Update from Wilton First Selectwoman, Lynne A Vanderslice
A significant number of impactful topics were discussed in February. Some of which will continue into March.
Board of Selectmen (BOS) Proposed FY2023 Budget
Last week, the BOS approved a proposed FY2023 budget of $33.9 million. The proposed budget represents a .33% increase over the FY2020 pre-pandemic budget or a three-year average increase of .13%. During that time, employees received general wage increases ranging from 2% to 2.75%. We enacted changes that significantly offset those wage and other cost increases. The Board of Finance (BOF) will hold a public hearing on the BOS proposed budget on March 24th and a hearing on the Board of Education's on March 23rd. Town budget documents and key dates can be found here.
Police Department Staffing
As part of our budget discussions, Chief of Police John Lynch provided the BOS with a detailed presentation on police staffing, including a rationale for the current number of sworn officers. You can watch Chief Lynch present here. His presentation is here. The details of the 11,456 incidents responded to in 2021 and the average hours required to respond to each incident type are available here.
Police Headquarters Project
In early February, Tecton Architects presented the final proposed design and estimated cost for the proposed new police headquarters to be built on the Town Hall Campus. You can watch here beginning at 32:00. Their presentation is here. The projected cost of the new building is $16.7 million, of which $16 million will be requested for bonding at the May Annual Town Meeting. Additional public tours will be held in March and April. Key points to consider:
- The need for a new police headquarters was identified more than 20 years ago.
- Other projects, including the renovation of the Comstock Community Center and the Miller Driscoll school, new and updated recreation facilities and town-wide road paving, were prioritized ahead of the police headquarters during those 20 plus years.
- The building’s infrastructure is 48 years old. The HVAC system is close to failing. The electrical system isn’t designed for current day technology needs and must be upgraded. The building is not ADA compliant. The building was designed for an all-male police force. The building is grossly overcrowded.
- The process which led to this proposal began in December 2016 with the appointment of a citizen study committee, which transitioned to a citizen building committee, supported by professionals. The two committees, co-chaired by Dave Waters and Patti Temple, considered alternate locations and renovation plus addition versus building new. The Committee’s project website is here.
- In early 2020, the building committee recommended a new building at an estimated cost of $14.5 million. The pandemic put the project on hold. Two years of cost escalation plus pandemic escalation brought the cost to $17.4 million. Value engineering brought the cost down to the current $16.7 million.
The Board of Selectmen has been hearing requests for project funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) grant and the $1.5 million BOS Infrastructure Fund. Last week we received requests from Environmental Affairs Director Mike Conklin and the Conservation Commission for funding for, among others, the construction of a parking lot and playground at Schencks and monies for trail improvements and the repaving of the Quarry Head access road. The entire request is available here.
On March 7th, Parks and Recreation Director Steve Pierce and the Parks and Recreation Commission will present their requests.
On March 21st, Facilities Director Chris Burney will present recommendations for town-owned buildings, such as the replacement of the pillars and the front steps at Town Hall. At the same meeting, DPW Director/Town Engineer Frank Smeriglio will present the findings and the recommendations for improvements to the drainage system for the Wilton High School Complex.
Section 8-30g Multi-Family Proposal for Cannondale Area
The Town received a developer’s plan to build a 70-unit apartment building on just over 2 acres across from the Cannondale train station at 19 Cannon Road. The developer plans to take advantage of CT statute 8-30g, which allows the developer to be exempt from most of Wilton’s zoning regulations if 30% of the units are affordable, as defined by statute. The developer is seeking to extend the sewer from RT 7 to the property. As required by state regulations, last Thursday the Water Pollution Control Authority, of which I am chair, referred the question of whether the sewer extension request is consistent with the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development to the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z). By statute, the P&Z is required to respond within 35 days.
Proposals for Mandated Zoning Changes
On Friday, DesegregateCT announced the State Legislature’s Planning and Development Committee voted to draft a transit-orientated community bill. DesegregateCT is advocating for a proposal allowing 15 housing units per acre by right within a 10-minute walk of a train station and require 10% of the units to be affordable. The proposal is modeled after a Massachusetts bill passed a year ago requiring Massachusetts communities with public transit access provided by the (MBTA) to change their zoning to allow 15 units per acre in a 50 acre district within .5 miles of a transit.
This one-size fits all solution ignores the difference between Cannondale with infrequent train service and no adjacent services versus train stations along the Metro North main line with frequent train service and adjacent services.
It is becoming increasingly important for residents to understand the role the CT Legislature plays in local zoning and development.
As always, please contact me with questions at lynne.vanderslice@wiltonct.org.