Community Calendar

OLD LYME — On Friday, Oct. 8, at 9 a.m., the Old Lyme Open Space Commission will offer the public an opportunity during their in-person meeting at Old Lyme Town Hall to call with questions or comments about the Town’s proposed acquisition of 41-1 and 41-4 Whippoorwill Road.

This purchase will add 35 acres to the existing Ames Open Space, with improved access to its trail system.

While the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance have approved this transaction, it still needs to go before the Planning Commission and a Town Meeting before the sale can take place.

It should be noted that the land being purchased and the roadway leading to it are still private property and not open to the public.

Readers can call into the Open Space Commission’s meeting by dialing 1-605-472-5727 and entering access code 3819718.

The full agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Hybrid Meeting, Open to the Public

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes from September 10, 2021
3. Welcome to the Public: Open Discussion on the proposed acquisition of the Ames Open Space 35 acres
4. Land Steward Report: Peter Norris
5. Existing Business
   1. Open Space Property Updates
   2. Ames Open Space: Amanda Blair
   3. Bartholomew Open Space: Amanda Blair
   4. Champlain North: Steven Calcagni
   5. McCulloch Family Open Space: Amanda Blair
   6. Eklund Pond Open Space: Anne Welles
6. Grant Activity
   1. Rockfall Foundation & Hartford Audubon Society Grants: Andrea Fenton
   2. Future Applications
7. Community Outreach
   Hikers Happy Hour
8. Inland Wetlands Commission Report: Evan Griswold
9. Conservation Commission Report: Gary Gregory
10. New Business
    1. 2022 Schedule of Commission Meetings
    2. Additional New Business?
11. Public Comment
12. Executive Session – As Necessary
13. Adjourn

Editor’s Note: For more on this story, visit this link.

OLD LYME — On Thursday, Jan. 6, the Town of Old Lyme received an additional, but limited, quantity of COVID-19 test kits and N95 masks from the state.

Four hundred (400) test kits and N95 masks are available to distribute, and these test kits are again being prioritized for residents, “who currently need to make wise decisions about quarantining or isolating because they have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19.”

A ‘Drive-Thru Pickup’ is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 8, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or until supplies are exhausted on the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School driveway behind Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau for Old Lyme residents, who meet the criteria stated above.

Enter from the Center School driveway entrance. Residents will need to show ID.

The quantity of test kits and masks being distributed will be one test kit containing two tests and four N95 masks per household.

At this time, the state is expected to receive additional shipments. When the Town of Old Lyme receives additional deliveries, future drive-thru events will be scheduled and then announced.

To stay in touch regarding when additional test-kits and masks become available for distribution, simply text OLCOVID19 to 888777 on your phone.  The most recent information about COVID-19 test kit and mask distribution events will be shared there as well as on the Town of Old Lyme website, the Town’s social media platforms and with the Town’s media partners, which include LymeLine.com.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on a press release issued Jan. 6 by Old Lyme Emergency Services Director David Roberge.

OLD LYME — On Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m., the Old Lyme Affordable Housing Commission (OL AHC) and the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG) will host an on-line community workshop to discuss the work in progress toward preparing a state-mandated Affordable Housing Plan for Old Lyme.

All Old Lyme residents are encouraged to attend.

The state of housing in Old Lyme and the most recent thinking on a housing strategy to meet current and future needs will be presented.

The OL AHC urges all residents to join, and add their voices to the discussion. Pre-registration is not required.

The connection information for this virtual meeting has been updated as follows:

To join the meeting from your computer, visit: https://oldlymect.webex.com/oldlymect/j.php?MTID=m829e255197f825a697f4a1404be6b776

To join the meeting by telephone: dial 408-418-9388 and enter access code 2349 906 5054

If you had already registered for the previously posted Zoom meeting, you are requested to ignore those instructions and use the Webex connection information above instead.

REVISED SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA

Meeting Date:                    Friday 11 March 2022 – 3 p.m.

Location:                             Old Lyme Town Hall – Meeting Hall

1. To approve the utilization of the Standard Allowance for American Rescue Plan Act funding reporting purposes.
2. To approve an AMENDED AND RESTATED DEED OF CONSERVATION RESTRICTION 311.50-ACRE PARCEL, which amends a Deed of Conservation Restriction from David Sears McCulloch and Jean Adair McCulloch to The Nature Conservancy of Connecticut, Inc., its successors or assigns, dated on or about December 29, 1999 and recorded at Book 260, Page 1007 of the said Land Records, subsequently assigned to Jean A. McCulloch Farm LLC, having been approved by a judgment of the Superior Court on June 4, 2021, providing for the following specific amendments:

a.         Paragraphs 3.3 (a), (b) and (c) of the Deed of Conservation Restriction are hereby amended by adding the following at the end of each section:  “except as required to construct parking in the three areas shown on the maps in Exhibit B, such parking to be made of permeable surface material and designed in consultation with the Conservancy.”

b.         Paragraph 3.3 (e) is hereby amended by adding the following at the end of the section: “except for the placement of sanitary garbage pails or bins and to erect environmentally sound composting toilets as required for the responsible management and in order to protect the conservation values of the property.”

