Improvements to the varsity baseball field at Wilton High School received the blessing of the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, Apr. 28, in what may have been a record-setting short meeting of less than 20 minutes.

The meeting was unexpectedly shortened when the applicant for the controversial four-story mixed-use development project at 118 Old Ridgefield Rd. in Wilton Center asked for a postponement to the ongoing public hearing, with the matter scheduled to be discussed again on Monday, May 12.

“They’re trying to get information to answer questions that the commission and members of the public asked,” P&Z Chair Rick Tomasetti said.

Michael Wrinn, Wilton’s director of planning and land use management/town planner, told P&Z commissioners that the applicant, 118 Old Ridgefield Road, LLC, wanted more time to respond to what Wrinn indicated was a lot of questions.

“You had everything from trees, to balconies, to you-name-it, so the applicant is going back, trying to address those issues,” Wrinn said, “and given the short timeframe we had since the last meeting until now, at least we should have some time to get that material up [online] so everyone will have a chance to look at it before our May 12 meeting.”

More than a dozen members of the public took part in the public hearing at P&Z’s Apr. 14 meeting.

Wrinn said a lot of letters were sent into his office over the weekend about the project, with a total of 50 letters currently posted on the town’s P&Z website.

“We had some glitches today,” Wrinn said. “We had an outage for our mail, so there was delay getting those posted, but they should be posted by now.”

Newly added comments about the project, which involves a 20-unit apartment complex with ground-floor retail and underground parking, to be built just south of the Village Market along the Norwalk River, included some pointed messages directed at Wrinn himself.

“As Wilton’s town planner, please show the tax paying residents of Wilton that you care as much about the town and its homeowners as you do about these developers,” resident Liz Lerch wrote.

“Just because Kimco got away with screwing the town over with its insufficient number of affordable units, why should this developer be so entitled? … Where are the public benefits of these buildings that will irrevocably destroy the fabric and character of our community?” Lerch wrote.

Likewise, resident Kelly Porter addressed Wrinn.

“I urge you to demonstrate to Wilton’s taxpaying residents that their voices and concerns carry as much weight as the interests of developers,” Porter wrote. “We count on you to protect what makes Wilton a unique and livable town.”

Other email comments directly criticized the developer for a range of reasons, including the size of the structure, its impact on parking, and the potential for pollution from runoff, given its proximity to the Norwalk River.

“We find it a travesty that a developer who wants to invest in Wilton is trying to cut its costs by deliberately limiting parking spaces to avoid putting in an EV charger,” residents Tammy and Daniel Davies wrote. “That is not a good faith investment in our community.”

Though there will be 20 units in the complex, including four 3-bedroom units and nine 2-bedroom units, the developer has proposed only 29 parking spaces, just shy of the 30 spaces that would necessitate the addition of an electric charing station, per state law.

“This is a money grab for the developer,” resident Mary Russo wrote. “The more units that are stuffed into the property, the more rental income for the developer at the expense of existing businesses, since lack of parking will drive patrons to shop elsewhere.”

Still others shared emotional pleas with the P&Z to oppose the project.

“Own up that you made a mistake allowing to build so high and wide!” resident Candace Cole wrote. “Save Wilton! Don’t destroy it. It’s not something you can change back.”

Home Run for Baseball Field Improvements

In other actions, Marty Avallone, a board member of the Wilton Baseball Association, told P&Z members about an improvement plan for the Wilton High School varsity baseball field that the group hopes will foster a better experience for fans, and a safer one for players in the dugouts.

“They are pretty simple changes,” Avallone said, noting the support of the Parks and Recreation Commission for the work.

Sections of netting reaching 30-feet high, or possibly 40-feet high if funding is available, will be added to prevent foul balls from going into the crowd, as well as the dugouts. 

Changes to fencing along the third-base line that has made it hard for people to watch the action of the game will result in fans being able to sit closer, rather than having to sit far away adjacent to left field.

“It’s a very bad experience for fans, which then impacts players and the like,” Avallone said, noting that the changes will include wheelchair access along the third-based side of the field.

“We’re going to replace the backstop and the fence along the third baseline,” he said. “We’re going to add bleacher seating behind the backstop.”

The addition of netting will not only keep foul balls from going into the dugout or stands, but Avallone said many baseballs are lost into the woods.

“We lose a ton of foul balls,” he said.

Avallone said that fundraising will begin immediately for the project, which will be paid for through the WBA.

“We think we’re going to be able to do it all in the fall once the baseball season has ended,” he said.

Tomasetti expressed his approval for the proposal.

“From my perspective, any improvement we can make for our athletic facilities is good for the community,” he said.

The commission gave a unanimous recommendation to have the P&Z department staff review the proposal.