Plans to redevelop a historic Madison home are being met with resistance from neighbors who say the redevelopment will only create disruption, chaos, and congestion in what is otherwise a residential area.

The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds projects focusing on the arts, environment, and learning differences, submitted an application to the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) earlier this year seeking to transform 6 Opening Hill Road into the nonprofit's headquarters. Currently, the foundation operates out of New Haven. The property was part of a larger 76-acre estate previously owned by the foundation's namesake family for more than 50 years before it was sold in 1994. The foundation purchased a small 6-acre section of the property in February 2023 for $925,000. According to a letter submitted to the Economic Development Commission (EDC) on April 16, Tremaine Foundation president Michelle Knapik, outlined plans to restore key elements on the property and conduct "philanthropic and education activities at the site."

"The foundation wants to help the Town preserve and celebrate this architectural history," Knapik wrote. "Invitation-only lectures, workshops, tours, and related convenings that fit the scale and tone of the neighborhood will contribute to the lasting legacy of the site and provide the Town with visitors who will stay, dine, and patronize other local businesses."

According to the application, those activities include arts, architecture, and other philanthropic and educational exhibits, meetings, tours, on-site residencies, events, studio and collaborative space, the foundation's administrative office, and a museum gallery and story.

While representatives of the foundation tout the plan as beneficial for the town, local residents aren't convinced. The property sits in the town's RU1 district, a "rural residence district." In a press release dated April 23, residents demanded that PZC reject the special exception application.

"Area citizens realize there is no economic benefit to Madison taxpayers as this nonprofit has benefit of all the town services of a property owner while paying no property taxes, straining our town's resources," the release read. "This 'exemption' will have ramifications in the future affecting surrounding areas with no foreseen benefits to local taxpayers."

To date, more than a dozen residents have submitted letters to the PZC urging commissioners to deny the application. The EDC forwarded its unanimous support of the project to the PZC following an April 11 meeting.

The special exception application will go before the PZC on Thursday, May 16.