Gateway Commons, East Lyme, CT

Zoning

Simon Konover Development & KGI Properties

Zoning text amendment to PDD [Master Development Plan and Design Guidelines]

In collaboration with Simon Konover and KGI Properties, the Gateway Commons master plan was created to put forward a new approach to the development of the 200-acre Gateway Planned Development District along the I-95 corridor. The previous zoning mechanism limited redevelopment options by focusing exclusively on attracting a major corporate headquarters user. After an extensive review process with the ZBA, a Zoning Text Amendment and Master Development Plan process with architectural design and development guidelines was approved, resulting in the ability to design a large-scale mixed-use project with 425,000 sf of retail [small shop & large format] and office, as well as 200 units of residential in a variety of typologies. The development standards established bulk and dimensional requirements, street and sidewalk design criteria and guidelines for architectural style and articulation. The resulting master plan included commercial and residential environments that were somewhat limited in their integration, due to zoning constraints mandated by abutting neighborhood groups, but the project is unified by a main spine running the length of the site that spans a central wetland area.