Government

New Canaan Sees Rise in Permits Issued to Build Pools

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The number of permits issued to build new pools at private residences in New Canaan has increased by half-again as many in the past five years, and is on pace in 2014 to see the most permits issued in that period, officials say. From 18 total permits issued in 2009, New Canaan saw 26 permits issued in 2013 and already the town has issued 23 this year, according to data from the building department. Officials say the rise in new pools being built at New Canaan homes could factor into the projected shortfall from season passes at Waveny Pool this summer. In the past five years the numbers of pool permits issued are:

2009: 18
2010: 21
2011: 26
2012: 21
2013: 26
2014: 23 (to date)

Though overall the town will end up taking in more money this year at Waveny Pool than last, officials have estimated that the total will be about $77,000 short of goals—an important consideration since the pool’s plaster lining must be replaced at some point. It helped the bottom line that the Park & Recreation Commission sold 100 family passes this year to nonresidents, at $1,000 each, and raised rates on other types of passes.

Around Town

Y Exploring Options for Displaced Swimmers-To-Be, including Waveny Pool

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One option that the New Canaan YMCA is exploring for its high-performing swimmers next winter (that’s 2015-16)—as a widely anticipated expansion project gets underway and the facility’s pools are not usable—is having the team work out of the nearby outdoor pool at Waveny, town parks officials say. Temporarily “bubbling” and otherwise cold weather-proofing the Waveny Pool during its usual offseason is something the Y is starting to look into, Park & Recreation Commission Chair Sally Campbell said at the group’s most recent meeting. “They’re good citizens of the town, they serve a lot of people in the town and I think we owe it to them [to hear them out],” Campbell said the July 9 meeting, held in the Douglas Room at Lapham Community Center. Asked about the idea, YMCA Vice President of Financial Development, Marketing, and Strategic Initiatives Kristina Barrett said in an email: “Yes, we are exploring options for where swimmers, including the high school team, will go during construction. We are taking every effort to minimize any inconvenience to our members and would be happy to work with Parks & Rec to explore any solutions they might have.”

Town planning officials in April approved the Y’s expansion plans (on 33 conditions).

Around Town

Resident Family Passes for Waveny Pool Down, Revenue Shortfall Projected

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New Canaan this summer has seen far more residents purchase daily passes for the Waveny Pool than in years past, yet fewer are buying the more expensive season passes, prompting parks officials to look at ways they might boost revenue for the self-sustaining facility. Members of the Park and Recreation Commission at the group’s regular meeting Wednesday night agreed that they must plan to have enough money in reserve to pay for a new plaster lining for the pool. One estimate puts that project at $140,000. What isn’t clear yet is just what condition the Waveny Pool’s plaster is in—in other words, how soon it absolutely must be replaced—or whether it could be done less expensively. Recreation Director Steve Benko said the life of a marble-like plaster pool surface is eight to 10 years, noting that the Waveny Pool lining is 13 years old.

Around Town

Cooling Off: New Canaan Residents Gather at Waveny Pool to Escape the Heat

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The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Baskin-Robbins, Connecticut Sandwich Co., Joe’s Pizza and Mackenzie’s. On a beautiful beginning to the month of July, NewCanaanite.com headed down to the Waveny Pool to see what makes this venue a hotspot for cooling off from the summer heat. After a swim meet between the Lake Club Swim Team and the local Waveny Gators finished up, we sat down and talked with a New Canaan resident keeping cool in the shade. Gary Cavanagh, who has been a member at the Waveny Pool for three years, praised the pool’s safety and enjoyability for people of all ages. “It’s safe, something special for the little guys over there—they won’t get in trouble, they got the big umbrellas for those who need to avoid the sun like me, and kids have a great time,” Cavanagh said.

Government

Parks Officials: Most Nonresidents at Waveny Pool Are from Darien

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Most of the 100 nonresident passes for Waveny Pool this summer will be sold to Darien families, parks officials said. Faced with a potential shortfall in revenue to keep the self-sustaining facility in the black, officials opted to sell family passes at $1,000 each to out-of-towners for this season (New Canaan families pay $475). Park and Recreation Commission member Matt Konspore at Wednesday’s regular monthly meeting for the group raised the question of just where nonresident permit applicants are coming from—some 250 signed up for a waiting list and 100 were selected by lottery. “I’d be curious on the lottery winners how many are from Darien?” Konspore said during the meeting, held at Lapham Community Center. Answer: The majority.