PZ&H label Leroy study a 'draft"™

The RTM's Planning Zoning & Housing Committee voted Tuesday night to label the 30-page report, submitted by the 35 Leroy Study Group, a draft.

The study group, a four-person subcommittee of the 17-member PZ&H Committee, was formed Jan. 13, and was charged with reviewing a broad range of reasonable potential uses for 35 Leroy Ave., and assessing each such potential use on a range of financial and strategic dimensions, according to the report. After several public meetings, the subcommittee presented its report to PZ&H for its approval on Thursday.

During the meeting, several committee members addressed concerns about the financial estimates included in the report.

"I'd be the first to say, there are plenty of numbers ... we'd want to dig deeper, find a more accurate assessment," said Frank Adelman, chairman of the subcommittee.

One financial estimate that drew concern from committee members was the $92,773 utility cost for the building, which the study group based off data provided by Library Director Louise Berry. This estimated cost was plugged in when evaluating the amount of money needed to run the building if it were used as a senior center, Board of Education office building, Darien Arts Center, additional space for Darien Public Schools or another municipal use.

But PZ&H member Norm Guimond, who also served on the Facility Study Task Force objected to using the same number for so many different uses.

The library's number is based on 69-hour weeks, and three-year-old fuel costs, Guimond said. Town Administrator Karl Kilduff converted the fuel to today's costs, then prorated the cost to fit with the square-footage needs of different uses, Guimond said.

"So he had the library at $94,964," Guimond said. "If you prorate it as the Board of Education, that's $58,000 . . . that's a big difference."

A similar formula could be used to determine more concrete operating numbers for other uses.

Numbers were not the only part of the report that drew criticism during Tuesday's meeting.

"At this point in time, I think this study is actually moot. Time and function has moved past this study," said John Bishko.

"There's a bigger plan in action, and I think focusing on that study... is meaningless. It's a nice academic study, but I think we've moved beyond this point," Bishko said.

The report identified 13 options for the former library site, in four "option groups." According to the document, the first option group was to sell the property. The second option group was to use the facility for affordable housing. Options involved in that cluster were: to construct 21 units of affordable housing; to do so at a higher density; to use the space as designated senior affordable housing; and to use it for mixed family and senior affordable housing.

The third option group addressed reusing or adapting the existing structure for new purposes other than housing. These purposes included: a new senior center; Board of Education offices; other municipal offices; Darien Arts Center; and additional education space for the Darien Public Schools.

The group also examined demolishing the building in the fourth cluster, which included: paving the site for municipal or train parking; building a freestanding parking structure; and building a park.

The 13 options were never discussed in Tuesday's meeting, as the committee decided against reading through the document.

In the end, the committee passed a 10-6 vote to label what was originally planned to be a "final report" as a draft, "shelving" it until the committee sees the need to revisit the document.