Conservation Commission Votes 4-0 to Weigh In on Waveney Parcel E
Conservation · Meeting of September 10, 2026
New Canaan Conservation Commission presses for a voice before any Waveney Parcel E deal. Commissioners voted 4-0 Thursday to formally ask the Town Council to consult with the panel before signing any lease or memorandum of understanding with Waveney Life Care Network, which wants to build a continuing care retirement community on the 20-acre parcel, a footprint four times the size of the current five-acre mulch site. Resident Sally Ann Powell called Waveney "a jewel" that should not be sacrificed even though, at 76, she said her own family could use such a facility.
A Smith Ridge Road resident who gave her first name as Jennifer told the panel a 2025 update to Connecticut's parkland-conveyance law requires replacement land and a public hearing before any change of use, saying "it's not a may, it's not a should, it's a shall." Waveney Park Conservancy Executive Director Michelle Crookenden said her group has taken no position. Commissioners cited a firefly researcher and a bird-migration expert who previously briefed them on the parcel's ecological value.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,721 words
Source: the Conservation meeting of September 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
The Full Article
Agenda Amendment and Routine Business
At the outset, Chair Tom moved public comment to the seventh agenda slot to accommodate residents waiting to speak, corrected a duplicate item number, and folded a vote on a memorial bench into the existing Bristow Preserve update. Commissioner John made the motion, Commissioner Ann seconded, and it passed on a voice vote. The commission then approved the minutes of its July 9, 2026 meeting on a motion by John, seconded by Ann. Neither item drew discussion.
Bristow Preserve Update
Land Trust liaison Robin, joining by phone, reported that the group is negotiating an annual maintenance-dredging permit with the town's Inland Wetlands agency to keep a "shunt dam" area clear so water can reach the Bristow pond, since the original wetland permit for the preserve's restoration did not cover ongoing dredging. Robin said raking the area to allow water flow is permitted under existing rules; actual dredging is not, pending the new permit.
A dead maple near the Bristow entrance has gone out to bid and will go before the Board of Selectmen for award Tuesday, with the contractor expected to start work immediately after. Robin also asked residents to keep the preserve's new gate signage in mind after finding both entrance gates left open on a recent visit, and said Land Trust has been fielding calls from residents near 289 Park Street about several dead, leafless trees visible from the street; Robin said the two callers' contact information would be forwarded to the commission. On a lighter note, Robin reported a green heron has taken up residence at the Bristow pond and has been observed eating goldfish, and that the upcoming "Barn at Bristow" event will draw Land Trust volunteers as a sponsor.
Robin also updated the commission on storm-damaged trails, including a section of the main bridge near the Bristow four-way junction that washed out during a storm that dropped four inches of rain in an hour. That repair work has been bundled into a single bid package covering Bristow, Kiwanis and Waveney parks, submitted together to the Board of Selectmen for Tuesday's meeting; work will begin in Waveney first because of the high school cross-country season, then move to Bristow and Kiwanis.
Tot Spot Bench Dedication
The commission then voted to locate and dedicate a memorial bench, referred to throughout as the "Tot Spot" bench, within Bristow Preserve. Barbara Skibicki, who told the commission she ran the Tot Spot children's program at the site for 37 years until retiring the week before the meeting, came to the podium to advocate for the bench's placement. She initially pushed back on an earlier comment suggesting parents struggle to close the preserve's gates while pushing strollers, saying in her experience "they are capable of bringing in and then closing the gate," but agreed the new signage should help. Asked where she would like the bench sited, Skibicki said her first choice was a spot overlooking the bird sanctuary near her former home, "because all the parents would love to have that," with a bench near the pond as a fallback. The motion to dedicate the bench near the bird sanctuary passed unanimously by a show of hands.
South Avenue Tree Replacement
Town staffer Tiger reported that eight of nine trees slated for replacement on South Avenue have been installed; the ninth is pending because a contractor is still finishing pipe work in that area. With underground work complete, the road moves next into repaving, running the next five Saturdays between Harrison Avenue and Farm Road, after which crews will handle driveway restoration and curb repair once final road grades are set. Tiger said the town's beautification league worked directly with residents on tree placement and species, resolving a handful of early complaints about location, and that Farm Road's new trees — three to four inches in caliper — were chosen to stay clear of overhead utility lines in areas where shrubs or low-growing species were a better fit than replacement shade trees.
