Diana Stricker Photo
Stony Creek is often called a unique seaside village—- and it certainly is a quaint shoreline neighborhood. However, it is not an official “village.”
But that could change.
On Sept. 4, Branford’s Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. at Canoe Brook Senior Center to discuss whether Stony Creek should become a Village District. The executive board of the Stony Creek Association (SCA) has requested the official designation in hopes of preserving the unique character of its community. Residents will be given the opportunity to express their views.
Sam Stricker Photo
If the Village District is approved in Stony Creek, a local review board would be appointed to make recommendations to the town’s P&Z Commission to help ensure that any new construction or major renovations would follow local guidelines. Such guidelines could address the size and style of proposed houses or commercial establishments, so that they would blend in with the neighborhood. The local review board’s decisions would be recommendations, not mandates.
This could be important because Stony Creek is the only major Branford neighborhood without a local zoning board. Stony Creek relinquished its zoning about 50 years ago. Short Beach and Pine Orchard still maintain local zoning boards, but some decisions, such as subdivisions and coastal site plans are still under the jurisdiction of the P&Z Commission.
The Village District designation was enacted by state statute in 1998, and the concept was adopted by Branford as part of its Plan of Conservation and Development that was approved in 2008. Branford’s Town Center became a Village District in 2011, and is the only neighborhood with that designation. Click here to read about that.
Sam Stricker Photo
Stony Creek, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is noted for its closely clustered homes that are eclectically styled, its world-famous pink granite quarry, and its breath-taking views of the Thimble Islands.
A Survey: Village Or No Village?
Sam Stricker Photo
The issue has been discussed at monthly meetings of the SCA executive board, and various surveys and polls were taken in the community. But there doesn’t seem to be an agreement about adopting a Village District designation.
During May, 455 surveys were mailed to property owners in Stony Creek asking whether they were in favor of the SCA moving ahead with the request to P&Z to designate a Village District. Of the 227 surveys that were returned, 122 (54 percent) were in favor and 105 were against (46 percent). The SCA executive board voted 6-3 in June to move ahead with the request. Voting in favor were Linda Reed, Sam Kirby, Bonnie Sanders-Newton, Josh Brooks, Ted Ells and Betsy Wieland. Voting against were Leslie Consolo, DeeDee Hakum and Sandy Fischer.
The SCA formed a committee a few years ago to explore the possibilities. They received a $7,500 grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and used matching funds to hire a consultant, Robert Orr & Associates. The consulting firm made a series of presentations in May 2012 to discuss the concept with residents. Some people expressed concern, some agreed, and many asked questions. Click here to read about that.
Sam Stricker Photo
The consultants also conducted a study of Stony Creek’s diverse architecture. They studied various aspects of the buildings and streets in terms of design, scale and rhythm.
A copy of the Village District Design Guidelines are on the SCA website.
Last fall, the SCA sent out a fact sheet to property owners about the issue. It stated “A Village District designation is designed to influence and recommend, not to restrict and regulate. Most residents will not be affected.” It further stated: “People are drawn to Stony Creek for the beauty and simplicity of life in this unique seaside village, a community with a priceless heritage. Without management of future land use development, this village will change quickly and dramatically and this simple village of Stony Creek will vanish.”
The Village District designation for Branford’s Town Center includes specific areas of concern and allows for more control over structures, facades, landscaping, lighting, sidewalks, signs and general aesthetics. It applies to commercial buildings and multi-family structures in the Town Center, but not to single-family homes.
The boundaries for the Town Center Village District were expanded to include East Main over to the Branford Senior High School, and Main Street over to the Route 1 intersection. The Town Center Revitalization Review Board serves as the Village District advisory board to the P&Z Commission.
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While I have high personal regard for the members of the SCA who have worked on this program I am not in favor of it being approved by P&Z.
The Town Center district was formed for an entirely different purpose...that of rescuing the center from a death spiral in the 80's. An infusion of money from the Town and the cooperation of property owners made the hard work of the commission the success we see today. Only later did it formulate guidelines to produce coherent streetscape aesthetics which most commercial property owners consider beneficial.
Residential property owners tend to prefer to express their own taste through the design of their homes. While we may or may not agree with the design of a home, provided it complies with zoning and health codes, this should be the prerogative of the owner.
In general, Stony Creek has fared well with the design of new homes over the years. We have a wide variety of home designs with many reflecting the trends of their construction era. There is no such thing as a "Stony Creek design", nor should there be.
Should a proposed project be hindered by arbitrary aesthetic standards being imposed it will be the Town of Branford that may have to make its argument in court. Frankly, this is just one more legal noose we should avoid testing.
With all due respect to the SCA members, I suggest the P&Z Commission deny this request.
John