Grace Farms and its neighbors are negotiating a proposed “buffer zone” between their properties, according to correspondence between the parties involved and town officials—a new development that could address some of the residents’ longstanding concerns about privacy, lighting, noise and safety.
According to a summary of a meeting last week between Grace Farms and some neighbors, the organization is putting together a plan that addresses creation of a buffer zone with new fencing as well as changes to the property’s trail network and the unwanted effects of lighting from The River building.
Neighbors are seeking “simple, permanent solutions for the benefit of both sides,” according to a summary of the Feb. 17 meeting, sent by Smith Ridge Road resident David Markatos to officials with New Canaan Planning & Zoning.
“We also want to avoid ‘variability’ which would require the neighborhood to act as a continuous monitor—for example, certain trails open during May to September, the sound sculpture only active from 11 to 3 p.m., etc. We truly want to avoid a continuation of the ‘cat and mouse’ games over the past year; and when there is a violation of a condition, it is clear and immediately actionable by the town.”
Asked about the meeting, Markatos declined to comment, saying Grace Farms’ neighbors are eager to work directly with the town and organization to find permanent solutions.
Reached through a spokesperson with a request for comment, Grace Farms issued the following statement: “Last week, Grace Farms Foundation hosted a very productive meeting with many of our neighbors. We look forward to continuing to work towards a constructive long-term solution for the Foundation’s upcoming application.”
The correspondence obtained by NewCanaanite.com offers a peek into the back-and-forth between the two parties while Grace Farms prepares a new application to amend its zoning permit. After a third-party consultant found its initial filing in September to be lacking, Grace Farms last month withdrew its application. A new application from Grace Farms is expected to arrive within months and to address wider concerns about ways the organization has been using its expansive Lukes Wood Road property and the various buildings on it.
In a dramatic break from a tone marked to this point by a lack of communication and some contentiousness, the two parties during last week’s meeting, attended by Grace Farms President Sharon Prince, appeared for the first time since concerns to make measurable progress on their differences. Markatos referred to “a productive exchange of ideas” in his summary.
Many details of the proposed buffer zone still need to be worked out, according to the letter, including its depth, placement and type of fencing and new plantings.
“We think the simplest approach is to have the buffer zone extend along the wetlands corridor that runs between the properties and that there are no walking trails east of the brook,” the letter to the town said.
“Making certain trails ‘seasonal’ is not a simple and permanent solution to the issue, and we have concerns about the level of wetlands disturbance that would be required by the volume of planting materials necessary to adequately screen our respective properties should the trails east of the brook remain. This would also provide peace of mind to the neighbors from a security and privacy perspective, and not require us to be constantly monitoring strangers coming near our property.”
The neighbors are seeking a substantial barrier—such as a wood split-rail fence, or fieldstone wall—rather than, for example, chicken wire hooked to a movable metal post, the correspondence said.
“The fence’s purpose is to act as a very solid visual deterrent/reminder to a walker to stay on the mowed paths,” the meeting summary from Markatos said.
“From a safety and security perspective, we believe that the placement of this fencing/hardscaping within the buffer zone should be adjacent to their trail network—not our property lines. It is important to not only signal to trail walkers that there is a clear boundary line, but also provide a security ‘white space’ area for Grace Farms security so that their security has sufficient time to intervene if a visitor crosses into the ‘white space.’ We believe that it is in the best interests of all parties for Grace Farms visitors to remain closer to the building complex where they can be properly overseen by Grace’s security team.”
Grace Farms also is considering doing away with a trail by its cattail pond, and looking into how much it would cost to create effective screening between its campus and some neighbors, the correspondence said.
Grace Farms and the neighbors have reached no middle ground regarding a noisemaking “sound sculpture” around the pond, it said.
“We expressed again our request that the sound sculpture be taken down and moved inside one their structures as part of their permanent art installations/program,” Markatos said in his letter summarizing last week’s meeting. “It should not be moved elsewhere on the grounds to become a nuisance for another abutting neighbor.”
Grace Farms also “has apparently rejected our concept of a planting zone around the River Building complex to address the light pollution at night,” it said.
“We expressed again our support of Planimetrics’ proposal of a full ‘cut-off’ of interior and exterior lighting at the River Building complex at dusk—with all evening activities at Grace Farms moving to the Barn complex. We also offered for [Grace Farms] Foundation leadership to come over to our properties at night to see the visual impact first hand. To be clear, if the Foundation’s updated application allows for any evening activities at the River Building complex, we will be looking for substantial additional screening to address the light pollution emanating from the River Building.”
The overarching question of operations at Grace Farms is yet unsettled.
“The Foundation’s leadership understands that we have additional concerns around the activities taking place at Grace Farms, and are waiting to review their comprehensive proposal and whether that proposal offers workable solutions before engaging on those additional concerns,” the letter said.