At a special meeting on Wednesday, February 1, New Fairfield’s Zoning Commission voted to bring a Consolidated special  permit to public hearing. The decision to set the hearing could have been delayed but was not. There was significant discussion at the January Zoning Commission meeting regarding whether to seek legal advice on this or any application for this site, given the ongoing litigation between Town Committees.

The Special Permit, filed on December 29, reads “For the removal of demo debris, filling in of earth material and regrading of the site as a result of the demolition of the Consolidated School. Associated site improvements including grading and storm damage. Section(s) 3.1.2 Special Permit Uses (A&B) & Section 6.4- Excavation, Removal, Filling, and Grading of Earth Material by Special Permit Approval. Applicant-Town of New Fairfield.”

The Zoning Commission’s Mr. Kevin Van Vlack oversaw a unanimous vote for the hearing date. In public comment The Permanent Building Committee’s Mr. Don Kellogg requested that the hearing be set one week earlier than March 1, which would require that it be a special meeting. Kellogg said, “every week of delay, it is costing the town more and more money and we’re already a month out from the original application…it is time, it is escalation.” Van Vlack said that he would investigate a date move.

Ms. Cynthia Ross-Zweig spoke, noting that the Zoning Commission’s chair had received a legal opinion regarding the matter, “and you did not read that opinion into the public record.” She expressed “concern with not hearing the legal opinion that there were some concerns about this going forward.”

The next regular Zoning Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 1, 7:30 p.m.

By Sarah Opdahl