Tag Archives: Old Lyme Zoning Commission

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Fogliano, Candidate for Old Lyme Zoning Commission, Explains His Reasons for Running

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To the Editor:

As a 33-year resident of Old Lyme, raising a family here with my wife Susan, I am deeply invested in our town. I have seen the town change over the decades, along with the challenges to land use policy and practice that change brings. This has motivated me to accept the Democratic Town Committee’s endorsement to run for the Zoning Commission, and to ask for your vote in the upcoming election.

My priorities as a Zoning Commission candidate are clear: advocating for sensible regulations and development that protect Old Lyme’s essential qualities – our cultural legacy, our small-town lifestyle, and the fragile ecosystem we share – while also recognizing our economic development and housing needs. I’m dedicated to making rational decisions based on thorough preparation and open dialogue with all stakeholders.

Over my career as a scientist and senior leader, I developed a pragmatic, data-driven, results-oriented approach to solving problems and making decisions. Through my service as Chairman of the Affordable Housing Commission and the Regional Housing Committee, and currently as a Zoning Commission alternate, I have gained an understanding of public policy that affects – and increasingly threatens – our local land use decisions. With your support, I will bring this insight and foresight to the Zoning Commission.

I look forward to a public discourse on the issues before us, and am eager to work together both within town government and with you to ensure that Old Lyme continues to be a great place to live for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Michael Fogliano,
Old Lyme.

TOP STORY: Old Lyme Pumps Brakes on New Gas Stations

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The exterior of the renovated Chestnut Market at 85 Halls Rd. in Old Lyme as seen in a 2024 file photo.

OLD LYME–Gas stations will be officially excised from the local zoning regulations, effective Aug. 11. 

The Zoning Commission on Monday voted unanimously to amend the regulations to strike gas stations from the list of businesses that can operate in town. 

Land Use Coordinator Eric Knapp said that means the existing four gas stations in town will remain, but no more will be allowed.

Gas stations were previously confined to Halls Road and certain parts of Shore Road. 

Applications for new or improved gas stations are controversial in a town where residents have long objected to development that would entice drivers to get off Interstate 95 rather than continuing on to points north or south. 

There was no comment at Monday evening’s public hearing. 

The Planning Commission in a unanimous vote last month found the move consistent with the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. The document, updated every 10 years, is meant to guide the community’s growth based on the vision of those who live there.