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Connecticut
Local Politics
Wednesday,
September 13, 2006
Enfield: Boards, School Battle Over a Parking Lot
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The Courant is reporting on a situation brewing
in Enfield involving the local planning and zoning board, the zoning
board of appeals and a Montessori school run by the Felician Sisters.
Here’s the basic story:
The
planning and zoning commission and zoning enforcement officer say the
school illegally constructed a gravel parking lot in 1992. The nuns who
run the school say they have used that area as a parking lot for nearly
50 years - before the special permit regulations were established - and
graveling it was a matter of maintenance, which they say does not
require a permit.
The zoning board of appeals sided with the Felician Sisters of the Order
of St. Francis of Connecticut, who have run a school on the property in
various forms since 1944. (Rathi)
The problem is that the property is located in the town’s historic
district, which requires special permits and a lengthy process for
construction of almost any type. The parking lot is considered by the
school to be absolutely essential, since the school is located on busy
Route 5 (Enfield St.). The sisters who run the school have proposed
solutions to the problem, only to have the historic district commission
shoot them down.
Weirdly, the zoning board of appeals is actually being sued by the
planning and zoning commission over the matter. Apparently, according to a
source close to the PZC, not all of the commissioners were present when
the decision to sue was made, but the decision went forward regardless.
The town council, according to the Courant article, is officially
staying out of it for now.
Andy Thibault, who publishes The
Cool Justice Report, has covered this story more extensively than
anyone, and has been very critical of the actions of the town. Here are
links to just a few of the stories he’s written on the subject:
Courant
Covers Town's Demented &Costly Crusade Against Enfield Montessori
School
Enfield’s
‘Deep Connole:’ Follow The Subdivisions
Enfield
Legal Dept. Needs Tuneup
MONTESSORI
PARENT SPEAKS
Sister
Francine Mary's Letter To Gov. Rell
Enfield
Mayor Full Of ...
Nuns
Aren't Taking It Any More...
Thibault brings to light a couple of crucial points--namely, that the
crisis is highlighting splits within the town Democratic Party, which
controls the town council and has been making
some questionable decisions lately. Thibault says:
There
are seven Democrats and four Republicans on the Enfield Town Council
currently controlled by Tallarita. Deep Connole reports, however, that
there is a growing split among rank and file Democrats and Tallarita
loyalists. The fire department, a significant political force, is not
allied with Tallarita.
He also points out speculation that a big political player in town,
Anthony Troiano, may
be pushing some of this:
Troiano
once told town officials "historic vegetation" would be
destroyed if the nuns moved the parking area behind the school. That
area is not so far from where similarly "historic vegetation"
- some of us call it grass - was removed to make way for Troiano's pool
and cabana.
Action against the Montessori School began only after it sought to add
an activity room and move the parking area. Brendan Belgey, an
accountant with a practice in town, attended Enfield Montessori in 1965.
"My mother parked in the lot where I drop off my child,"
Begley said. Begley said the sisters, like any other property owners,
should be able to do whatever is legally proper on their 11 acres of
land without political interference. The activity room is needed, he
said, so youngsters can stretch their legs outside the classroom once in
a while.
"I believe Mr. Troiano doesn't want this [improvements to the
school] to happen for whatever reason," Begley said. "I think
he was a catalyst and he used his influence."
At this point, the legal fight over the school is costing the town in
legal fees, PR and goodwill. It will be a terrible shame if the school
loses the fight and closes its doors--and Enfield will only have itself to
blame should that happen.
Sources:
Ratni, Rachana. "Boards
Grapple In Court." Hartford Courant 13 September, 2006.
Thibault, Andy. The
Cool Justice Report. See above for individual articles.
posted by Genghis Conn at 9:26 AM
LINK: http://connecticutlocalpolitics.blogspot.com/2006/09/enfield-boards-school-battle-over.html
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