Charter Revision Commission

Charter Review: Town Officials Weigh Elected vs. Appointed P&Z

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Town officials charged with recommending possible changes to New Canaan’s founding document are hearing from residents on both sides of a divisive question, namely, whether the Planning & Zoning Commission should change from an appointed body to an elected one. Noting that towns such as Darien, Westport and Wilton already have elected P&Zs, those in favor of the change say it would bring greater accountability to commissioners, would make them more likely to listen to neighbors and those directly affected by decisions and would bring another layer of checks and balances to local government. Advocates for an elected P&Z say the question of a change should go to the town’s electorate. Those opposed to the change say it would draw single-issue candidates, would disrupt P&Z applications mid-review, would place financial and time burdens on prospective members that would limit the pool of commissioners, would undo the strong mix of backgrounds and technical expertise now in place and would amount to overhauling a system that works well as-is. Opponents say the electorate isn’t informed enough to make a decision on such an important change.

Government

The Playhouse: Feb. 9 Public Hearing Scheduled for New Operator’s Lease

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New Canaan’s highest elected official said this week that municipal officials have interviewed all parties interested in operating The Playhouse movie theater and the town “will be ready very soon” to take next steps. 

“We were encouraged by The Playhouse RFP responses,” First Selectman Dionna Carlson told members of the Board of Finance during the appointed body’s regular meeting, held Tuesday night at Town Hall and via videoconference. “We’ve had so many people interested in the RFP, [Department of Public Works Superintendent of Buildings] Bill [Oestmann] has been taking potential applicants through the building regularly,” Carlson said. The comments came during Carlson’s general update to the finance board. The following notice of a public hearing before the Town Council—scheduled for 7:30 p.m on Feb. 9 at Town Hall—appeared this week on the Elm Street movie theater: “To consider, hear public comment upon and take action on a proposal to lease the building known as The Playhouse, located at 93 Elm Street, New Canaan for a theater operator.

Government

Locals Push for Midblock Crosswalk at Cherry and Cross Streets

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Saying it would improve public safety, dozens of property owners and residents in the area of Cross and Cherry Streets are calling for a new crosswalk there. In a petition signed by 43 people, the group is calling for the town to create a midblock crosswalk that runs across Cherry Street from the western end of Cross Street, with a pedestrian-activated flashing beacon, while removing what they describe as a hazardous crosswalk just up the street, at Locust Avenue. “The installation of a crosswalk at Cross Street traversing Cherry Street, together with the installation of a blinking crosswalk light, will provide a safe way for pedestrians and the like to cross the street, rather than the current mode, which is to jaywalk,” one of the residents, Susan Whitney, told members of the Police Commission during the appointed body’s regular meeting, held Wednesday night at police headquarters. 

She continued: “An added bonus of installing a crosswalk at Cross Street, together with the installation of a blinking crosswalk light, may very well be that flow of vehicular traffic and high speeders may in fact be forced to slow down, making a safer neighborhood for everyone.”

The owner of an apartment building on Cross Street, Arnold Karp, said that the neighborhood has filled out and “we now have enough of a pedestrian area that nobody seems to go all the way to East Avenue or to Locust Avenue. He added, “Everybody crosses somewhere between the two, either at Cross, on either side of Cross, or some place midblock.”

Linda Silvestro said that motorists traveling on Locust Avenue take the turn onto Cherry “at a high rate of speed” and “it’s very, very dangerous.”

“You have to run” to get across the street, she said. Asked how quickly the group could expect a response from the Commission, Police Chief John DiFederico said the matter must be studied, possibly by a professional traffic study consultant.

Claire Drexler

Parks & Rec Approves Oct. 18 ‘Caffeine & Carburetors’ Show at Waveny

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Town officials last week approved the use of New Canaan’s most popular park for a car show in the fall. 

“Caffeine & Carburetors,” a locally founded auto show featuring antique and specialty cars, is on track to be held Sunday, Oct. 18 at Waveny, following a unanimous vote by the Parks & Recreation Commission. “This is a great program for New Canaan,” Commissioner Hank Green said during the appointed body’s Jan. 14 meeting, held at the Lapham Center and via videoconference. C&C Director of Business Development Claire Drexler noted that the 2025 Waveny event raised $27,000 for the Waveny Park Conservancy after netting $24,000 for the nonprofit organization the prior year.

Government

Town Approves Contract for NCPD Elevator Work

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Town officials last week approved an approximately $14,000 contract for work done as part of the recently completed New Canaan Police Department renovation and addition project. The Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 in favor of the contract with Trumbull-based KONE Elevators during its regular meeting, held Jan. 6 at Town Hall and via videoconference. As part of the project, the building’s elevator was “taken out of service,” according to Joe Zagarenski, senior engineer in the Department of Public Works. “The elevator’s power, telephone and fire alarm connections were disconnected, and then it was treated like a new elevator, so we had to bring in the new services,” Zagarenski said.