To the Editor:
As a 23-year resident who loves Old Lyme and wants to continue supporting our beautiful community, I am seeking re-election to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). I have served on the ZBA over 5 years, was unanimously elected ZBA Chair by my peers in 2018, and have successfully completed extensive training in CT Land Use Law and Procedure. As a retired research scientist and executive with 7 years’ experience as a senior regulatory professional, I also bring extensive professional knowledge to my role on the ZBA.
As ZBA Chair, my contributions include: hosting a UConn Land Use Training Course in Old Lyme that was open to all local Land Use Board/Commission members, leading the creation of a “Residential Variance Application Guide” to help applicants understand and navigate the highly regulated variance process, and bringing the ZBA into timely compliance with FOI requirements. Working with the ZBA Attorney, we also reviewed and updated our ZBA processes and decision-making to ensure the ZBA was current with evolving state statutes and case law.
My volunteer service beyond the ZBA includes: being a member of Lyme-Old Lyme High School Building Committee; being a ‘Safe Graduation’ Chaperon, leveraging extensive scientific and regulatory research to aid the Zoning Commission in rewriting the town’s Aquifer Protection regulations, and helping to organize multiple local voter registration drives as a member of the League of Women Voters of SECT.
I remain an ‘Unaffiliated Voter’ to underscore my unbiased dedication to supporting our community and my willingness to work with other local volunteers and elected officials in support of Old Lyme regardless of political affiliation. As an ‘Unaffiliated Voter’ seeking re-election to the ZBA, I applied to both Political Town Committees for possible endorsement, and I thank the Old Lyme RTC for endorsing my candidacy based on my solid record of achievement, training and experience.
Please allow me to continue bringing value to the Old Lyme ZBA.
Sincerely,
Nancy Hutchinson,
Old Lyme.