Letter to the Editor: Zoning Abyss in Old Lyme Means “No Rules” for Many Properties 

To the Editor:

There are no rules in Old Lyme for lots of people’s property, in my professional view.  The Zoning Commission needs a wholesale change from electors. 

I just sat in on a zoning meeting for a proposed 11,500 s.f house on Smith Neck Rd, quite large house, and the third, long, drawn out meeting for the same single property (it consumed the entire January zoning meeting, while other matters were pushed a month).  I am not affected at all by the proposed new house, except for twice a month in the summer when I put in for a kayak, it is at the head of Smith Neck.  I completely understand 11,500 s.f. is big, but if it is allowed, that is not a problem – I myself would not want it, but rules are rules, and it is very remote from most all properties, not impeding any views from existing properties.  The Zoning Commission on February 10th denied approval based on an arcane regulation overlay, and gave the unfortunate property owners no guidance whatsoever on how to proceed – the entire Commission said, in essence, “Come back to us with another idea, and we will tell you if we like it.”  That is absolutely not fair or judicious.

Apparently, the proposed house comports with Old Lyme zoning regulations (which, by the way, the same current zoning regulations allow for adult entertainment in C30 zone, insane, but the Zoning Commission must be burdened with other revisions…) but did not comport with some vague, crazy overlay regulations from the state funded Gateway Commission, whose regulations Old Lyme adopted wholesale with no changes (typical of our Zoning Commission), even if with our lovely town might not need some of the generic suggestions.  Most citizens know nothing of this adoption, which process is evocative of the wholesale adoption of generic zoning long ago that created the giant mess we have today in New England, which 1960’s ideas were great for new municipalities with perfectly square one acre lots and defined commercial, industrial, etc. areas not yet even developed in the Midwest or Florida, but created a dystopia like we have in Old Lyme.

In full disclosure, I purchased 99 Halls Road empty lot from Essex Savings Bank when they were considering selling to a group that would have a gas station on the lot.  I have kept it empty as Zoning in its current incarnation considers revisions to regulations.  I bought the property four years ago – I am pretty sure I will be waiting for certainty of regulation for a much while longer after my observations tonight, but at least the Town does not have another gas station that so many people do not want.

I know many, many people have been subjected to Zoning and Zoning Board of Appeals in town.  My suggestion to my fellow residents is that the elected positions need to be filled with qualified, not emotional or political, people who can finally create clear rules for which all may abide – here is what you can do, and here is what you can’t do, without having a six month tribunal experience.  Please talk to your neighbors, this is not a small subject for us here in Old Lyme.  I pray your modest garage project goes smoothly, but I may offer it is likely to be a six month project that should be one month.

Sincerely,

J. David Kelsey,
Old Lyme.