OLD LYME—On Saturday, April 12, the Easter Bunny is planning to drop by bothThe Bowerbird and Old Lyme Hardware in the Old Lyme Marketplace between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
During his visit, the Bunny will be hopping around the stores and anyone is welcome to take pictures or interact with the Bunny.
OLD LYME—A local business founded by a former Old Lyme Fire Department Chief has been certified by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to provide training around the world.
JLN Associates in a March press release announced its acceptance into the association’s Authorized Education Network. The designation enables the Old Lyme-based training center to provide NFPA-approved safety and fire protection courses in-person and online.
JLN has offered fire protection and industrial safety training since it was founded in 1999 by John Nickerson. As a provider in the association’s global network, the company will offer NFPA training courses led by NFPA-approved instructors.
The fire protection association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating death, injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards around the world.
JLN will offer additional courses covering topics such as fire protection, building safety, and electrical hazards that align with the latest editions of NFPA codes and standards.
Most courses will be available in English, with select offerings also available in Spanish.
To the Editor:
This letter is in response to the letter sent to the Old Lyme Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission (IWWC) from Old Lyme resident Olaf Bertram-Nothnagel, signed by 52 others, and published on LymeLine.com at this link.
The letter is an excellent summation of the travesty taking place at 304 & 308-1 Mile Creek Road. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. The IWWC has the authority to direct a cease-and desist order and request remediation of the environmental damages to this wetlands area.
The [IWWC] Commission, or its agent, shall enforce the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act and shall issue with terms, conditions, limitations or modifications, or deny permits for all regulated activities in the Town of Old Lyme pursuant to Sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended.
The Old Lyme Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission (IWWC) was established by an ordinance adopted October 21, 1963, and tasked with the responsibility of protecting the indispensable, irreplaceable, and fragile natural resources in and around Old Lyme’s wetlands. This Commission oversees and grants permits for activities within wetlands, watercourses, and their Upland Review Areas (defined as the lateral 100-foot area around a wetland or watercourse, or the lateral 400-foot area around a vernal pool), or any activity altering the hydrology of a site and impacting a wetland or watercourse.
The IWWC’s mission is to protect natural resources within and around wetlands and watercourses for current and future Old Lyme residents.
Many inland wetlands and watercourses have been destroyed or are in danger of destruction because of unregulated use by reason of the deposition, filling or removal of material, the diversion or obstruction of water flow, the erection of structures and other uses, all of which have despoiled, polluted and eliminated wetlands and watercourses.
Such unregulated activity has had, and will continue to have, a significant, adverse impact on the environment and ecology of the state of Connecticut and has imperiled and will continue to imperil the quality of the environment thus adversely affecting the ecological, scenic, historic, and recreational values and benefits of the state for its citizens now and forever more.
The preservation and protection of the wetlands and watercourses from random, unnecessary, undesirable, and unregulated uses, disturbance or destruction is in the public interest and is essential to the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the state.
Sincerely,
George E. Ryan,
Old Lyme.
Editor’s Note: The author serves as the vice chairman of the Old Lyme Conservation Commission but writes here solely in his capacity as a citizen of Old Lyme.
Editor’s Note: We received this op-ed from Old Lyme resident Hiram E. Manville IV, who states he was, “Born and raised in Old Lyme (1972)” and is a, “Concerned parent, raising our two- and five-year-olds here in Old Lyme.”
The proposed Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) threatens to permanently alter Old Lyme, overwhelming our infrastructure, endangering the environment, and destroying the character of our town. This reckless plan prioritizes large-scale urbanization over the needs of our community. We must act now to stop it, or the following can happen to our town.
1. Uncontrolled Population Surge
The plan allows up to 40 residential units per acre, potentially bringing thousands of new residents. With 40 acres of developable land, this means up to 1,600 new housing units. This will lead to a major population surge, overwhelming our schools, emergency services, traffic infrastructure, and town resources.
Where It’s Stated in the Proposal:
2. Traffic Gridlock & Road Safety Hazards
Halls Road is a major traffic artery. The addition of on-street parking and increased commercial activity will cause severe congestion and safety hazards, making accidents and emergency response delays inevitable.
Where It’s Stated in the Proposal:
3. Environmental & Sewage Catastrophe
Allowing off-site septic systems poses a severe risk to wetlands, drinking water, and local ecosystems. There is no clear infrastructure plan to handle the massive wastewater output this development will generate.
Where It’s Stated in the Proposal:
This shows there is no clear plan for handling increased sewage waste, leaving room for future problems.
4. Massive Overdevelopment & Loss of Small-Town Charm
Buildings up to three stories, 200 feet long, and covering 75% of lot frontages will transform Old Lyme into a dense commercial district, destroying its historic charm and small-town character.
Where It’s Stated in the Proposal:
This confirms massive building footprints, leading to a commercialized, city-like landscape.
5. Parking Garages & Commercial Sprawl
Three-story parking garages and massive commercial development will replace open space—replacing small-town charm with an urban-scale, city-like environment that caters to developers rather than residents.
Where It’s Stated in the Proposal:
This confirms the introduction of large parking structures, which contradicts the town’s historic character.
6. Developer Control & Limited Resident Oversight
A small, unelected three-person committee will have final say on zoning approvals. This removes public input from crucial town planning decisions and hands control over to private developers.
Where It’s Stated in the Proposal:
This confirms zoning decisions will be in the hands of just 3 people, limiting community oversight.
7. No Limit on the Number of Housing Units
Despite claims of a 400-unit cap, the zoning language allows up to 1,600 units across 40 acres. If we allow this zoning to be approved, there will be no stopping further expansions.
Where It’s Stated in the Proposal:
Since the overlay district is approximately 40 acres, this means up to 1,600 units could technically be built.
Conclusion & Call to Action
We must act now. If this proposal passes, there is no going back. The small-town character of Old Lyme will be permanently lost. Residents must:
Contact Information for Zoning Officials:
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter,
In service,
Hiram E Manville, Old Lyme.
Editor’s Note: This op-ed was sent to us by Old Lyme resident Elaine Stiles.
As an Old Lyme resident who cares deeply about sustainable growth and housing access, I am writing to express strong support for the proposed Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) and the development and planning principles that inform it. Old Lyme is a small town, but it is located near two interstate highways, a rail corridor that may soon be significantly expanded, and major employers that draw national and international work forces to the region.
Growth will continue to come to our community, and planning for the future is imperative. I support the Halls Road Overlay District because it offers controls and guidance for future development that will:
Change is coming, and Old Lyme needs to be ready for it. As the Halls Road Improvement Committee has stated, doing nothing is also a choice, and doing nothing has consequences. I am concerned about the fate of the Halls Road area without the HROD, its provisions, and its review procedures in place. Much of the development opponents erroneously fear the HROD will bring will indeed come, but not because of the HROD. Why not incentivize better development patterns than what zoning currently allows as a countermeasure to highly-profitable, but community impoverishing highway-oriented development?
In closing, I want to acknowledge the concerns of small business owners who currently occupy space in the existing strip mall developments on Halls Road regarding rent increases and displacement. No one wants to see businesses displaced, but it is unclear how the HROD, rather than property owners and developers, would be responsible for this outcome. If these parcels sell, there is no guarantee that new owners would not redevelop with the same result. However, I think the community would benefit from understanding if or how the HROD review board or another town entity might be empowered to negotiate rent stabilization considerations for existing businesses in new development under the overlay.
The HROD benefits our community and promotes a sustainable future for Old Lyme and helps prevent the as-of-right services outdated zoning and planning principles currently allow on Halls Road. These are the real threat to our community’s character and future.