Author Archives: Olwen Logan

Application Denied for Controversial Smith Neck Rd. House in 5-0 Vote at Monday’s Old Lyme Zoning Meeting

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OLD LYME—UPDATED 1/11 at 12:10 pm: The ‘Record of Votes’ related to Monday night’s meeting has now been published. Regarding the Special Permit Application to
replace and construct a new 5-bedroom residence with an attached 2 car garage at 43 Smith Neck Rd., RU-40 Zone, Jeffrey and Emily Merriam, applicants, the Record states, “A motion was made by D. Savageau, seconded by J. Marsh to DENY without prejudice the special permit. The Motion further stated that insufficient evidence had been submitted to allow the Commission to find the proposed activity would have or would be reasonably likely to have the effect of unreasonably polluting, impairing or destroying the public trust in the air, water, or other natural resources of the State of Connecticut.”

UPDATED 1/11 at 1am: The application for the proposed 11,000 sf house at 43 Smith Neck Rd.was denied without prejudice in a unanimous 5-0 vote at Monday night’s Old Lyme Zoning Commission meeting.

Around 50 people attended the meeting.

UPDATED 1/10 at 7pm with corrected number of days for Zoning Commission to deliberate. The proposed 11,000 sf house at 43 Smith Neck Rd. is back on the Old Lyme Zoning Commission’s agenda tonight. Their Regular Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room at Old Lyme Town Hall.

Appearing as the first item under Old Business, the agenda item states, ” 43 Smith’s Neck Road, RU-40 Zone. Special Permit application to replace and construct a new 5-bedroom residence with an attached 2 car garage. Jeffrey and Emily Merriam, applicants.”

The Zoning Commission closed the Public Hearing at the end of the previous Jan 13 meeting. This means no further public comment can be heard on the matter and the Commission cannot ask any additional questions of the applicant.

The Commission must render a decision within 65 days of closing the Public Hearing. Members could vote on the proposed plans tonight but are not obliged to do so. They will, however, deliberate on the proposal this evening in a public setting but cannot entertain any comments from the public or ask any further questions of the applicant or their representatives.

At the Zoning Commission’s Regular Meeting on Jan. 13, some 17 residents offered opinions and concerns during the Public Hearing on the proposal. The comments made by members of the public all expressed a negative point of view towards the proposal.

Those commenting variously asked the Commission outright to deny the application for the 11,000 sq. ft. eight-bedroom, seven-bathroom house with two laundries, a swimming pool, and extensive gardens; or send it back to the Connecticut River Gateway Commission for further review; or to request answers to the numerous still unanswered questions by the applicant; or a number of other questions.

Related articles and letters published on LymeLine.com are as follows:

Letter to the Editor: Residents Urged to Attend ‘Crucial’ Zoning Meeting, Jan. 13 By Elizabeth Karter Published 1/4/2025

Letter to the Editor: Neighbors Question if Well Water Supply Sufficient for Proposed 7-Bathroom House on Smith Neck Rd., Old Lyme Zoning to Discuss at Monday Meeting By Claire and John Griffin Published 1/13/2025

Old Lyme Zoning Meeting Draws Over Capacity Crowd; Halls Rd. Overlay District Item Postponed to New Meeting, Wednesday By Admin Published 1/14/2025

Letter to the Editor: Support Old Lyme Zoning Commission in Enforcing Regulations for Smith Neck House Plan, Reminder That a Hill is Still a Hill By Elizabeth Karter Published 1/18/2025

Letter to the Editor: Smith Neck Rd. Proposed House Poses ‘Serious Threat’ to ‘Natural Beauty’ of CT River Valley By Susan and Thor Kayeum Published 1/20/2025

Old Lyme Zoning Continues Hearing on Halls Rd. Overlay District through Feb. 27

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The audience for Wednesday’s Special Meeting of the Old Lyme Zoning Commission ultimately numbered around 60.

OLD LYME—Around 60 people turned out for last night’s Old Lyme Zoning Commission Special Meeting, which had originally been scheduled for Monday, Jan. 13, but was postponed due to the number in attendance at that meeting. The audience exceeded the permitted fire regulations.

The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting featured both an Old Business item and a Continued Public Hearing related to a Petition to Amend the Old Lyme Zoning Regulations, Section 5.15, to create a Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) allowing, among other items, mixed zoning use along Halls Road and the entire C-30S Zoning District, with associated architectural design guidelines.

Edie Twining, Halls Road Improvement Committee Chair, answered questions from the podium.

The Town of Old Lyme is the applicant.

After the details of this optional Overlay District proposal had been presented by Atty. William Sweeney, public comment was opened and a variety of comments, both in support of and opposed to the proposal were made.

Atty. William Sweeney (left) presented details of the proposed HROD plan.

Old Lyme Economic Development Commission Chairman Cheryl Poirier spoke in support of the proposal as did Old Lyme Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Kim Thompson.

A number of other people spoke against it.

The Zoning Commission proposed some changes to the wording in the proposal, which the HRIC appeared willing to make.

The meeting ended around 9:40 p.m. with the Public Hearing being continued through to a Special Meeting scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the Old Lyme Town Hall.

