Greenwich Density With a Big Mac to Go
Greenwich’s push for increased residential density is heading right down Route 1. A proposed 13-unit townhouse development at 1205 East Putnam Avenue—sandwiched between Pet Pantry and the Exit 5 McDonald's—is officially under review by the Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Commission.
If approved, the project will demolish an existing single-family home built in 1900 to make way for two 3.5-story rental buildings. Under Greenwich’s local 6-110 workforce housing regulation, 2 of the 13 units will be designated for moderate-income residents.
Project Plans: View Official P&Z Application File
Traffic and Safety Take Center Stage
Commissioners spent significant time dissecting the site's complex circulation pattern and its potential impact on neighboring streets:
The Neil Lane Cut-Through: Planning officials expressed sharp concern that commuters will use Neil Lane and the development’s narrow alleyways as a shortcut to bypass heavy Route 1 intersection congestion, creating serious pedestrian hazards.
Route 1 Egress Risk: Exiting the property onto Route 1 near the I-95 ramp is already notoriously difficult. A permanent raised median blocks left turns from eastbound traffic, forcing a tight right-turn-only exit that could exacerbate local bottlenecking.
Community and Commission Reaction
Riverside Association: Offered measured support, noting that while density is high, a residential footprint is far preferable to commercial or retail development (e.g. Shake Shack) on that parcel.
P&Z Commission Members: Pushed back on the proposed architecture and landscaping, arguing that the site feels overly dense and lacks genuine green softening, leaving the landscaping to function merely as a basic visual shield.
Public Comments: Local residents did not hold back. One neighbor bluntly panned the design aesthetic, likening the proposed structure to "some kind of communist army barracks."
Between the Lines: When traffic on Route 1 comes to a standstill, at least these future residents can just walk next door and grab some fries while waiting for the bottleneck to clear.