Former New Canaan P&Z Commissioner Implores Town to "Save 1913"

To the Planning and Zoning Commission:

As a former member of your commission and a resident for 48 years, I implore you to follow the state and local Village District recommendations and deny the New Canaan Library’s current application for a zone change.

New Canaan’s Business Zone A, which includes almost half of the north side of the block owned by the New Canaan Library, is designated within the local Village District.

Incidentally, the 1967 adjacent gas station was designed to complement the library in its use of stone materials and Colonial Revival design.

State law (CGS 8-2) regarding Village Districts says “ the removal or disruption of historic, traditional or significant structures or architectural elements shall be minimized.”

In New Canaan’s Zoning Regulations, under Section 6.12E “Additional Village District Considerations” it states: “Design Guidelines: a)Special Attention shall be paid to protecting the distinctive character, landscape, and historic structures within the Village District. b)The removal or disruption of historic, traditional or significant structures or architectural elements shall be avoided or minimized. c)The conversion, conservation, and preservation of existing buildings and sites in a manner that maintains the historic or distinctive character of the Village District is encouraged.”

Our Village District stretches from the architect Alfred Taylor’s 1913 Library along Main Street north to Edgar Josselyn, architect’s, 1909 Town hall and the 1913 bank building next to it.

Please help us maintain the two anchors at each end.

Sincerely,

Mimi Findlay