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NEW CANAAN, Conn. The potential relocation of New Canaan Town Hall and other municipal facilities will be weighed by residents next month as the town considers options for redeveloping its downtown.
Members of the Long Range Planning Committee met Tuesday with consultants from Perkins Eastman Associates and BFJ Planning to iron out the presentation that will be made to residents at an Oct. 12 public forum. The committee is creating a plan for future development in town.
Several options to build new facilities or upgrade current ones will be considered. Long Range Chairwoman Christine Wagner compared it to an a la carte menu. The first item is the future of New Canaan Town Hall, which has been in need of repairs for several years.
Although the draft presentation had Town Hall options ranging from $16.5 million to make the building comply with state and federal codes up to $37 million to relocate to the Center School parking lot, Wagner said those figures are not direct comparisons because it doesnt account for all parking adjustments. There are other items we need to include that are more qualitative, she said.
The draft presentation suggests Town Hall needs 34,000 square feet of area, which is about 10,000 square feet more than what is available at the current Main Street building. The presentation will also feature options for the New Canaan Library, the main offices of New Canaan Public Schools, the New Canaan Fire Department, the Outback Teen Center and the Playhouse Theater.
Wagner said the group wants to make the presentation as clear as possible for residents. We want to put enough on there so people can be informed. We want to approach the Oct. 12 forum with the scenarios still open.
Wagner said the committee will meet again Oct. 5 to finalize the presentation.
To contact reporter Melvin Mason, email mmason@thedailynewcanaan.com.
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