Old Lyme Zoning Commission Closes Public Hearing on Controversial Overlay Proposal in Front of Fervent Opposition

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.

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