HRIC Hopes for Strong Public Support for its Overlay Proposal at Meeting
OLD LYME — UPDATED Nov. 14, 5pm: The Halls Road Improvements Committee (HRIC) was planning to present its application to create a Halls Rd. Overlay District (HROD) to the Old Lyme (OL) Zoning Commission Monday evening, Nov. 14. The agenda included a presentation by the HRIC to support the application, which was being made officially by the Town of Old Lyme.
However, at 4:10 p.m. that day, Edie Twining, HRIC Chair sent an email saying, “Due to concerns from the new zoning enforcement officer (ZEO), Eric Knapp, HRIC has decided to postpone our presentation of the Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) until the next regular meeting of the Zoning Commission, December 12th 2022.”
She continued, “Unfortunately, we only learned this morning that the ZEO had concerns, and we think it is important to resolve these issues before proceeding.
The second is a Public Hearing for a “Petition for Application [ to create the Halls Road Overlay District Proposal (HROC).”
After the hearings are either continued or closed, the Commission members will then consider both items in their regular meeting.
Commission during that segment of the meeting.
The HRIC Chair Edie Twining tells LymeLine by email that she is hoping for, “… strong public support for its proposal at the meeting.”
In its most recent update to the community, the HRIC reported that in July 2022, it was awarded funding for the formal survey and design work required for the bridge and trails, through the Community Initiatives Grant, a part of the town-administered American Rescue Plan.
Requests for Proposals have been posted to design firms to produce design documentation for the pedestrian bridge and associated trails. Once these drawings are created they will be used for grant applications for the implementation of the design.
The HRIC will be working with two experienced grant-writer volunteers to seek grants and create the proposals to fund this project. The design documentation will also show the location of the pedestrian bridge and identify any easements needed for the town to secure.
The BSC Group has put together the town’s application for the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LOTCIP) grant, which was submitted in September 2022. This state-run grant is the first opportunity for the town to present its planned roadway improvements to the CT DOT for their formal approval.
The application covers the planned improvements to sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping, lighting, and crosswalks along Halls Road. The LOTCIP grant could provide a substantial part of the construction costs of these right-of-way improvements. It is not expected to cover the costs of the new pedestrian- and cyclist-bridge across the Lieutenant River, or the trails leading to and from it.
New zoning for a mixed-use overlay district was submitted to the OL Zoning Commission and recognized as received at the commissions Oct. 11, meeting.
The Halls Rd. Overlay District will allow property owners the option to create mixed-use (commercial and residential) development and bring retail up to Halls Rd. The overlay district provides an incentive for owners to create the walkable, browse-able new town center envisioned in the Master Plan, while leaving the legacy C30-S zoning unchanged.
The HRIC welcomes comments by email at: [email protected]
For further information about the HRIC project, visit https://www.oldlyme-ct.gov/halls-road-improvements-committee
Both of these overlay proposals should have first gone to the planning commission. The planning commission would than have to receive voters approval through a change in the plan of conservation and development prior to both these proposals ending up at the zoning commission..
These significant changes to the character of our town should be approved by the residents of Old Lyme, not just a select group of a few people on the zoning commission.
Route 1 (Hall’s Road), described incorrectly by the HRIC as Halls Road is and will always be directly and consequentally affected by the traffic from the I-95 highway. The “walking village” dream of the HRIC group is not possible. Old Lyme’s walking village was downtown Lyme Street, which is now an exclusive enclave of residents that shun any possible changes to their micro-community