OLD LYME — With the Lyme-Old Lyme High School auditorium filled to capacity with 550 people intent on hearing and being heard, the Old Lyme Zoning Commission on Wednesday held its final open forum on a controversial proposal to reenvision Halls Road as a mixed-use town center where people can live, walk, work and shop.
The commission closed the public hearing after more than three hours of testimony from roughly 40 people, most of them opposed to the plan for an overlay district that would allow apartments and condominiums to be built above, or behind, ground-floor businesses set close to the street.
No new information can be presented now that the hearing has concluded. The commission has 65 days to consider the evidence and reach a decision.
The overlay district proposal, created by the Halls Road Improvements Committee, was approved by the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen in a 2-1 vote in November. The application to the Zoning Commission was signed by First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker.
Attorney William Sweeney, representing the applicant, presented the proposal to the commission.
The raucous crowd waved “Vote No” signs in enthusiastic agreement when people spoke against the proposal, and in pointed dissent when anyone spoke in favor. Chairman Paul Orzel called on several occasions for civility.
There were repeated requests for the public hearing, which was first opened in January and had already been extended with the consent of the applicant, to be continued to another date because not everybody who showed up at the high school could fit into the auditorium. Fire Marshal Dave Roberge at the beginning of the meeting said there were between 50 and 100 people standing in the hallway whom he was not permitted to allow in per the state fire code.
But Sweeney, seated at the hearing next to Halls Road Improvements Committee Chairwoman Edie Twining, said his client would not agree to another extension. State statute requires a public hearing to close within 35 days unless the applicant allows it to remain open.
Chairman Paul Orzel and Land Use Coordinator Eric Knapp said the agenda for the April 14 Zoning Commission will include the overlay application as well as other items of business. Orzel said deliberations will begin at that meeting if time permits after other matters have been handled.
Editor’s Notes: i) Full story coming Thursday.
ii) A reminder of Our Policy on Comments.
50 to 100 residents standing inside the hallway AND how many outside of the building? Applicant for the Overlay refused to allow those voices of residents to be heard in refusing the request for another public meeting date to be added when asked by a member of the zoning commission. This makes clear the Halls Road Improvements Committee chair Edie Twining’s complete disregard and disrespect for the overwhelmingly obvious desires of the residents of Old Lyme, who she has failed in her duty to serve. Two former HRIC members spoke of having quit the committee in frustration because of Twining’s inability to consider their input and concerns. Throughout the meeting, the zoning commission chair demanded attendees show respect to those who have only contempt for their constituency!
Are you suggesting that there were no supporters in the group that arrived late? I thought that the opposition to what I said was a “worthy project” was already well- represented; ..and putting the Town through more theater was unnecessary. It’s now in the hands of the Zoning Commission.
I have no confidence that the Zoning Commission will give equal weight to the will of town residents ,who overwhelmingly request the proposal, verses the approval of five members of the Planning Commission and two members of the Board of Selectmen.
Are you suggesting that the additional voices either in support of or against HROD do not deserve to be heard? Dismissing all of the input given by the many voices of the community each with unique perspectives by calling it “theater” is indicating an attitude both dismissive and desirous of pushing a proposal of great magnitude and impact quickly through without careful consideration.
What I saw last night was town residents, of all political affiliations, rejecting a proposal put forward by First Select-person Shoemaker that would have altered the small town character of Old Lyme. What is most concerning is Shoemakers unwillingness to call for a referendum vote, to approve or disapprove the Hall’s Road Overlay Plan by the voters. Her poor judgement in this matter will not set well with voters in the upcoming Municipal Elections this coming November.
The referendum question was addressed at the hearing:
“While demands for a town wide referendum on the issue have been a popular refrain on social media and in public meetings, Land Use Coordinator Eric Knapp said that’s simply not possible.
Once a town creates a zoning commission, according to Knapp, state law is clear that only the zoning commission has the power to make or amend regulations.
“You can’t call a referendum on this. The only choice you have at this point is abolish the zoning commission, abolish zoning regulations and start over,” he said, adding, “Which I don’t recommend.””
Then abolish
The other issue was that there was no streaming of the event. Town meetings have the ability to use “Teams” for video conferencing. It was inconceivable to me that the Zoning Commission did not anticipate an overflow crowd and therefore set up for a hybrid meeting. I would also think that a school district like LOL would also have the necessary technology.
By the way, I did not think this was “theater”, per a previous commentator. This was a great example of community discussion and feedback.
I wonder how much Town money has been spent by the HRIC on legal fees?
I wonder about the Town /Private (if any) $ spent!?
Oh and by the way “no way overlay” signs are still being stolen..ours last night…to what end will they go..the pressure will not stop!
100%. It’s inconceivable in this day and age that the BoS would have acted to *NOT* stream the program,
Are there any renderings of this proposed project that could/should be included with this story? A map and a rendering or two would be very informative, I think.