Transfer Station Update
Tiger previewed two upcoming events at the transfer station compound: a household hazardous waste day Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., described as the final one of the year for the five-town consortium New Canaan participates in, and a paper-shredding event Sept. 19 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., which accepts loose paper only, no staples, three-ring binders or paperclips. Tiger said the town promotes both through a weekly Sunday noon "DPW update" email, the town's alert-registration system, and a roadside message board placed near the transfer station entrance on Main Street in advance of each event.
Public Comment on Waveney Life Care Network's Parcel E Proposal
Background and stakes: The public comment period, moved earlier in the agenda by the chair, drew five speakers, all addressing a proposal by Waveney Life Care Network to build a continuing care retirement community on Parcel E of Waveney Park, a subject that had also come before the Parks and Recreation Commission the previous night. The question before the commission was not the merits of the project itself but whether, and how, the Conservation Commission should weigh in before the Town Council acts on a memorandum of understanding.
Neely Stiknoth, of 137 Elm Place, distributed copies of a 1967 brochure she said was given to her years ago by Steve Banko, used at the time to persuade residents to support the purchase of Waveney's parcels C, D and E. She argued that Parcel E, not the mulch site framing used in current discussion, is actually the largest contiguous section of the park, at 282 acres according to a 2019 National Register resource map, and cautioned that treating it as expendable "doesn't make any sense" given the property's significance to the park's 2019 National and State Historic Register listing. In response to a commissioner's question, Stiknoth clarified that the Talmadge Hill parking lot is a separate parcel, A, not part of Parcel E.
A second commenter, who identified herself as Jennifer and gave her address as 1328 Smith Ridge Road, told the commission she has lived in New Canaan more than 26 years. She walked commissioners through a 2025 update to Connecticut's parkland-conveyance statute, which she said requires that any municipality changing the use of land bought, bonded, or dedicated for park or open-space purposes must replace it with equivalent parkland and hold a state-mandated public hearing before, not after, the change occurs. She cited a case she called Kensington Playground in New Haven as a recent example of the law being enforced, and urged the commission to conduct or commission its own study "prior to this MOU being signed." She also discussed the 1967 deeds for parcels C, D and E, arguing that the property's original owner, referred to in the discussion as Mrs. Lapham-Lloyd, deliberately carved out only Parcel C for institutional use — the site later developed as what is now Waveney's care campus — and left D and E as open space, selling the two parcels to the town for $1.5 million rather than an estimated $2.5 million market value at the time in exchange for the town honoring the open-space restriction.
"So here we have a proposal on the table to take this parkland." [00:25:59] — Jennifer, Smith Ridge Road resident
Sally Ann Powell, who has lived on Cheese Spring Road since 1985 after moving to New Canaan in 1977, told commissioners that she and her 79-year-old husband are within the target demographic for a continuing care facility, calling herself "the person who should be saying, yes, yes, we need something like this now." She said she nonetheless opposed the Waveney site specifically, urging the commission to study the historical documents before allowing any change.
Michelle Crookenden, of 49 Bartling Drive, a 22-year resident who also serves as executive director of the Waveney Park Conservancy, said she was speaking as a resident rather than in her Conservancy role, noting the nonprofit has deliberately withheld any advocacy position to let the public process play out. She offered several factual corrections: the mulch operation itself covers five acres, while the proposed project footprint is 20 acres, four times larger; no affordability commitments have been outlined by Waveney Life Care Network that would meet state moratorium standards; and the entire park, including Parcel E, is covered by the 2019 National and State Historic Register listing, not just the developed portions. Asked directly whether the Conservancy has a timeline for taking a position, Crookenden said no, explaining the group's own 11-year-old memorandum of understanding with the town covers only the park's land north of the main drive to Lapham Road, excluding the area near South Avenue where Parcel E sits. "I don't think we actually have a voice as an organization, but you may hear individuals express their opinions," she said.