To authorize and empower the First Selectman to sign, execute, receive, deliver and

record, on behalf of the Town, the AMENDED AND RESTATED DEED OF CONSERVATION RESTRICTION 311.50-ACRE PARCEL, and such other instruments and agreements as are required to carry out the foregoing resolution.

A copy of the AMENDED AND RESTATED DEED OF CONSERVATION RESTRICTION 311.50-ACRE PARCEL may be examined at the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Old Lyme during the Town Clerk’s ordinary business hours.

Adjournment:

OLD LYME — On Monday, March 21, the Town of Old Lyme will hold a Special Town Meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Meeting Hall of Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme St., in Old Lyme.

The following agenda items will be discussed and may be taken to a vote:

1.         To approve the appropriation of an amount not to exceed $45,000 to fund the preparation of a Local Transportation Capital Improvement Plan grant application, to prepare easement documentation for a pedestrian bridge and a walking trail to the Florence Griswold Museum and to fund engineering and legal services to prepare a Village District Zoning Overlay. See Appendices 1 and 2 at the foot of this article for more information.

2.         To approve the utilization of the Standard Allowance for American Rescue Plan Act funding reporting purposes.

3.         To approve the funding of a request from the Ledge Light Health District in the amount of $21,622.15 (1% of Old Lyme’s American Rescue Plan funding) to help the District respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency.  The funding will be paid from American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds received by the Town.

4.         To approve the funding of an amount not to exceed $20,000 to retain the services of George E. Krivda, Jr. to administer the Town of Old Lyme’s small business and non-profit American Rescue Plan grant program.  The funding will be paid from ARP funds received by the Town.

5.         To approve an AMENDED AND RESTATED DEED OF CONSERVATION RESTRICTION 311.50-ACRE PARCEL, which amends a Deed of Conservation Restriction from David Sears McCulloch and Jean Adair McCulloch to The Nature Conservancy of Connecticut, Inc., its successors or assigns, dated on or about December 29, 1999 and recorded at Book 260, Page 1007 of the said Land Records, subsequently assigned to Jean A. McCulloch Farm LLC, having been approved by a judgment of the Superior Court on June 4, 2021, providing for the following specific amendments:

a.         Paragraphs 3.3 (a), (b) and (c) of the Deed of Conservation Restriction are hereby amended by adding the following at the end of each section:  “except as required to construct parking in the three areas shown on the maps in Exhibit B, such parking to be made of permeable surface material and designed in consultation with the Conservancy.”

b.         Paragraph 3.3 (e) is hereby amended by adding the following at the end of the section: “except for the placement of sanitary garbage pails or bins and to erect environmentally sound composting toilets as required for the responsible management and in order to protect the conservation values of the property.”

To authorize and empower the First Selectman to sign, execute, receive, deliver and record, on behalf of the Town, the AMENDED AND RESTATED DEED OF CONSERVATION RESTRICTION 311.50-ACRE PARCEL, and such other instruments and agreements as are required to carry out the foregoing resolution.

A copy of the AMENDED AND RESTATED DEED OF CONSERVATION RESTRICTION 311.50-ACRE PARCEL may be examined at the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Old Lyme during the Town Clerk’s ordinary business hours.

Appendix 1:

HALLS ROAD Improvements COMMITTEE
Short-term Financing Needs March 21, 2022
Approved by Board of Selectmen & Board of Finance: January 18, 2022

