Long weighed as an added tool for historic preservation, a new demolition delay ordinance will go to Town Meeting for possible adoption. The ordinance would require that some buildings older than 75 years that owners wish to demolish be subject to a 120-day wait period before being torn down to allow consideration of alternatives.

The draft rule originated in 2016 with the Planning Commission, which held several workshops and meetings on the topic. The commission’s attorney, Mark Branse, worked with the commission to draft the ordinance language. The initial rule was then reviewed and amendments recommended by the Board of Selectmen (BOS). The draft was revised and returned to the Planning Commission, which reviewed the new draft. On March 28, the BOS took public comments on the final draft. Following public comments, the BOS discussed the ordinance and then voted to refer it to Town Meeting for adoption.

At the March 28 BOS meeting, Old Saybrook Historical Society (OSHS) spokesman Tedd Levy told the selectmen that, although the proposed ordinance was not everything that the historical society wanted, he felt it was a good compromise.

Because the intent of the ordinance is to create options to preserve history, not stifle redevelopment, the ordinance also establishes a five-member review committee that can declare within 30 days that the proposed structure, in the absence of historic merit, would not qualify for the delay and could be demolished without the 120-day wait.

Building Official Don Lucas suggested that the 30-day review period be explained well to contractors and the public so that they don’t think every home 75 years and older will face a demolition delay.

After the meeting, Levy wrote to OSHS members, “The proposal is not all that we want. But it’s better than what we have!”

Before coming before the Board of Selectmen, the demolition delay ordinance proposal was considered by the Historic District Commission, the Architectural Review Board, and the first selectman, and twice by the Planning Commission. Now it will go to Town Meeting.

The need for a new tool to protect historic structures became apparent to the OSHS last fall when members learned that an applicant had proposed demolition of a North Main Street home that OSHS knew to be historic. OSHS approached the applicant, then known as the Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer, and explained the home’s historic character. OSHS representatives attended meetings of the Zoning Commission and Architectural Review Board that were considering the application to build a new foundation headquarters and gallery space.

In this case, informing the applicant of the history of the house and of the nationally important figure who grew up there was sufficient for a compromise to be reached. The applicant agreed to preserve the historic exterior of the original house as long as the newer additions made to the rear could be demolished.

Other shoreline area towns, including Essex, already have in place a demolition delay ordinance and others, like Westbrook, are considering adopting such rules.

At press time, the Board of Selectmen had not yet set the date of the Town Meeting where the proposed ordinance would be placed on the Call.