THE CONDOMINIUM PROJECT FORMERLY KNOWN AS "THE LINKS" 

The Links  is renamed The Fairways Executive Senior Housing Complex

What is the project about?  The Executive Senior Housing (formerly the Links) is a proposed 150 unit development that Ridgefield, Conn. developer Mr. Paul Camarda seeks to build off of Fair Street in the Hamlet of Carmel.  The property includes steep slopes and wetland, and under current zoning laws, Mr. Camarda does not have enough buildable land to legally permit this number of units. Therefore, he requested that he be permitted to "transfer the density" from Centennial Golf Course to his condominium project.  Centennial Ridge is a privately-owned 464-acre, championship-caliber golf course that charges $95 a round Mondays to Thursdays and $125 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the peak golf season.  

The Town Attorney Tom Costello , in his "December 16, 1998 letter" to the Town Board, said the "transfer of density" was illegal and the planning board rejected his proposal..  

Mr. Camarda resubmitted his plans and, with lawyers from the Curtiss, Leibell & Shilling law firm arguing in his favor, the Carmel Zoning Board of Appeals ruled to allow Mr. Camarda to use golf course land to increase his number of building lots.  Carmel zoning board chairman Joseph Girven said the town's definition of open space and common space used by residents is "ambiguous," and in such cases the Board must rule for the applicant. 

The Carmel Town Board is now considering special legislation that will "clarify" the town code in a manner that will ostensibly permit Mr. Camarda to built the 100-acre condominium complex.  Before the Carmel Town Board can pass the special legislation, there  must be a public hearing. The public hearing will likely be scheduled in May 2002.  

Click here to see excerpts of documents that were obtained from Carmel's Planning Board files that refer to the alleged "misunderstanding" as to the limited number of homes that can be built on the site where the 100 residential units are now proposed.

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