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July 2023-First Selectwoman’s Update

Posted on: July 31, 2023 - 5:59pm

Trail Information-Maps and On or Off Leash.  Wilton has a large number of trails on town, state and federal-owned properties, Wilton Land Trust property and private property for which the owners have provided an easement.  Whether dogs are required to be on leash is determined by town ordinance or the property owner.  For a list of the trails, trails maps and any leash requirements, please see here on the town website. 

Restaurants/Retail in Wilton.  A post this month on Facebook led to a number of residents complaining about what is offered in Wilton Center.  The Planning and Zoning Commission will be holding a public hearing in September on their proposed Wilton Center Master Plan.  In the meantime, here are some thoughts to consider:  

What have professionals said?  Wilton resident, former BOF member and restaurateur Andy Pforzheimer (Barcelona and Bartaco, among others) and Wilton commercial property owner Dave Genovese (Darien’s Corbin District redevelopment, among others) attended a March 2018 EDC meeting to discuss how Wilton might make itself more attractive to retail and restaurants. At the meeting, Andy noted he wouldn’t open a restaurant in Wilton because

  • Frequency of dining: Wilton residents don’t eat out as much as residents in some of the surrounding towns, therefore any restaurant would be dependent on weekend business.
  • Employees: Transportation to Wilton is difficult for restaurant staff (infrequent train and busses).
  • Population demographics: Wilton needed a larger population and specifically more professionals without children and empty-nesters with disposable income.  He noted those two population groups require transitional housing, which means more density.  Dave Genovese agreed. 

Read more here in this 2018 Wilton Bulletin article.   

What’s happened since as far as transitional housing?  According to data published by the state, Wilton issued building permits for 211 housing units from 2018 to 2022. (Source:  CT Data). The P&Z Commission also approved applications for 118 multi-family units for which permits have not been issued. Plus, the P&Z Commission has held pre-application meetings for more than another 300 multi-family units for which applications have not yet been submitted.  Almost half of the pre-app units would be located at Kimco’s property at 21 River Road, which formally housed Wilton Hardware and the movie theater, not their property at 5 River Road which houses Stop & Shop.  

These numbers do not include what might happen with the School Sisters of Notre Dame site at 345 Belden Hill Road which includes almost 200,000 vacant sq ft on 32 acres or other vacant or underoccupied commercial office properties.   

How can you help Wilton restaurants and businesses?  Shop local and speak to restaurant owners and retail owners about the types of food or merchandise that will keep bringing you back.  Owners want their businesses to grow and be successful.  Feedback is helpful.

Development Activity.  Some residents have contacted me to complain stating the Planning & Zoning Commission should have approved the 4-story original application for 12 Godfrey Place to avoid the approved 5-story 8-30-g project.  What those residents didn’t understand is the original application included a proposed zoning change which would have allowed 54 units per acre within ½ mile of the train station.  Therefore allowing high density housing on many properties, not just 12 Godfrey Place. 

Municipal Fiscal Indicators.  Today, the state Office of Policy and Management (OPM) released their annual report of municipal fiscal indicators as of June 30, 2021.  The report contains information for each of the state’s 164 municipalities with some in a comparative format. Wilton ranks

  • 64th in population at 18,460.  (Darien #51, 21,500, Westport #40, 27,279, New Canaan #54, 20,732, Ridgefield #45, 25,011.)
  • 65th in density per capita at 689.2.  (Darien # 28, 1,699, Westport #33, 1,367, New Canaan #49, 934, Ridgefield #62, 725.)
  • 6th in per capita income at $99,544.  (Darien #1, $139,079, Westport #2, $122,799, New Canaan #3, $119,935, Ridgefield #9, $85,804.)
  • 55th in debt (bonds, pension and OPEB) per capita at $3,989.  (Darien at #80, $2,985, Westport #28, $5,876, New Canaan #40, $4,960, Ridgefield #81 $2,943.)
  • 5th in tax levy per capita at $6,335.  (Darien #4, $6,518, Westport #1, $7,014, New Canaan #3, $6,794, Ridgefield #8, $5,452.)
  • 11th in equalized grand list per capita at $331,695.  (Darien #3, $579,895, Westport #2, $598,795, New Canaan #4, $503, 101, Ridgefield #19, $283,362.)
  • 103rd in equalized mill rate.  (Darien #163, Westport #161, New Canaan #155, Ridgefield #99.)

The report is available here.

Tax Bills Due.  FY2024 tax bills for motor vehicle, personal property and one-half of real estate bills must be paid by tomorrow, August 1st, to avoid interest back to July 1.  Read more here. 

Mark Your Calendar:  Two Summer Concerts remain:

  • August 6th,  One Bad Oyster
  • August 13th,  Russ Davis Band.  Rescheduled from previous date canceled due to weather.

Both concerts are free and are from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Merwin Meadows. 

Please email me at lynne.vanderslice@wiltonct.org with any questions.  Please, no questions via Facebook.

Lynne A Vanderslice

First Selectwoman