Remote Viewing Added for Tonight’s Old Lyme Zoning Workshop

OLD LYME, CT – Officials have announced an online viewing option for Wednesday night’s interactive housing and residential zoning workshop at 6:30 p.m.

The workshop may be viewed remotely through Microsoft Teams, but Land Use Coordinator Eric Knapp said remote observers will not be able to participate in the discussion.

The workshop is part of the commission’s ongoing comprehensive rewrite of the town’s zoning regulations and will focus on housing and residential zoning, strategies to support future housing, preserving neighborhood character and priorities for residential areas.

Knapp said there were no plans to make the live meeting available online until a request was made Wednesday by alternate member Michael Barnes.

Knapp said the public will be able to watch the discussion, but not speak, because adding a remote speaking option fewer than 24 hours before the meeting could create questions under the state Freedom of Information Act. The law sets requirements for public notice and meeting agendas.

He said allowing people to speak remotely after the agenda had been posted could be problematic because the public was not given advance notice of the opportunity.

The interactive format is designed to give participants an opportunity to share their ideas and help shape future policy, according to the commission.