Could State Mandates Bring a 15-Story High Rise to Greenwich?
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
On June 10, 2026, Margarita Alban, Chair of the Greenwich Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Commission, spoke to the Retired Men's Association (RMA) about the increasingly onerous affordable housing mandates being handed down from Hartford. Ms. Alban brings massive local experience to the table, having served on the P&Z Commission for 20 years, including seven and a half years as its Chair.
The Onerous Requirements
The core of the tension stems from Connecticut's HB 8002 (An Act Concerning Housing Growth), a sweeping piece of housing legislation pushed through by the state's legislative majority. Under the law, towns like Greenwich are required to develop a comprehensive "Housing Growth Plan" by June 1, 2029 using state growth targets issued for the region by June 1, 2027.
Currently, Greenwich’s affordable housing inventory stands at roughly 6%, falling short of the state’s strict 10% requirement. State legislators often point the finger at towns like Greenwich, accusing them of "exclusionary zoning" (or NIMBYism). Yet a shocking contrast exists in large cities across the state: For example, Hartford, with the state's highest unemployment rate of 8%, already has a staggering 40% affordable housing inventory and needs more.
The Hope: Smart Growth
The hope for local planners is that the state framework will allow Greenwich to count Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Housing Authority properties, and "middle housing" toward its final compliance goals. The ultimate objective is to combine Greenwich's Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD)—historically an environmentally-focused roadmap—directly with the newly mandated Housing Growth Plan.
Alban noted that the commission's focus would likely center on locations along the Post Road corridor. However, any local growth faces major physical limitations, including limited sewer infrastructure, low water pressure areas, and existing traffic congestion.
Ironically, smart housing placement could actually alleviate some of that traffic. According to Alban, 35,000 workers drive in and out of Greenwich every single day, causing our baseline population of 63,000 to swell by over 50% during the work week. Creating local options gives those workers an incentive to live where they work, keeping commuters off our gridlocked local roads.
The Worry: A 15-Story Greenwich?
The standout moment of the presentation came during the Q&A session when a resident asked a point-blank question about the town's architectural future:
Resident: "What is the probability of a 15-story high rise in Greenwich in the next 20 years?"
Alban: "Right now, the highest under [state affordable housing statute] 8-30g is 7.5 stories. I'm thinking it's not going to happen. I'm hopeful, but not positive."
Video replay
Between the Lines: A 15-story high-rise right here in Greenwich? While the P&Z chair is hopeful the town's infrastructure constraints will prevent it, the fact that a 20-year zoning veteran can't completely rule it out shows just how much pressure local municipalities are under as the state aggressively pushes high-density development.