nothin New Haven Independent | Puppet House Renovation Permit Appealed

Puppet House Renovation Permit Appealed

Diana Stricker Photo

The Legacy Theatre has received a permit allowing the owners to renovate the interior of the former Puppet House in Stony Creek, but the process is not without drama. The Stony Creek Association (SCA) has filed an appeal, and attorneys for both sides have met in an attempt to discuss issues such as parking and programming.

People who don’t live in Stony Creek have no concept of what could happen” in regard to parking and traffic, said Dan Bullard, SCA president. Parking in the popular seaside village is typically a problem in the summer and whenever special events occur.

I’m not saying we don’t want the theater … or that we’re anti-theater,” Bullard told the Eagle. We recognize the theater is going to happen.” He added the SCA wants to ensure that regulations are followed, and that the residents are not adversely impacted. To this end the SCA has hired a law firm to defend its interests.

The Legacy Theatre group, with Artistic Director Keely Baisden Knudsen at the helm, purchased the former Puppet House property in March 2013. The group is in the process of turning the historic building at 128 Thimble Islands Road into a repertory theatre. Click here to read a previous article.

The theater group has met with Stony Creek residents and the SCA over the past two years to present their plans and discuss any concerns the residents may have.

The Legacy Theatre Inc. has and will continue to abide by all of the rules, regulations and necessary permits required by the Town of Branford,” Brian Knudsen, president of the Legacy’s board of directors, told the Eagle this week.

At recent meetings of the SCA, some board members expressed several concerns, including parking, programming, and the number of hours and days the building would be used.

What we are trying to do is protect the interests of Stony Creek as a whole and the neighborhood,” Bullard told the Eagle. We are not trying to cause a problem.”

Built in 1903, the site was originally known as the Lyric Theatre, a popular venue for silent movies. Since then, it has undergone several transformations — - from a community theater, to a stage for Orson Wells, to a parachute factory and later a girdle factory.

The late Jim Weil staged productions of the famed Sicilian puppets at the renamed Puppet House” for many years. The building was shuttered in 2008 for safety violations and fell into disrepair.

Permit Issues

Branford’s Zoning Enforcement Officer issued a Tenant Fit-Up” permit for the Legacy Theatre in early July, which pertains to interior renovations of the building. The SCA appeal is scheduled to be heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) at its Sept. 16 meeting.

Diana Stricker Photo

Permits for replacing the theatre’s roof and repairing the adjacent cottage were previously approved. Renovations are complete at the small yellow cottage, which can provide occasional housing for a resident artist. Crews are nearly finished replacing the roof on the main building.

The SCA executive board voted at a special meeting June 19 to hire the New Haven law firm of Fasano, Ippolito & Lee to represent their interests. The board voted July 8 to file the appeal. Attorney Timothy J. Lee filed the appeal on behalf of the SCA, and area residents James and Eleanor Stach of 140 Thimble Islands Road; and Linda Barr and James Fiora of 11 Ridge Road.

Bullard said the SCA executive board recently asked Lee to meet with the Legacy’s attorney to discuss the issues and see if there can be some meeting of the minds as what we would like to happen to protect the citizens from too much disruption.”

Bullard said they are trying to put both oars in the water” by discussing the various issues and by filing the appeal. The Eagle contacted Bullard regarding the outcome of the legal talks, but he did not return calls.

The Legacy Theatre is represented in this matter by New Haven attorney Marjorie Shansky. The Eagle contacted Shansky for a comment, but she did not return the call.

Town Planner Jose Giner said the permit that was issued is permissible under zoning regulations. He told the Eagle that the property has been zoned Business Restricted since 1973, which allows theatres as a special exception. Giner said when local zoning was created in 1956, the site was zoned as a Local Shopping District, which allows theatres.

The SCA appeal lists nine reasons why the applicants feel the permit should not have been issued, including an allegation that the theatre group should have applied for a special exception rather than a permit. The appeal, in the form of a two-page letter, alleges the proposed theatre activity is not a legal pre-existing non-conforming issue” under the town’s zoning regulations. It also claims the activity proposed in the future is a drastic expansion” over any prior use of the property. 

According to the Legacy’s web site, the group will continue to work with local officials, including the first selectman, planning and zoning, building officials, town planners and engineers, and fire marshal to determine the best plan to handle parking.”

Creating A Legacy

The Legacy Theatre’s board of directors has been planning renovations, applying for grants and holding fund-raising events to raise the estimated $1.4 million in renovation costs. Click here to read an early story.

Efforts to restore the theater have gained the approval of many Branford residents who participated in recent fund-raising events. In late May, the Legacy announced on its web site that the restoration project hit the half-million-dollar-mark in donations and pledges. Another major event is scheduled Sept. 18 at Bill Miller’s Castle when a Shakespeare Cabaret will be staged.

The Legacy received a $12,500 grant from the 1772 Foundation of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation to cover half the costs of the roof replacement. Additional funding for the roof was received from the Branford Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

A Hamden firm of theatrical designers, Alliance Theatrical Consulting Contractors, agreed to design the interior and oversee contracting at the theatre at no cost. Bob Errato, a manager at the Alliance firm, previously told the Eagle that the concept for the Legacy Theatre will take in all of the history and past performers and performances.”

In addition to providing a venue for professional companies and local actors, the Legacy Theatre will also have an educational component. The group received a state grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development that will enable them to conduct a free week-long drama camp for 13 middle school students later this month at the Blackstone Library.

For information about the Legacy Theatre, see its website.

For more information about the Stony Creek Association meetings, click here.

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