42°
NEW CANAAN, Conn. Residents will have more time to comment on the towns plans to apply for a state grant to investigate senior housing and more parking at the Lumberyard parking lot off Elm Street.
After a public hearing Wednesday that lasted more than an hour, the Town Council postponed a vote on applying for a $400,000 state Transit-Oriented Development pilot program grant to look into transforming the commuter parking area into a place for housing and expanded parking.
First Selectman Jeb Walker can still send in the grant application by the states Aug. 4 deadline, but the town has until Sept. 15 to sign off on a state-mandated memorandum of understanding, which would allow New Canaans application to proceed. The council is expected to have another public hearing in early September to receive more public feedback and decide whether the grant should proceed. Walker got approval from councilors to apply, and council members will receive copies of the application by Monday for review.
Town Planner Steven Kleppin reiterated to councilors that applying for the grant does not lock the town into going forward with a senior housing project at the Lumberyard lot, which Kleppin calls an underused space. We want to look at things in-depth, Kleppin said, including how many units would be necessary and how traffic might be affected.
Patrick Swearingen of Toquan Road, who waited for several hours to voice his concerns, said the town should not investigate the Lumberyard, fearing it would be another divisive issue and would take parking from fellow commuters. I think our views need to be heard, he said.
Greg Smith objected to the application. This is going to be an absolute nightmare, Smith said. Who would want to live next to the (Metro-North Railroad) station?
Should the town apply for a state grant to study uses of the Lumberyard lot? Start the conversation here or talk about it on our Facebook page.
Click here to follow Daily Voice New Canaan and receive free news updates.
