
Shocking
Eversource is seeking $700 million in rate increases. Residential customers might see an 18% increase in monthly bills.
Old Business
The Board approved the following requests:
A temporary road closure on St. Roch’s Avenue from Aug. 12 through Aug. 15 for the St. Roch’s Feast/Fair.
An amendment to the Town of Greenwich Flag Policy.
A construction-hour variance for the use of municipal parking lots on Benedict Place from Monday, Oct. 5, through Wednesday, Oct. 7, to allow a tower crane to be erected for a project at 19 Benedict Place.
The Historic District Commission was appointed as a study committee to investigate whether 299 Riverside Ave. should be designated a local historic property.
New Business
The Board postponed action for two weeks to allow public comment on a Greenwich Police Department request for approval of a town ordinance regarding the illegal use of certain vehicles—ATVs, mini-motorcycles and others—on streets and in parking lots. It would permit the seizure and sale of vehicles.
