Wilton’s Historic District and Historic Properties Commission (HDHP) held its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, May 13, which featured updates on a number of topics related to preservation efforts across the Town.

School Sisters of Notre Dame at 345 Belden Hill Rd.

HDHP Chair Lori Fusco updated the commissioners on the Monday, May 12 Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) pre-application review of a proposed senior living development at 329-331-345 Belden Hill Rd, the 38-acre property previously occupied by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. 

Fusco pointed to two noteworthy structures on the property: a 1930s Tudor revival building which is currently listed in Wilton’s Historic Resources Inventory (HRI) and a 1960s chapel notable for its stained glass windows.

After attending the May 12 P&Z meeting, Fusco said she was “encouraged” to hear the developer and some P&Z members express interest in keeping some of the existing structures.

Fusco intends to draft a letter supporting preservation efforts and providing additional historical context about the property for P&Z’s consideration if a formal application advances.

Ambler Farm

After briefly discussing the status of a potential $55,000 matching grant — now “in limbo” — that was initially sought to help pay for for lead remediation at the Ambler Farm Yellow House, Fusco highlighted the results of the May 6 Annual Town Meeting vote to approve a bonding referendum for $1,286,618 to renovate the historic Raymond Ambler House (the White House).

Renovating the Yellow House had been one of the bonding projects considered for 2025, but ultimately BOS members opted to push that project to next year, or potentially later.

“On the bright side, the White House was on the referendum and it did pass,” Fusco said. “The Town was very supportive of the complete restoration of that house.”

The HDHP commissioners also discussed the ongoing matter of the Ambler Farm lease negotiated between the Town and the nonprofit Friends of Ambler Farm. Fusco said she intends to submit a letter to the Board of Selectmen in advance of the BOS vote on the proposed lease agreement, which is expected to take place on Tuesday, May 20, after a delay due to procedural questions.

Editor’s note: Also published on GOOD Morning Wilton today is a story about Tuesday night’s Board of Finance meeting, at which members discussed issuing an opinion that the lease as currently written is not in the best interests of the Town.

Fusco noted the longterm lease is relevant to HDHP’s interests because it helps the Friends of Ambler Farm to secure grants and other funding opportunities. Still, the commissioners have some lingering concerns about the Board of Selectmen’s authority to make decisions about the historic Yellow House, including demolition — even as unlikely as commissioners felt that might be.

“We hope that’s not the direction that they’re looking to go and that they’re trying to make every good faith effort to preserve the house,” Fusco said.

“It’s always a concern for me, because we’ve been talking about the Yellow House since 2017,” Fusco said, referring to when she joined the commission and the building repairs which have yet to be addressed. “It’s been a topic that hasn’t made great enough strides to remedy [yet].”

Still, Fusco said she remains “an optimist” about Amble Farm because the longterm lease will strengthen funding opportunities.

“If we can have other sources of funding, perhaps we can get things done, because we’re not looking for the town to absorb the cost,” Fusco said.

Cannondale Study

Fusco also updated the commissioners on the status of an RFP that was recently re-issued, seeking a consultant to conduct a “pre-master-planning study” of the historic neighborhood of Cannondale.

According to the RFP, the study is intended to provide data and information that will assist and support P&Z in an eventual master planning process for Cannondale, with emphasis on “options and alternatives within the context of historic preservation.”

Fusco said she had received good feedback and some questions from a few interested vendors — which she called “a good start” and “a step in the right direction” for securing bids. The deadline for any further questions from vendors is Thursday, May 22, and the final deadline for bid submission is Thursday, May 29. (The RFP is posted on the Town website and can be accessed by completing the “Subscribe to Updates” form for the RFP.)

Among other things, the scope of the study will include:

  • Recommendations on how best to preserve and protect the historic integrity of the neighborhood, including the best ways to defend it against natural disasters, such as flooding from the Norwalk River which has previously impacted Cannondale
  • A template for adaptive use and possible repurposing of the area, including how to make the buildings ADA accessible while maintaining their historic authenticity
  • Recommendations for design review guidelines and regulations for new construction that is compatible with existing historic buildings and takes historic preservation into consideration

The study will be funded by a grant from the Historic Preservation Fund of the National Park Service, administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

Demolition Delay Ordinance

Fusco is expecting the May 20 BOS meeting agenda will include a public hearing on a proposed change to the town ordinance pertaining to HDHP’s “demolition delay” authority.

HDHP would like to see the delay period extended from 90 days up to 180 days, as well as to extend the time for the commission to respond to a demolition application from 10 days to 35 days. HDHP is also proposing changes to “intent to demolish” signage that would more clearly identify historically significant properties that are slated for demolition.

“Historic preservation does not happen overnight, and trying to save things — whether it’s pieces of a building [or] salvaging an entire building — is hard to wrap up in 90 days,” Fusco said, adding, “One hundred and eighty days would be better, if we want to have a shot at making an impact.”

HDHP’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 10.