Government

Town To Advise on YMCA Landscape Screening After Neighbor Complains

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Town officials are reviewing the landscape screening between the New Canaan YMCA and a neighbor, after the latter filed a complaint that the South Avenue organization is out of compliance with its Special Permit requirements. Putnam Road resident Roger Williams said in an Aug. 23 letter to the Planning & Zoning Commission that in nearly 30 years he’s seen the Y grow its program and facility significantly. “What was a successful local YMCA when we moved in has become a very large regional YMCA, especially with the closures of the Stamford YMCA and Norwalk YMCA facilities,” Williams said in the letter. “Each time the Y has requested its expansions, they promised to install landscaping and screening and to maintain both to lessen its impact on the neighbors.

News

Parish Road Homeowners Seek Permission for Home Modifications, Addition of 3-Car Garage

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The owners of a property on the corner of Parish Road and Parish Lane are seeking permission from the town to build a new three-car garage on their 1.13-acre property. Under the New Canaan Zoning Regulations, the total allowable building lot at 11 Parish Lane is 3,717 square feet. The addition of the attached garage, planned together with modifications to an existing 3,374-square-foot home, requires a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. “My client has been living at this home since 2016 and love the home and the neighborhood,” architect Dan Radman of New Canaan-based RADMAN Architects wrote on behalf of the homeowners in a Feb. 14 Statement of Hardship to the town. 

“But their family is growing, with 2 young boys and a 3rd on the way,” he continued.

Dan Radman

P&Z Elects Dan Radman as Chair

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The Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday unanimously elected Dan Radman as chair, succeeding John Goodwin in the highly visible volunteer role. An architect by profession who has served as an insightful and articulate commissioner, Radman was appointed to P&Z in December 2011 by First Selectman Rob Mallozzi and Selectmen Beth Jones and Nick Williams. The same Board of Selectmen appointed Radman as a regular member of P&Z in April 2014, replacing Roger Rothballer. Those voting in favor of his election during an organizational meeting overseen by First Selectman Kevin Moynihan included outgoing Chair John Goodwin, Secretary Krista Neilson and commissioners Kent Turner, Dick Ward, John Kriz, Claire Tiscornia, Arthur Casavant and John Engel. 

Neilson also was unanimously elected secretary during the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. Moynihan thanked P&Z, calling the appointed body “our hardest-working commission.”

To Goodwin he said, “On a personal basis, it’s been great working with you as chairman and I really appreciate all your service.”

Goodwin had mentioned his intention to step down from the role of chair in very brief remarks last month. During Tuesday’s meeting, he spoke at greater length, as follows: 
“Unlike land use lawyers, I will be brief and non-repetitive.

Dan Radman

P&Z Approves Final Preservation Plan for 1913 Library Building

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The Planning & Zoning Commission at its most recent regular meeting voted unanimously to approve New Canaan Library’s plan to relocate salvageable portions of the original 1913 building to the western border of its downtown campus. P&Z at its Nov. 15 meeting voted 10-0 in favor of a text amendment allowing the legacy building to be relocated within five feet of the property line that the library shares with the Gulf station—originally set out in the proposed text amendment as 20 feet—as well as to allow the height of the building to stand at 25 feet in lieu of 15 feet. 

The Commission also voted in favor of an amended site plan presented by the library regarding the preservation project, with conditions on use of the legacy building as a public space, specifics on landscaping approved by the town planner, preservation of existing frescoes and resolving stormwater drainage issues flagged by the town engineer. “I would see this as being helpful in preserving the remaining 1913 building on site and also assisting in maintaining larger open space on the library site which will provide benefits to the town,” Commissioner John Kriz said at the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. P&Z Chair John Goodwin, Secretary Krista Neilson and commissioners Kent Turner, Dick Ward, Dan Radman, Kriz, Claire Tiscornia, Arthur Casavant and John Engel voted in favor. 

Two commissioners—Ward and Radman—said they were “reluctant” in their votes.

Board of Selectmen

P&Z To Take Public Comment Monday Night on Proposed West School Cell Tower

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The Planning & Zoning Commission on Monday will take public comment regarding a divisive proposal to erect a cell phone tower behind West School, officials say. Under state law, the Commission is charged with making a positive or negative report back to the town prior to major changes on public land. A special meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. in the large meeting room at Town Hall for P&Z to hear presentations from Verizon as well as a cell tower developer that has been pushing since the summer for a tower at 769 Ponus Ridge. At that meeting, P&Z also will take comments from the public, First Selectman Kevin Moynihan confirmed last week. “That is the first step of several public meetings on this,” Moynihan said during the Oct.