by Susan MacEachron

Tracy Hayhurst, farm manager for Husky Meadows Farm, appeared before the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on Jan. 12 to request clarification of the special permit terms regarding who is allowed to participate in the country retreat, farm-to-table program Husky Meadows Farm is planning. All agreed that the current permit allows up to 18 participants in each program and a maximum of 12 people can be accommodated as overnight guests. Hayhurst wanted to confirm that as long as each farm stay program had no more than 18 participants, it did not matter how many chose to spend the night. After a brief discussion the commission agreed that there was no requirement for an overnight stay as long as everyone attending participated in the full range of activities offered.

The Foundation for Norfolk Living, represented by Kate Johnson, presented a request for a text amendment to existing P&Z regulations. Johnson briefly reviewed the plan for a housing development known as Haystack Woods, a previously approved plan for a development of 10 to 19 new homes. The original approval assumed access to the development would be by a private road. Subsequently, the foundation learned the likelihood of obtaining funding for the development from the federally funded Community Development Block Grants, would be enhanced by having the town build the road. A town road has different requirements, and the planned houses would have zero set-back from the road. The commission informed Johnson it would need to hire Glenn Chalder to review the proposed changes to the town regulations. In response to a question concerning the cost to the town from adding a new road, First Selectman Matt Riiska stated that the cost of maintaining a mile of town roadway is approximately $3,000 per year. He noted the number of homes in the proposed development would provide additional tax base well in excess of the cost of maintaining the road. The commission accepted the application and scheduled a public hearing for March 9, 2021.

The meeting finished with a public hearing on the next stage of the City Meadow project. After a presentation of the new design by Bob Gilchrest, of Allied Engineering Associates, the commission voted unanimously to accept the plan. (For more on the City Meadow project, see p. 1.)