Resident Repeats Request for Hoyt St. Sidewalks

Although it wasn't on the Board of Selectmen's agenda Monday night, Darien resident Holly Schulz continued lobbying selectmen to build sidewalks on Hoyt Street between Leeds Lane and Barringer Road. Citing dangerously narrow roads, she advocated for the town to allocate money to estimate the cost of building sidewalks.

On Monday night, she asked selectmen to act on her repeated requests, especially given people who walk along this stretch of Hoyt Street. She has previously mentioned the Talmadge Hill train station, which is in New Canaan but within a few dozen feet of the Darien boundary.

“I want to know why after a year I am still here waiting,” Schulz said. “My neighbors are asking me why. I can go out there with a bucket of paint this Saturday and paint lines. I understand a sidewalk in this town is a big issue.”

At the very least, she asked the selectmen to direct the Darien Department of Public Works to paint lines to designate an official path for crossing the road.

“I wish we could get beyond the ‘What are all the reasons not to do it?’” she said.  

Selectman Jayme Stevenson responded to Schulz. Because Hoyt Street is a state road, the town of Darien cannot modify it without approval from the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

“The DOT is not necessarily interested in slowing traffic in that area,” Stevenson said. “We need the DOT to approve any traffic-slowing measures,” Stevenson said. “… As far as I know, there has been no agreement between the state DOT and our police department on traffic-calming measures.”   

Stevenson said “We still need New Canaan to be involved in this conversation.”

Selectman David Bayne added the sidewalk topic to the agenda of the selectmen’s upcoming meeting. “It is important that we do something out there,” he said.

The board was also set to consider changes to the Darien Boat Club's bylaws, but three of the four selectmen present at the meeting recused themselves after acknowledging they were members of the club.

The Darien Boat Club is seeking to change its bylaws governing the way its members apply for a permit to anchor their boats at its docks. A private organization located at 135 Pear Tree Point Road, the club has space for 260 boats to anchor in its maritime property on Long Island Sound.

First Selectman Dave Campbell, Selectman Jerry Nielsen, and Selectman Jayme Stevenson identified themselves as members of the Darien Boat Club. Consequently, they abstained from voting on a boat club-related matter. Selectman David Bayne is not a member of the Darien Boat Club. (Selectman Callie Sullivan was absent.)  Because only one selectman remained, the four present selectmen turned their attention to administrative officer Karl Kilduff for guidance. Kilduff said he will bring their question to Town Council Wayne Fox, and should have an answer by next meeting.

Jerry Kutz, its fleet manager, explained that the organization has about 800 members. The organization notified its members of its intent to change its bylaws. Fifty-seven people came to its special meeting on April 5. More than two-thirds of those 57 members voted to change the bylaws, Kutz said.

In accordance with the organization’s bylaws and lease, the Darien Boat Club is asking the town of Darien to approve its changes.