Amy Murphy Carroll

Town: Playhouse on Track for May 1 Reopening

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Shuttered since the onset of COVID-19, New Canaan’s movie theater is on track to reopen around May 1, officials say. The approximately $8 million renovation of The Playhouse on Elm Street is “going well,” according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann. “It’s on schedule,” he told members of the Board of Selectmen during an update on the project at their regular meeting Tuesday, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “It’s actually—I don’t want to say it’s ‘ahead’ of schedule, so let’s just say it’s ‘on’ schedule—but we’re feeling we’ll be able to open a little bit earlier than we originally anticipated.”

The town’s contract with its construction company has the project completed May 30-June 1, Mann said, though “right now they’re looking at April 30-May 1.”

The architects on the job are “confident as well” with that date, he said. “So that’s what we’re gunning towards,” Mann said.

Board of Selectmen

Saxe Playing Fields To Be Surveyed for Artificial Turf Installation

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Faced with a need for more playing time, officials this week approved a contract to kickstart a look into installing turf fields at Saxe Middle School. The Board of Selectmen at its regular meeting Wednesday—its last as currently composed—voted 3-0 in favor of a contract with New Canaan-based RKW Land Surveying to survey the grass fields at Saxe. First Selectman Kevin Moynihan and Selectmen Kathleen Corbet and Nick Williams voted in favor of the $13,900 contract. The cost will be borne by the New Canaan Athletic Foundation. A recommendation to study the Saxe fields “for the potential to install turf fields” emerged because “some of the fields at Saxe are a little bit too wet for a gym class to go out, given the fact that the grass we’re not able to play on as much as we would like,” according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann.

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Conrad Road Barricade To Be Removed Friday After Neighbors Voice Concerns

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After hearing concerns from residents in the neighborhood and beyond, town officials say they’re planning to remove barricades set up on Conrad Road as part of an effort to solve traffic problems in the “South of the Y” neighborhood.”

Originally, the barricade near the Whiffle Tree Lane intersection was to remain in place for at least five weeks. Its purpose was to prevent morning commuters from cutting toward South Avenue and the Merritt Parkway by pulling off Gerdes Road, which sees voluminous back-up, onto Conrad. Police did warn around the time of that decision that the traffic being diverted would have to go somewhere. On Monday, Public Works Director Tiger Mann said in an email that representatives from his department, including Engineering and Highway, met with police to discuss the situation. 

“Due to the large amount of concern received from the residents “Behind the Y”, and elsewhere, regarding the closure we have decided to remove the barricades on Friday, November 10th,” Mann said in an email. He continued, “We have spoken with the BOE and they will be readjusting the bus routes (and timings) likely back to the ones prior to the closure beginning Monday, November 13th.  They will be notifying parents of the proposed changes likely by Thursday, November 9th/Friday, November 10th.

Around Town

Diverting Cut-Through Traffic, Town Installs Barricade on Conrad Road

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The town on Wednesday temporarily closed a heavily trafficked cut-through road near Exit 37 of the Merritt Parkway, as officials try to figure out how to control motor vehicle volume and speeds there. The Police Commission discussed the possibility during its Oct. 18 meeting of closing Conrad Road so that motorists cannot use it to quickly access South Avenue and the Merritt. The appointed body did not vote on the measure. Nevertheless, the town has put up barricades on Conrad where it juts west toward South Avenue (before Whiffle Tree Lane), and they will remain in place for five weeks, according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann.

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Town Seeks P&Z Approval for LED Message Board at Farm and South

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Town officials are seeking permission from the Planning & Zoning Commission to install a LED message board at the corner of Farm Road and South Avenue. Known to locals and passersby for a wooden fence where varsity sports and other school events are promoted on mounted posters and signs, the conspicuous corner would see a non-illuminated, black screen nearly 8 feet tall and 18 feet wide mounted in the ground, according to a sign permit application filed with P&Z by Public Works Director Tiger Mann. “The Department of Public Works is requesting an 8-24 Review and Approval for the installation of a new LED Sign at the intersection of Farm Road and South Avenue to replace the existing wood fence and athletic event signage,” Mann said in an Oct. 11 memo to Town Planner Sarah Carey—a request for a state-mandated P&Z referral that forms part of the town’s application. “The sign will be used by the NC High School to promote sporting and cultural events at the High School as well as for emergency usage and notifications of various civic events by our Emergency Services Departments and the Department of Public Works.”

First Selectman Kevin Moynihan and his Administrative Officer Tucker Murphy are copied on the memo.