Jewish Home Seeks Zoning Change to Modernize Facility

Seeking approval for a zoning amendment, representatives from the Jewish Home for the Elderly of Fairfield County went before the Town Plan and Zoning Commission Tuesday night to present their case. JHE would like to build a new and more modern facility on their Jefferson Street property. To do so the JHE would like the TPZ to amend Section 27.4.6 of the current zoning regulations, which apply to hospitals, nursing homes, homes for the aged, rest homes and chronic convalescent homes.

According to attorney Austin Wolf, who represents the JHE, the new amendment would give the TPZ the authority to allow lot coverage to increase from 15 percent to 20 percent of the property, and to increase floor area percentage from 30 to 50 percent for nursing home facilities sitting on less than 15 acres.

Several months ago the JHE went before the TPZ to request Section 5 of the town building code be amended, and amendments be made to all of the Residential 3 zone, which the TPZ denied. This new amendment request applies only to entities that fall under Section 27.4.6.

During the Tuesday night hearing, the home's CEO, Andrew Banoff, spoke of the rapidly changing nature of elderly care, noting the growing need for long-term care with related support services. Describing JHE's current facility as an old-style nursing home with large inefficient hallways and small bathrooms that lack handicap fixtures, Banoff said the industry is moving to a "household" type residential care center model.

The architect for JHE's proposed project, Richard Rosen from the firm Perkins Eastman in Stamford, spoke to the conceptual views of the plan. Rosen explained that the household model for elderly care is becoming the norm, and is best identified as resident-centered care where each occupant has a private room within a house where there are approximately 14 other residents along with 2-3 caregivers.

Each house on the property would be a New England shingle-styled home with an outdoor terrace, Wolf said.

Wolf encouraged the TPZ to consider the proposed amendment change, saying, "This would allow the JHE to fulfill its mission of caring for its elderly."

When questioned by members of the commission why he and the JHE did not apply for a special exception, Wolf replied that in order to apply for the exception the organization would have had to go before the Conservation Commission, which, Wolf said, "is a massive undertaking."

During the public comment portion of the meeting, town resident Ken Camarro spoke in favor JHE's' application, saying, "If you do not change this regulation you are derelict in your duties."

Camarro continued on in general about property owners and regulations, but drew the ire of Chairman Seth Baratz as he got off topic. Asking the commission to bear with him, Camarro continued, but Baratz told him, "I don't want to bear with you. Please finish and sit down and let other residents and members of the public speak."

Bethel Ann Rooney from Weeping Willow Road remarked on the proposed amendment, explaining the TPZ has no legal standing to grant variances and that JHE should go to the Zoning Board of Appeals with their request.

"This application is spot zoning of the worst kind and spot zoning is illegal," said Rooney.

Toward the end of the evening, Joel Green, attorney for the Stratfield Falls Unit Owners Association, requested the commission hold over the public hearing to allow his clients the opportunity to discuss the newly filed application from JHE.

Wolf consented to the hearing being continued as did the TPZ, though Baratz said the agendas for several upcoming meetings are quite full and he could not guarantee the JHE application would continue at the next TPZ meeting Oct. 26.