1. LOTCIP Grant – Application for grant $13,500 (BSC Group)
   To assist in preparing LOTCIP Grant for sidewalk and other streetscape improvements. Proposal includes engineering drawings to show where and how new streetscape & safety improvements are to occur along Halls Road. These documents will also be used to provide specific direction for any future Construction Documentation. This grant application is the first formal submission of plans to CT DOT, and the first chance to receive official approval / disapproval for each plan element.
2. Graybill Easement /survey     $7,000 (BSC Group, not to exceed)
   To secure an easement on the east bank of the Lieutenant. James Graybill has generously offered to grant an easement to the Town of Old Lyme to provide access to the old Lieutenant River bridge abutment on his property for a future pedestrian bridge. A pedestrian bridge over the Lieutenant has consistently been among the most favored potential improvements in public discussions and town-wide surveys. It will allow safe pedestrian and bicycle travel between Lyme Street and the Halls Road district, with views of a beautiful stretch of the Lieutenant River. Mr Graybill has also offered to include in the easement the path of a future trail to the Florence Griswold Museum. Such connections are great opportunities to integrate Old Lyme’s business district with its Arts District, one of Old Lyme’s definitive assets. It is important to secure this easement now, both to ensure future access to the bridge abutment and to make it possible to apply for grants to defray the costs of building the bridge and trails on the east side of the river.
3. Halls Road Overlay District  – Zoning Attorney $10,000 (TCORS Bill Sweeney)
   – Planning Consultant $ 9,000 (BSC Group, not to exceed)
   To complete the work of creating new zoning supporting the recommendations of the Hall Road Master Plan. The previous Village District approach to new zoning created un-looked-for burdens for existing property owners. The new approach is to allow the old C-30s zoning to remain, and to create a Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) as an alternative. Those who wish to can use the HROD to pursue different, and more profitable, new developments in line with the Master Plan. These include mixed use (commercial & residential), apartments and townhomes. The HROD also brings retail development up to the street to create a walkable town center along Halls Road. The change simplifies the new zoning regulations to some degree, but it is important that they be complete, accurate, and legally correct before submission to the Zoning Commission. This requires professional help, which this allocation will pay for. It should be noted that some of this work has already begun on a good faith basis.
   

$39,500   Total of 1 – 3 above
Contingency Allowance $  5,500
$45,000  Total Request

Appendix 2:

HALLS ROAD Improvements COMMITTEE
March 2022       NEXT STEPS

• Halls Road Overlay District – prepare documents for town’s application to Zoning Commission
  • Target Date April 2022 with final approvals possible by July 2022
  • Overlay District to provide new opportunities to property owners and future developers aimed at bringing commercial up to Halls Road and allowing apartments and town homes.
  • C-30S Zone remains, unless an applicant choses to use the Overlay District.
• Grant Applications – to help fund Public Improvements along Halls Road. Timeframe for grant process can be 2 – 4 years.

  Public Improvements include: Sidewalks, Pedestrian Lighting, Landscaping, Crosswalks, Pathways, and a new bridge over the Lieutenant River allowing pedestrians and cyclists to avoid the motorway bridge.

  Grant opportunities currently seeking:

  • October 2022 – Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LOTCIP) Grant – BSC to assist in preparation. Application to include engineering drawings that will define and detail scope of streetscape improvements. CT DOT formally considers our design concept with this grant.
    • Possible funding of $2.5 million.
    • The LOTCIP Grant program is currently 2 years out from application. We are aiming to apply for this in fall 2022 to get into the application queue with a goal to be awarded funding by 2024/25.
  • Additional grants that would contribute funds toward the sidewalks and pedestrian bridge not likely to be covered by the LOTCIP Grant:
    • November 2022 – CT Trails Program.
    • January 2023 – CT Community Challenge Grant.

Seek other grants available for multi-modal connectivity and trails.

• Design Drawings – With Grants Awarded the town can engage professionals to create final construction documents. Timeframe: 1 year from RFQ to final documentation.

Implementation – Seek and receive bids for construction, award project, and begin construction of roadway improvements. Requires prior grant funding and town-funded design documents (as above) and town approval of total funding package. Timeframe: TBD.

OLD LYME — On Tuesday, March 29, at 7 p.m., the Old Lyme Affordable Housing Commission will host a second, online community workshop in order to continue the discussion about the state-mandated Affordable Housing Plan for Old Lyme. All are welcome.

At the first workshop, background information, the results of a local housing study, examples of affordable housing, and initial thinking about a strategy to meet the needs of the community were discussed.

The second workshop will focus on a proposed strategy and action plan that will meet the state requirement to, “Specify how the municipality intends to increase the number of affordable housing developments in the municipality.”

All Old Lyme residents are encouraged to join the workshop and add their voices to the discussion.

Connection information for the meeting can be found here.

LYME/OLD LYME — Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 19, the Rogers Lake Authority will meet in the Old Lyme Town Hall’s Meeting Room at 7:30 p.m. The meeting is likely to draw a large crowd as the contentious topic of the proposed No-Wake zone on Rogers Lake is on the agenda.

The full agenda for the meeting is as follows: