Letter: Senior ‘Pitted’ Against Senior Over Oenoke Ridge Proposal

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This Waveny proposal is not a CCRC. It is a first step “independent living,” a link to the next helpful place to age. 

Its proposed location on historic Oenoke is utterly out of harmony with our town. Please withdraw or reject this invidious proposal. The building is four times the size of Town Hall, third largest structure in town, squeezed onto a sliver of precious land. 

Waveny’s relentless push threatens our perception of Waveny as kind and caring. It has thrown the town out of harmony and pitted senior against senior. Town leaders: please look once again for suitable property near Waveny’s Assisted Living, Memory Care, Adult Day Care, and Long Term Nursing.

It only makes sense to re-think this train wreck of an idea. Build independent living nearer Farm Road and “The Waveny Family Network.”  Give us a lush campus. We could plant and tend a garden, play croquet, have exercise and fresh air to “smell the flowers while the roses bloom.”

Somehow, make the land available, and together we’ll figure out how to pay for it. Our Town Council, our selectmen, residents: Come forward with ideas. And Planning and Zoning, we trust you to deal honorably and respectfully with our carefully written zoning regs, rules, codes, etc. They protect us. Waveny’s attack is akin to those hungry developers always circling around us.

It’s time to heal. It’s too contentious. Waveny’s proposal has pitted senior against senior. I am feeling scorn from my friends. We’re in our 80s and this is happening? Waveny, drop this proposal so we can heal. Planning and Zoning: Please be honorable and trustworthy.

Redesigned independent living, somewhere nearer Waveny, could, would, and hopefully will, lead to our town in harmony.

Respectfully,

Jane Vanderzee

9 thoughts on “Letter: Senior ‘Pitted’ Against Senior Over Oenoke Ridge Proposal

  1. Jane this is very well said. I am really surprised that the Board of Waveny and Town Leadership has let it get to this. As you said Jane we are doing real damage to the Waveny brand (and frankly New Canaan) through this process. My understanding is that a solution exists to give Waveny what they (and the town) really need and that is space for such a facility. The space is next to the mulch pile at Waveny Park. It would put the new center close to the other Waveny property (for operational efficiencies), close to Talmadge Hill Station for rail access to New York, close to a wonderful town park(with a relevant name) very close to recreation facilities that need more use, easy shuttle bus distance to the Center of New Canaan and plenty of parking space for workers, visitors and delivery people (as well as enough space to let Waveny build the size center that they need to be economical). What is stopping people from coming to a solution that the town can rally around and move forward with to address this challenge?

  2. I agree with both letters! Why pick this terrible location on Oenoke Ridge for a huge CCRC? Which if you studied the actual services they will provide, you will see that it does not come close to a CCRC. To many zoning rules need to be changed and once that happens, there is no going back. Did the P&Z Committee Members give any thought to the 1,500 protesters within New Canaan that do not want this pretend CCHC on Oenoke Ridge?
    Say NO to this facility and move on to an idyllic location nearer to Waveny!

  3. Jane, thank you for pointing out an unhappy consequence of having to “take sides” against some of our best friends, for the sake of trying to preserve a lovely village.

  4. Thank you, Jane …
    And thank you everyone who has written to support Jane Vanderzee’s very thoughtful letter.
    You’re so right to point out that this project not only doesn’t really fit with the definition of a CCRC …but is creating friction within our elderly community as well as the younger community who have us older parents.
    The proposed project on the proposed site would provide living quarters for a FEW wealthy older people. It will have restaurants, a swimming pool, hair salon, gym etc. and gives those who are there a guaranteed ‘fast track’ into Waveny Care Center if the time comes for that need.
    If we have a larger campus it can accommodate a greater number of economically diverse seniors who can also have access to assistance if one needs it as well as greater care at Waveny. It would be wonderful if a couple could be together if one needs more assistance than their spouse without having to’hire’ someone and provide their accommodations .
    The thought of a campus with space for flower gardens and foot paths and maybe a pond to sit by …. with an activity center close … wouldn’t that be wonderful.
    COME TO THINK OF IT & As you said,
    That land opportunity already exists … with paths to wander, Flower gardens, a brand new landscaped Pond, a fantastic Activity Center with great movies and programs, even a live Theater, a greenhouse … And a constant supply of young people’s sports activities to be enjoyed in the afternoons.

    Thank you Jane for reminding us that The PERFECT site already exists.
    Hopefully Planning and Zoning, as well as Waveny will agree.

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