Old Lyme Zoning Meeting Draws Over Capacity Crowd; Halls Rd. Overlay District Item Postponed to New Meeting, Wednesday

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OLD LYME—UPDATED 1/14 at 9pm with additional details on the speakers for the applicant: Last night’s Old Lyme (OL) Zoning Commission meeting drew such a large audience, which not only filled the Meeting Room but also spilled out into the Lobby, that OL Fire Marshal David Roberge determined the spaces were over-capacity from a fire safety angle.

Asked in a phone call how he handled the situation, he told LymeLIne that his estimate was that there were around 135 people in attendance with over 110 in the Meeting Room and the remainder out in the Lobby.

He continued, “We discussed the problem with the Zoning Chair and gave them (sic) a couple of options.” Commission members decided to postpone the second item on the agenda relating to the Halls Rd. Overlay District until Wednesday. That meeting will now be held in the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School Auditorium starting at 6:30 p.m.

With that announcement, Roberge estimated the audience reduced to around 85, thus falling within the fire-safety parameters for the Meeting Room.

When the business of the evening finally began, the proceedings opened with a number of people speaking on behalf of the applicants, Jeffrey and Emily Merriam, including their attorney, Lewis K. Wise; Senior Design Architect for Cardello Architects Sarah Finch (the main speaker), along with an additional architect; and engineer Seamus Moran PE of H+H Engineering.

The second speaker was ‘the Intervener’—Peter McKillop—a Smiths Neck Rd. resident, who spoke on behalf of the non-profit Great Island Foundation, Inc.

Finally, roughly an hour later, the public had a chance to speak. Some 17 individuals offered opinions and concerns, exclusively with a negative point of view towards the proposal. Those commenting variously asked the Commission outright to deny the application for an 11,000 sq. ft. eight-bedroom, seven-bathroom house with two laundries, a swimming pool, and extensive gardens; or send it back to the Connecticut River Gateway Commission for further review; or to request answers to the numerous still unanswered questions by the applicant; or other questions.

The applicant then responded to comments from both the ‘Intervener’ and the public.

The Zoning Chair then closed the Hearing at around 9:15 p.m., which meant no further comments can be accepted from this point onwards.

The meeting itself ended around 30 minutes later. The Commission now has 65 days to render a decision.

Editor’s Note: We have been advised that since last month’s meeting, the applicant has removed the proposed pool from the application, and added more landscaping.

We are Thankful for You …

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We hope all our readers, wherever you are, enjoyed a very happy, peaceful and safe Thanksgiving.

We would like to take this opportunity to say how thankful we are to all our readers, writers, advertisers and friends for continuing to support award-winning, independent, local community journalism.

We especially would like to thank all our readers, who have donated at any time to support our work, and also to all our wonderful advertisers. These generous donors, non-profits, and businesses continue to make this publication financially possible.

Enjoy this special day and be thankful with us for family, friends, and our very special community.

Allik is Named Lyme-Old Lyme Schools ‘Teacher of the Year’, Karpinski is ‘Employee of the Year’

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After being announced as Lyme-Old Lyme Schools 2024-25 ‘Teacher of the Year’, Lyme-Old Lyme High School art teacher Will Allik (right) shakes hands with Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Superintendent Ian Neviasier.

OLD LYME—In time-honored tradition, Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser announced the District’s Teacher of the Year and Employee of the Year at the Convocation assembly held Monday in Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS.)

Longtime LOLHS art teacher William ‘Will’ Allik, who has been working for Lyme-Old Lyme Schools since 2004, was named Teacher of the Year.

Described by Lyme-Old Lyme High School Principal Jim Wygonik as someone, who has, “Gone beyond teaching the curriculum.,” Wygonik continued, “This extraordinary educator [Allik] has ignited a spark in his students, encouraging them to see the world through a creative lens and to think beyond the conventional.

Commenting that Allik’s classroom is, “Not just the subject he teaches, but a powerful tool for expression, innovation, and critical thinking,” Wygonik added that the Teacher of the Year, “Has created an environment where every student feels valued and inspired to explore their unique talents.”

Commenting that Allik, “Challenges his students to push boundaries, to ask questions, and to develop their own creative voice,” Wygonik said, “He [Allik] teaches his students how to see and how to express their vision in creative ways.”

Noting that Allik’s, “Dedication to nurturing young minds is evident in every project he undertakes,” Wygonik stressed that this same dedication is also active in, “Every lesson he teaches, and the hours and hours he dedicates to mentoring our students.”

Finally Wygonik emphasized that Allik, “Understands that his subject is a vital component of a child’s education.”

Sarah Karpinski, who is the Library Aide at both Mile Creek and Lyme Schools, is LOL Schools 2024-25 ‘Employee of the Year.’ She stands here with Schools Superintendent Ian Neviasier after receiving her award.

Neviasier named Sarah Karpinski, who is the Library Aide at both Mile Creek and Lyme Schools, as ‘Employee of the Year.’ She has worked for Lyme-Old Lyme Schools since November of 2020 and is also an attorney.

Kelly Enoch, Principal, Mile Creek School, said in support of the announcement of Karpinski’s honor that she [Karpinski], “… is known as “the book whisperer.” The breadth of her knowledge of youth literature allows her to recommend the perfect book to each student who visits the library.”

Allison Hine, Principal of Lyme School, added that Karpinski is known by students and staff alike for, “Her generosity of time, resources, spirit and ready smile.”

Enoch added, “Sarah is a consistent, positive presence, who enhances the joy of learning for all of our students.  She brightens the days of so many with her positive presence, friendly demeanor, and “can do” attitude.”