Greenwich residents are fighting a plan to replace four homes with a massive estate and 40-car underground garage on Maple and Park avenues. Ten neighbors spoke against the proposal at the Planning and Zoning Commission's Wednesday, Sept. 2 meeting.

The project would merge four parcels totaling about 2.3 acres in the R-20 zone at 59 Maple Ave., 63 Maple Ave., 75 Maple Ave. and 8 Park Ave. into a single residential compound. Three of the Maple Avenue homes had already been demolished as of July, Patch reported. The fourth, a 1918 house at 8 Park Ave., was razed before the Sept. 2 meeting to make way for a driveway.

One of the LLCs, 59 Maple Holdings LLC, is registered to Kenny Habul, president and CEO of SunEnergy1, a Stamford-based commercial solar company. Habul is also a competitive race car driver with a collection of more than 100 vehicles, the NewsTimes reported in July 2026.

The proposed lower level would house the 40-car garage, an art gallery, an art studio, an indoor pool, a squash court and an office. Neighbor David DeWahl of 102 Park Ave. calculated the total footprint, including underground space, at roughly 39,000 square feet: more than 18,600 above ground and about 20,000 below, plus a guest house of unspecified size.

DeWahl said the above-ground portion alone would be roughly five times the median size of the 15 closest homes. He cited Greenwich Building Zone Regulations Section 6-17d, which requires special-permit projects to be in scale with surrounding buildings and not alter a neighborhood's essential characteristics.

Ian Burke of 6 Park Ave. put the garage in local terms: "This is not a garage for a family's cars. Based on the drawings on file, the garage alone measures around 300 x 80 ft, which is close to 24,000 sq ft, which is comparable in size to the entire Putnam Ave strip mall, encompassing Whole Foods, Choice Pet and Starbucks."

Adri Chaikin warned that excavating the underground garage could remove more than 10,000 cubic yards of rock and earth, potentially generating close to 2,000 truck round trips on Park Ave.

Margot Butler said she had documented two years of flooding and mud in her garage since demolition work began on the site. Karen DeWahl called for a full tree survey, saying mature trees help the neighborhood absorb rainfall before it becomes runoff.

Commission Chair Margarita Alban said the parcels are not in a flood zone. She said the commission would wait for the Greenwich Environmental Affairs director and professional engineers to review drainage plans before the application advances. The Department of Public Works (DPW) has not yet reviewed sewer capacity but will do so before a final application is considered, Alban said.

Alban also raised concerns about the lower level's layout, as reported by Greenwich Free Press. She said the art studio, gallery and car collection "looks like it could be set up for a commercial operation" and that the commission would not want to see commercial uses in the R-20 zone.

Commissioner Mary Jenkins flagged the shared driveway easement, noting it was "intended to attach a modest property."

Former P&Z Commissioner Louisa Stone said the project conflicts with Greenwich's Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), citing its principles on preserving community character and sustaining the natural environment. She noted the plan results in a net loss of three homes.

Scott Kalb of 36 Park Ave. said the neighbor group reserves its rights under state law to formally intervene once a proceeding is under way.

The commission has set no date for the next hearing. Drainage and sewer capacity will be reviewed by the time the applicant submits a Final application, which will also require a special permit for the indoor athletic facility exceeding 1,200 square feet.