New Transit Zone Favors Keating Ford Development

Stratford is applying its least stringent parking policy for projects within a new transit-centered development zone that encompasses a half-mile radius of the train station.

The "lesser regulation" approved by the zoning commission Monday accommodates the new zone's first project: that is looking to move into the former Keating Ford property on Stratford Avenue.

"We're trying to help this application get along," commissioner James Sheridan said. "We have to come up with a [parking] formula. Once the building's built it's too late to go back."

Chairman Chris Silhavey said the town's most stringent parking policy -- revised in 2010 -- would required 230 parking spots for the townhouse-style development, and the least stringent policy would require 178 spaces. The developers, Forest City, are asking for 180.

The Formula

The "lesser regulation," as administrator Gary Lorentson termed it, uses the following formula to calculate parking spaces:

    1 spot for a studio
    1.25 spots for a one-bedroom
    1.5 spots for a two-bedroom

And as that relates to the proposed development:

    33 spaces for the 33 studios
    78 space for 62 one-bedrooms
    50 for the 33 two-bedrooms
    + 10 percent for guest parking
    = 178 spaces (all decimals rounded up)

Reaction

"I think these are realistic numbers," commissioner Michael Henrick said. "I would think most one-bedrooms would be one car."

A potential flaw in the formula, Henrick said, is the ratio for the two-bedroom policy.

"Some people required to have two cars aren't going to be able to move here," he said. "We're forcing people into alternative means of transportation by limiting parking spots."

And that's the goal of the transit-centered development zone -- the commission agreed -- to get residents living within walking distance of the train station to use a mode of transportation other than a car.

Limitations

"The unfortunate part of making this policy [is] we don't get advantage other transit-centered development would in an urban setting like Manhattan," said Silhavey, adding that "ShopRite is a hike" from the former Keating Ford site.

Silhavey reminded commissioners that the parking policy would be in play for all properties that seek inclusion into the new transit-centered development zone. He said a policy that offered more parking spaces would create a "bigger problem" in the case of a developer wanting to build closer to the train station.

"The transit-centered development's intent would be to have less cars," Henrick said. "A better way to accomplish that goal is having less parking spaces."

The zoning commission approved the creation of the zone with the least stringent parking policy. And while it approved the proposed Keating Ford development as the first project in that zone, Forest City's application still has to be approved and finalized further if the apartments are to be finished by September 2013 -- the developer's projected date.

Editor’s note: The apartments would rent from $1200 to 1650.

In reference to commissioner Henrick’s comments, would you sacrifice a car to live near a train station? Tell us in the comments.