Letter to the Editor: Elect Savageu, Orzel to Fix Old Lyme Zoning; Bring Experience, Best Interests of Community to Commission

To the Editor:

The Old Lyme Zoning Commission needs fixing. Although it should always make decisions in the best interests of the community, sometimes its members promote their personal agendas. For example, on March 27 of this year the commission turned down the town’s application to create the Halls Road Overlay District. This proposal had been developed over a number of years by the Board of Selectmen’s Halls Road Improvements Committee. It would have significantly expanded permissible development opportunities for property owners in the Halls Road neighborhood, and it would have reduced the likelihood that highway-focused gas stations and convenience stores would be built in the area. It would not have imposed any new zoning requirements on anyone.

The Halls Road project enjoyed the approval of the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance, and over 80% of the public, according to those responding to a survey conducted for the town in 2020. Nevertheless, on March 27 two alternates on the Zoning Commission, nominally unaffiliated but normally voting as Republicans, nixed the proposal in a 3 to 2 vote that required 4 votes to pass.  This was a big loss for Old Lyme.

To ensure better decisions in the future, we must balance the Zoning Commission with thoughtful, talented Democrats. Denise Savageau, an extremely well-qualified Democrat, must be elected. She is an experienced environmental planner, has substantial land-use expertise, and sits on numerous, relevant boards. Incumbent Paul Orzel, unaffiliated but endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee, should also be elected.

Please join me in voting for Denise and Paul on November 7.

Sincerely,

Sandra Y. Rueb,
Old Lyme.