At their Wednesday, April 3 meeting, New Fairfield’s Zoning Commission approved a special permit to allow for the operating use of museums at both the Parsonage and Hubble House, with the stipulations that all necessary departments sign off. They specified the importance of sign offs from the town fire marshall. Thought to have been completed years ago, the permitting process is now fully underway for the two properties to serve as museums. One property is fully set up for museum use and the other is used for events and the storage of special collections.
Ms. Faline Schneiderman, of the Town’s Historic Properties Commission, confirmed that the group believed all proper permits were in place but discovered that a land use special permit was needed. When asked by a neighbor about plans for the land in the future, Schneiderman confirmed that they intend to maintain the land as is and have no plans to clear or expand the grounds.
Zoning members listened to a presentation on plans for revised parking, landscaping, lighting, and stormwater improvement at St. Edwards. The plans were not ready for votes, as the Town Engineer Mr. Tony Iadarola is in the review stage of the application.
Project Engineer Mr. Benjamin Doto described the project as “pretty straightforward,” and clarified that there are no changes planned for the church itself. Instead, the plan focuses on the non-conformities in the parking lot. If approved, approximately thirty-three spaces that are in and near the right of way will be removed and placed on site. The plans come with a shifted traffic flow that is designed to ease congestion, including a new exit-only driveway for peak usage periods. Extensive curbing will be placed to help differentiate the parking lot from the road.
In reworking the parking lot, issues with stormwater drainage will be addressed. Doto explained they plan to reroute the site’s storm drainage, which will involve “disconnecting some of the direct connections to the town system” and “collecting everything via a series of new catch basins” that cross the street to the overflow lot. In the overflow lot, they would install a stormwater management system that will consist of a manhole that will route flow through a water quality unit. “The net result here is we are going to have a significant reduction in effective imperviousness,,” Doto said. There was a brief discussion about the detention system’s maintenance.
Both quality and quantity improvements are planned for the landscaping, as described by Landscape Architect Ms. Abigail Adams. She said the focus is on “the main parking lot and then the smaller area across Marjorie Drive.” Replacing older trees with new ornamental versions and adding landscaping to serve as a buffer along with new curbing on the perimeter of the lots are in the plans. Evergreen and deciduous trees, plus shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses will all be included. More color will be featured on the site with the addition of holly, lilacs, and Red October ornamental grasses. Adams explained, “we really want to just make this a very nice improvement and make this something special for people who are driving by the church site, as well as those who are attending church and services.”
Regarding improved lighting, new fixtures will be added to the middle of the parking lot and on some outer edges. New “wayfinding low-level site lighting” will also be added to help direct foot traffic. Along a new access drive, lighting will be added but it is not intended for daily use, only high-capacity periods. “The fixtures that we have proposed for the pole lighting are very simple, sleek” and more “modern,” Adams pointed out. Zoning Commission members asked that notification be made to neighbors considering the new lighting, as they are used to the lot being largely dark. Adams noted that notices were issued when a variance was applied for and granted last year. A variance was needed due to the light fixture height, as the church is in a residential zone.
Zoning Commission members learned that there were recent attempts to fraudulently enroll children into New Fairfield Public Schools. A home on Barnum Road was charged with running an illegal boarding house, an illegal accessory apartment, and unpermitted demolition and construction. Zoning Enforcement Officer Mr. Evan White described the unit as a “front” and “false property” to illegally claim residency. Town officials, school administrators, the BOE, and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families are working on the Barnum case, as well as another instance of the same type for a different family on Ball Pond Road.
The next regular Zoning Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1, 7:30 p.m.