Town Council Says Yes to Lumberyard Application

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – The town will continue investigating senior housing and additional parking at the Lumberyard parking lot, although members of the Town Council are still worried that taking a state grant could cost New Canaan control of the commuter lot.

Town Council members voted 6-5 on Tuesday to finalize an application for a Transit-Oriented Development grant from the state Office of Policy and Management. The vote came after three-and-a-half hours of comments from residents and discussions with town planning officials.

More than 60 residents spoke for about two hours, making pitches for and against the proposal. Opponents of the grant outnumbered supporters, applauding residents and commuters who wanted no part of the grant, intended to investigate the addition of senior housing and decked parking to the lot.

Council Chairman Mark DeWaele, like other councilors, was divided but voted yes because he thought it was worthwhile to explore options for the Lumberyard. But DeWaele wanted Town Planner Steven Kleppin to contact OPM officials to make sure the town would not have to give up its rights to the 3-acre lot.

Rosemarie Osterndorf, a member of the group Citizens to Preserve our Village Character, reminded the council that residents decided during the controversial Avalon Properties land swap that they did not want to see housing at the Lumberyard site. “Voters decided years ago that multiunit housing would adversely impact our town in terms of traffic and character,” she said. Several residents also feared that the concept would make New Canaan a transportation hub.  

Councilor Christine Hussey based her no vote on the grant's focus on the Lumberyard and the possibility of the state dictating what would happen if the town were to accept up to $500,000 in grant money. “I just don’t think it’s the right thing to put it there,” Hussey said.

Hussey, Robert Hamill, Paul Foley, John Emert and Kit Devereaux voted no. Steve Karl, president of Karl Chevrolet, located on Elm Street across from the lot, abstained because of a potential conflict of interest.  

Beth Jones, one of the six yes votes, said she was excited about looking into what could happen. “I don’t’ see this as anything like Avalon. We will have full control over this,” she said.   

To reach Melvin Mason, email mmason@thedailynewcanaan.com.

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