At its Tuesday, Nov. 11 meeting, Wilton’s Historic District and Historic Properties Commission (HDHPC) heard an interim progress report on a study of historic Cannondale — a six-month project designed to inform the Cannondale Master Plan that will eventually be undertaken by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The project is being funded by Connecticut’s Historic Preservation Enhancement Grant (HPEG) program.

HDHPC Chair Lori Fusco kicked off the meeting with words of appreciation for the consultants from Building Conservation Associates (BCA) who are leading the project, including Michele Boyd, the director of preservation services, and Nate Schlundt, a preservation architect.

“We’re really excited that you decided to bid on our project,” Fusco told the consultants. “We feel very, very fortunate.”

Study Objectives

Boyd explained the study stems from the goals outlined in Wilton’s 2019 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).

“The charge here is really to support a goal in the 2019 Plan of Conservation and Development that is aimed [at] various strategies for promoting economic development of the Cannondale area while also protecting its historic character,” she said.

The study was specifically designed to provide:

  • An inventory and description of historic structures in Cannondale
  • Recommendations on how best to preserve and protect the historic integrity of the neighborhood (including from natural disasters, such as flooding from the Norwalk River)
  • A template for adaptive reuse, including how to make the buildings ADA accessible, while maintaining historic authenticity
  • Recommendations for design review guidelines and regulations for new construction compatible with existing historic buildings and taking historic preservation into consideration

“What Is Cannondale?”

One of the first challenges is defining “Cannondale”.

“There’s not an official consensus or agreement on what Cannondale even is,” Boyd said.

She and Schlundt have been studying the evolution of the area, from its origins as a school district as far back as 1792, through its 19th-century railroad boom, to its revival as a commercial village in the late 1970’s, led by actress and preservationist June Havoc — which is largely the same as it appears today.

The consultants are also analyzing Cannondale’s layers of protection — including its National Register Historic District designation and the Village District Overlay in Wilton’s zoning regulations. Cannondale is not a local designated historic district.

Boyd noted that while the National Register recognition is “honorary” and doesn’t restrict private owners, the Village District overlay “does provide a measure of local protection… aimed at maintaining and enhancing the historic character here, while still allowing for some growth and development.”

Wilton’s POCD defines Cannondale as the “small historic village located adjacent to the Cannondale Train Station. The Town seeks to develop a Master Plan for Cannondale and pursue mixed-use, residential, and commercial development that is compatible with the village’s unique historic character and charm.”

“Pretty Exceptional”

Schlundt presented a historical review showing that Cannondale’s development has remained remarkably consistent since the late 19th century, when activity flourished around the railroad station.

“It’s well defined by how it was in the middle-to-late 19th century,” he said. “It’s a collection of historic commercial properties centered around the intersection of the Norwalk River and the railroad line… pretty much unaffected by what’s happening on the peripheries.”

Schlundt emphasized that Cannondale “continues to exhibit the scale and texture of a small, late 19th-century commercial center… largely unaltered since it was established” — something he said was “pretty exceptional in the tri-state area.”

“There’s a lot of integrity in this area, not only in its materials, but also its patterns of use,” he added.

Boyd echoed his assessment.

“We think this village area is very special,” she said. “It is unique… because it is so pristine. You’re really seeing what it was. Even though the buildings have new uses, they remain very ‘legible’ in terms of what they were historically.”

“It’s a huge asset to Wilton,” Boyd said.

Next Steps

The next interim report is scheduled for Jan. 13 and is expected to cover environmental risk, ADA accessibility and adaptive reuse topics.

A final report and recommendations are expected March 16.