By Dionna Carlson
As we move through the month of May, our community continues to engage thoughtfully on a number of important issues while also preparing to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
I encourage all residents to attend New Canaan’s annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 25th at 9:30 a.m. The parade will step off from St. Mark’s Church and proceed to Lakeview Cemetery, where a memorial service will follow. Check the Town’s website for weather-related changes to the day’s events. Memorial Day is an important opportunity for all of us to come together as a community to commemorate and honor the military personnel who died in service to our country. I hope you will join us for this meaningful tradition.
Weed and Elm
Many in our community have passed the recently erected billboards at 751 Weed Street and understandably are concerned and confused by what they have seen. Let me start by clarifying that, while distasteful, the Town cannot force the property owner to remove them because they are protected under freedom of speech laws, unlike commercial advertising signs which can be restricted through Town zoning regulations.
While I cannot comment on the signs because they relate to a potential private legal settlement, I can provide background on the underlying matter. The Town of New Canaan, after vigorously defending its right to control local zoning, ultimately had its decision overturned by the State of Connecticut’s Superior Court. The 8-30g application brought by Karp Associates to build 102 housing units, 30% of which would be rented at state-mandated affordable rates, has been remanded back to the New Canaan Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Commission by the court.
Unless there is a negotiated settlement among the Town, ALL Intervenors, and Karp Associates, the P&Z Commission will need to approve the 102-unit development in the near future. Any negotiated settlement would be subject to public comment at a duly noticed Planning & Zoning Commission meeting.
Affordable Housing Committee
In order for New Canaan to better manage affordable housing development in the future, the Town has chosen to pursue a strategy of achieving successive affordable housing moratoria. To support this effort, the Town established an Affordable Housing Committee (AHC) to advise Town bodies on potential locations for future town-owned affordable housing developments. The goal is to help New Canaan qualify for future moratoria so that the Town is less vulnerable to future 8-30g applications and maintain greater local control over affordable housing development.
The Committee has come up with a few possible development options, and they are now soliciting public review and engagement. The options may be reviewed at the Affordable Housing Committee’s website pages at newcanaan.info: https://www.newcanaan.info/government/committees/affordable_housing.php . An online community survey will be opening up soon as well.
I strongly encourage everyone interested in this issue to review the options presented and participate in this important community discussion.
Zoning Regulations Update
Also related to land use, the Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Commission continues to refine draft updates to New Canaan’s commercial, parking, and inclusionary zoning regulations. (Inclusionary zoning involves requirements that multi-family developments of five units or more include 15% of the units as affordable.) As part of this process, the P&Z Department is launching an anonymous Q&A platform to provide residents with a clear and accessible way to ask questions and better understand the proposed changes. To utilize the online Q&A form, visit https://www.newcanaan.info/departments/land_use/planning___zoning/zoning_regs_update_2025.php
Charter Revision Recommendations
Another major project, underway since November and being led by volunteer residents, is a thorough review of the Town Charter. The Charter Revision Commission delivered its draft report to the Town Council on May 4th and presented its recommendations on May 11th. The recommendations include subjects related to term limits for appointed government positions, the use of public referenda when changing use of public buildings, and the Town Council’s role in approving appointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The Town Council will now review the Commission’s recommendations and provide feedback for further consideration before a final draft and ballot questions are prepared for the November election. Public Hearings on the recommended amendments will be May 27th at 7 p.m. and June 10th at 7 p.m. For more information and to read the draft CRC Report, visit https://www.newcanaan.info/government/commissions/charter_revision.php
Public Safety
Lastly, in two matters related to the safety of our residents, our Fire Chief has released information about avoiding the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) in homes. The key points are having a CO detector on all levels of houses, having mechanical units in homes serviced annually, and not using gasoline-powered equipment within 20 feet of a house. To read the full article, visit the News From Town Hall section at newcanaan.info.
And to help our young people operate e-bikes and bicycles safely on our roads, the Town collaborated with Saxe Middle School and the Police Department in conducting an E-Bike and Bicycle Safety Awareness Week. Shared information included being highly visible when riding, the Rules of the Road, and proper use of helmets.
As always, thank you for your continued engagement and participation in our community.
Dionna Carlson is the New Canaan First Selectman. Her leadership is guided by a respect for local decision-making and a commitment to keeping residents informed and engaged. Read more from Dionna each month by subscribing to her email newsletter, News From Town Hall. To sign up to receive the newsletter visit newcanaan.info and click on the red bar at top, Sign Up For Alerts. To read the current issue of the newsletter visit newcanaan.info and click on the yellow bar at top, News From Town Hall.
