The Historic District and Historic Properties Commission (HDHP) meeting on Tuesday, June 10, was the latest round in ongoing debate about the lease of the Town-owned historic properties at Ambler Farm currently being negotiated between the Town and the nonprofit Friends of Ambler Farm.
HDHP commissioners had conceptually favored the longterm lease because it would strengthen the Friends’s ability to secure grants and other funding opportunities that would help preserve the historic structures at the Farm.
However, the draft lease presented by First Selectman Toni Boucher to the Board of Selectmen drew fire from Wilton’s Board of Finance, which issued a unanimous opinion raising concerns about numerous terms in the proposed lease. After some turbulent meetings in May about how to advance the matter, the Board of Selectmen eventually agreed the lease would require some renegotiation.
Even after sharing their concerns in a letter sent to Boucher, some HDHP commissioners remain wary of the Board of Selectmen’s authority under the lease to make decisions that could even include the demolition of the historic Yellow House.
Commissioner Gil Weatherly raised his concerns again during the June 10 HDHP meeting, referring to a clause in the draft lease which he read aloud:
“The Yellow House is vacant and not fit for habitation. In order to become habitable, the Yellow House will require remediation of lead paint and asbestos and extensive interior and exterior renovation work. The Town reserves the right to demolish the Yellow House if the Town determines the cost of remediation and renovation is prohibitive.”
“That last sentence — I’m concerned that it’s a big unknown as to what process the town will go through to actually determine what is cost prohibitive,” Weatherly said.
“I think that’s a very, very nebulous statement there, without any definition as to what the process might be,” he continued. “Am I missing something?”
He went on to say he believes any determination about affordability must include public input.
HDHP Chair Lori Fusco said she didn’t feel the prospect of a future demolition was a likely eventuality, because of the visibility of a property like Ambler Farm.
“I hope it never comes to that, but I do know that if it ever does, our commission would be on top of it, and I feel that the town would be well aware of it,” Fusco said. “People have been watching what’s going on there. It’s been in the public eye. This isn’t something that would happen quickly and without notice.”
She added that the controversy over the Ambler Farm lease validated the fundamental need for the HDHP commission.
“Whether it’s us that are at the table or other people in our place, hopefully this commission will endure, and it is there for situations just like this,” Fusco said.
Weatherly later clarified that he was not advocating for obligating the Town to spend unlimited sums, only that there must be a process for public input on a decision as drastic as demolition.
At least one other commissioner, Catherine Lipper, said she agreed with Weatherly that the loose definition about what the BOS might deem “cost prohibitive” was “troubling.”
Commissioners agreed to wait to see any further developments regarding Ambler Farm before communicating any further concerns to the BOS.
More HDHP Updates
- Fusco updated the commissioners on the status of an RFP seeking a consultant to conduct a “pre-master-planning study” of historic Cannondale. She reported multiple proposals had been received, and she is planning to meet with Town Administrator Matt Knickerbocker to review them.
- Fusco discussed her attempts to learn of any progress made on the decision whether to accept a $55,000 state grant for lead remediation at the Yellow House. She expressed reservations about the grant being “still under review” for reasons she did not fully understand, but was concerned could jeopardize much-needed work at the Yellow House and the ability to obtain such a competitive grant again in the future.
- Fusco informed the commission that the long-awaited public hearing on the proposed changes to the demolition delay ordinance was rescheduled (again) for June 17. She noted that the series of delays and attending multiple BOS meetings on the subject of the proposed ordinance may have been “a blessing in disguise” by providing more opportunity for Fusco to advocate for the changes and explain their rationale.
- The salvaging process at 232 Danbury Rd., also known as the John C. Walley house, is proceeding as planned, but with some delays.
- Commissioners discussed their favorable reactions to a proposal to convert the landmark church located at 254 Danbury Rd. to condominiums. Commissioners praised the preliminary plans for their approach to preserving the building’s exterior appearance.
- Fusco confirmed the long-awaited tarp for covering the roof at the beleaguered Gilbert & Bennett building at 49 New St. has finally been installed. She also said she will continue to ask Town officials to ensure regular checks are made on the historic building, which has been unoccupied since early last fall when it was deemed unsafe.
- Fusco has requested input from her fellow commissioners on a draft letter to P&Z communicating an opinion about preservation efforts at 345 Belden Hill Rd. (the School Sisters of Notre Dame property), which is being eyed for potential redevelopment for senior living.