A special meeting on Wednesday, June 25 hardly took 15 minutes, but still proved to be quite revealing about the work of Wilton’s Historic District and Historic Properties Commission (HDHP).

The commission had just two items for review on its agenda: a demolition permit request and a bid received in response to an RFP for a study in historic Cannondale.

Demolition Request

It didn’t take long for commissioners to conclude there was no basis for objection to a request for a demolition permit for 5 Salem Rd. — a four-bedroom, roughly 2,800-sq.ft. home built in 1970.

As part of its purview, HDHP reviews demolition permit requests for any structure over 50 years of age and larger than 500 square feet, even if it is not located in one of Wilton’s designated historic districts. 

“I didn’t find anything in my research that indicated that this particular home was of anything architecturally significant,” HDHP Chair Lori Fusco said, after noting that the house did not appear in any surveys of Wilton’s significant homes. “I see no reason to object to the demolition.”

Commissioner Catherine Lipper, who said she had driven by the property to prepare for the discussion, observed that it is “a nice street, with character” consistent with the 70s era. While she hoped that any construction plans would strive to be harmonious with the scale of the other homes neighborhood, she said she was “on board” with allowing the permit to move forward.

Commissioners voted unanimously to offer no objection to demolition, but the latest HDHP review highlights the demolition delay ordinance that has been the subject of much debate in recent months.

Under its narrow purview, HDHP cannot deny a demolition application — it only has the authority to delay a demolition if the structure has historic, architectural, or cultural interest. Under the current town ordinance, HDHP can delay a demolition up to 90 days to allow salvaging or considering alternatives.

HDHP has proposed changing the ordinance to allow delays up to 180 days. Fusco has vigorously advocated for the Board of Selectmen to enact the change, emphasizing how rarely the commission has exercised its delay authority — just three or four times in at least ten years.

After the June 25 meeting, Fusco told GOOD Morning Wilton the decision on 5 Salem Rd. was typical of the vast majority of HDHP reviews.

“This is exactly the type of situation that happens most often,” Fusco said. “[The commission] has to review to determine if [the house is] significant. It wasn’t, so we did not object to the permit request.”

She also noted that the commission had to schedule a special meeting in order to meet the 10-day time limit the current ordinance allows for HDHP’s review. The proposed changes to the ordinance would allow up to 35 days for the commission to conduct its review, likely eliminating the need for numerous special meetings.

At the June 17 BOS meeting, the selectmen decided to put the ordinance revisions sought by the commission to a Town Meeting vote. A special Town Meeting has not been scheduled yet.

Cannondale Study

HDHP’s June 25 discussion also focused on bids received in May in response to an RFP seeking a consultant to conduct a “pre-master-planning study” of the historic neighborhood of Cannondale. HDHP’s focus is on “options and alternatives within the context of historic preservation”.

The study will be funded by a $20,0000 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).

According to the RFP, the study is intended to provide data and insights that will support an eventual Master Planning process in Cannondale led by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Fusco reported that two bids were received, but one was over budget and not considered for that reason. Commissioners then focused on whether they believed the remaining bidder, Building Conservation Associates (BCA), possessed the appropriate qualifications.

According to its website, BCA is a “historic preservation, consulting and research firm practicing preservation design, conditions assessments, materials science, and building documentation of heritage sites and spaces around the world.”

The scope of the study sought by HDHP would include, among other things:

  • 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 preservation into consideration

After a very brief discussion in which Fusco assured the commissioners that some details of the study could still be “fine-tuned” in a kick-off meeting with the consultant, the commissioners agreed that the bid would meet the needs of the study.

“They [BCA] look very qualified, and I think this is a great start to what i’m sure is going to be a big discussion” about the future of Cannondale, Commissioner Jake Bittner said.

His fellow commissioners agreed, voting unanimously to approve the BCA bid.

GMW has requested a copy of BCA’s proposal, which was not yet posted on the Town website and which Fusco noted came in exactly at the $20,000 budget.

HDHP meetings are open to the public and allow for public comment at each meeting.