Letter to the Editor: Support Old Lyme Zoning Against Lawsuit Brought by Smith Neck Rd. Owners After Their Construction Application Denied

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Fred and Andrea Fenton

To the Editor:

We are writing to express our strong support for the Old Lyme Zoning Commission in its defense against a lawsuit brought by the Merriam family against the Town of Old Lyme for rejecting their application for a “Special Permit” for new construction at 43 Smiths Neck Road.

It is unfortunate that given all the advantages that money can bring, the Merriams would choose to sue the Town of Old Lyme rather than use all those resources to create a beautiful home, taking advantage of a unique location, while complying with our Zoning regulations. The plans submitted for the property at 43 Smith Neck Rd have been rejected by both the Gateway Commission and the Town of Old Lyme, but even so, they have the opportunity to resubmit a plan in conformity with zoning. Rather than do this, they have chosen to sue the town.

The Merriams’ argument that their proposed construction should be approved simply because similar houses exist in the area demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how zoning regulations work. This logic is deeply flawed. Using past construction or outdated regulations to justify new violations is akin to arguing that because the drinking age was once 18, we should continue allowing 18-year-olds to purchase alcohol despite the current legal age being 21. Laws and regulations evolve for good reasons and our community benefits when they are consistently applied.

The Gateway Commission’s standards exist to preserve the unique character and environmental integrity of our community. These guidelines weren’t created arbitrarily but were thoughtfully developed to protect our town’s natural beauty and property values for all residents. The Zoning Commission has a responsibility to uphold these standards uniformly, not to make exceptions based on comparisons to structures that may have been built under different circumstances or different regulatory frameworks.

Perhaps most concerning is that this lawsuit forces Old Lyme taxpayers to foot the bill for legal proceedings that could have been avoided. If the Merriams believe they were misled about what construction was permissible, their grievance lies with the contractors who failed to adhere to Gateway and Zoning regulations, not with the town that is simply enforcing its rules. By suing Old Lyme instead of addressing these issues with their contractors, the Merriams are unnecessarily depleting public resources that could be better used serving our community.

As residents, we all have a stake in ensuring that our zoning regulations are enforced fairly and consistently. The Commission’s stance in this matter protects not just the integrity of our regulations but the interests of all Old Lyme citizens who follow the rules and expect others to do the same.

We urge our fellow residents to stand with the Zoning Commission as it upholds the standards that keep Old Lyme the special place we all choose to call home. Let’s support our town officials who are simply doing their job by enforcing the regulations that protect our community’s character and environment.

Sincerely,

Fred and Andrea Fenton,
Old Lyme

Happy Spring! Happy International Day of Happiness!

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Admin

“A host of golden daffodils” is a sure sign of spring.

March 20 marks the first day of spring … or the vernal equinox, which occurs at at 5:01 a.m. EST that morning.

It is also the UN’s International Day of Happiness, which is marked by the release of the 13th annual World Happiness Report.

This report ranks the world’s happiest countries by asking people to evaluate their lives. Claiming first place for the eighth year in succession is Finland, followed by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden in that order. The US came in at 24th place—its lowest-ever position.

A few salient points from the report are:

Almost 90% of Finns go every week to a sauna, an activity considered good for both physical and mental health.
Sharing meals with others was strongly linked with wellbeing.
Declining happiness and social trust in the US … combined to explain the rise and direction of political polarisation.

A glance at some Old Lyme-related social media suggests—and please note, we say this tongue-in-cheek—we all need to eat together more often … and take more saunas!

Town of Old Lyme Proclaims March 15 as ‘David Ruggles Day’

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Admin

Abolition and Civil Rights champion David Ruggles was born in Lyme, Conn. in 1810 at a time when Lyme and Old Lyme were one town.

OLD LYME—At its meeting on Monday, March 3, the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen voted to proclaim tomorrow, March 15, as ‘David Ruggles Day.’ Visit this link to see the Town’s Proclamation.

Born in Old Lyme on March 15, 1810, Ruggles was a champion of both Abolitionism and Civil Rights.

Old Lyme Selectman Jim Lampos wrote the following biography of Ruggles, which has been published on the ExploreOld Lyme.com website in the new Old Lyme Celebrates 250 section, which celebrates America’s semiquincentennial (250th) birthday next year.

Recognizing David Ruggles
By Jim Lampos

David Ruggles, a native son of our town, is an American hero deserving of recognition and honor for his work advancing the cause of liberty and civil rights.

He was the first black bookstore owner in the nation, a celebrated author and publisher of abolitionist literature, and a conductor on the underground railroad, personally helping 600 slaves, including Frederick Douglass, make their way to freedom.

Ruggles was a founder of the tactic of non-violent civil disobedience in the 1840s, deliberately violating Jim Crow laws by sitting in the “white’s only” section of passenger trains, highlighting the injustice of segregation by stoically suffering the consequences of his resistance to it.

His example set the foundation for the work of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. over a century later.

Born to free black parents in Lyme, Conn. on March 15, 1810 at a time when Lyme and Old Lyme were a single town, David Ruggles was educated in Norwich and moved to New York City at the age of 18 where he quickly established himself as a successful merchant. His grocery store promoted “fair trade” products such as coffee and sugar not manufactured by slave labor.

One of the nation’s early abolitionists, Ruggles also authored pamphlets and published his own magazine, The Mirror of Liberty, to oppose slavery. His writing was noted for its sharp wit and fiery rhetoric. “Rise, brethren, rise!” he wrote in 1841, adding, “Strike for freedom or die slaves!”

The greatest testament to his work perhaps came from Frederick Douglass himself, who wrote about David Ruggles in his autobiography. Douglass, a fugitive slave, made his way to New York City where he found himself in “a distressed situation” before he met Ruggles.

Douglass writes: “Mr. Ruggles sought me out and very kindly took me took me to his boarding house,” where he was “attending to a number of other fugitive slaves, devising means for their successful escape, and though watched and hemmed in on almost every side, he seemed more than a match for his enemies.”

Douglass further notes his gratitude for “the humane hand of Mr. Ruggles, whose vigilance, kindness and perseverance I can never forget. I am glad of an opportunity to express, as far as words can, the love and gratitude I bear him”.

Likewise, the Town of Old Lyme will always remember David Ruggles and his good work, and in this year of celebrating America’s 250th year of independence, we honor the contribution he has made to our national culture.

Editor’s Note: The ‘Old Lyme Celebrates 250’ section on the ExploreOld Lyme.com website has been written to expand on the countdown to ‘Old Lyme America 250’ celebrations in 2026 by considering the town’s history, and those who have lived in Old Lyme, both past and present. In this section, the ‘Old Lyme America 250’ Committee will be sharing upcoming festivities, lectures, and walking tours related to the Town’s ‘America 250’ celebrations. The section also celebrates the heritage of Old Lyme’s townspeople today.

Op-Ed: Act Now to Stop Halls Rd. Overlay District

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Hiram E. Manville IV

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.