An online commenter identified as Charles, joined by his wife Sarah, said the couple has lived on Carter Street, in what he described as the second-oldest house in New Canaan, and urged the commission to preserve Waveney "precisely the way it is now," citing the property's significance to the State Historic Preservation Office and the National Trust.
Commission Discussion and Vote on Requesting Consultation
The question before the body: whether to take formal action asking the Town Council to consult the Conservation Commission before acting on any Waveney Life Care Network lease or memorandum of understanding for Parcel E.
Commissioner John opened by noting that researching the utilization of town land is one of the Conservation Commission's four core statutory duties, meaning the Parcel E question "squarely fits within our purview." Susan agreed the commission has an obligation to weigh in, adding that several points raised in a "five reasons" slide presented at Wednesday's Parks and Recreation Commission meeting deserved scrutiny — particularly claims that the project would expand public access to open space and broaden Waveney's use for the whole community. She noted the commission has spent the past year hearing from outside experts, including a specialist on a possible new firefly species found in Waveney and a bird-migration researcher, and argued that expertise should inform any decision.
John then read a formal motion, which he said he prepared jointly with commissioner Tom Herman, who was absent from the meeting. As moved, the resolution asks that "the New Canaan Conservation Commission requests that the town council formally consult with the conservation commission prior to taking any action to accept, approve or enter into any lease agreement or memorandum of understanding" involving the Waveney Life Care Network proposal for Parcel E. The motion cites the commission's charter authority under sections 11a-4 and 11a-5 to review matters affecting town open space and natural resources; town ordinance provisions requiring consultation with relevant commissions on land-use actions; the "substantial, potentially irreversible" nature of converting parkland to a continuing care facility; deed restrictions attached to the original 1967 conveyance; and the argument that consultation must happen before, not after, a council vote to be meaningful. It directs the chair to transmit the resolution to the Town Council and requests that no vote on the proposal be scheduled until consultation occurs.
Susan seconded the motion. During discussion, Tom said he supported the approach and noted a recent conversation with a representative from Darien, which is forming its own conservation commission, in which he described New Canaan's practice of inviting outside stakeholders and experts to present at public meetings — citing the commission's past sessions on a well-water program and the leaf-blower ordinance as examples — as a model worth continuing here. He suggested reaching out to Russell Barkdale or another Waveney Life Care Network representative to present directly to the commission, alongside additional conservation experts.
Susan raised the possibility that the commission may need funding for an independent ecological study examining how development on one parcel could affect adjacent parcels, acknowledging such a study "is easily six months off" and suggesting some of that cost burden could fall on the project's proponents. Commissioners agreed the timeline for a Town Council MOU vote, which some had understood to be as early as September, appeared premature, with Tom saying he was "already hearing that that meeting might be pushed back till October."
The commission then voted. All four members present — Tom, John, Susan and Ann — voted in favor, and the motion passed 4-0. No amendments were offered.
Implications and what is next: The vote does not block the Waveney Life Care Network proposal, but it puts the Town Council on notice that the Conservation Commission wants formal input, and asks that any MOU vote wait until that consultation happens. Commissioners said they intend to invite a Waveney Life Care Network representative and outside conservation experts to a future meeting, likely October 8.
New Business: A Conservation Commission Social Media Presence
Susan raised, without a formal vote, an ongoing interest in creating a dedicated social media account so the commission can communicate directly with the public, tying it to a stalled town ordinance update that would modernize communication rules. Tom said he would follow up with commissioner Tom Herman, the town, and the Town Council on where that ordinance process stands, noting it is related to, but distinct from, the town's separate Charter Commission revisions. Susan suggested the commission could resolve the question with a motion at a future meeting rather than continued informal discussion, drawing a comparison to how the commission previously turned informal talk about grant funding into action by inviting grant consultant Greg Riley to present, which led to a specific funding opportunity for Bristow-related birdwatching programming two weeks before this meeting.
General Information and Adjournment
The commission's next meeting is scheduled for October 8; the chair said he would work on securing guest speakers, expected to relate to the Waveney Life Care Network Parcel E proposal. With no further business, the commission adjourned on a motion by Ann, seconded by Susan, approved unanimously.
Chair Tom — Conservation Commission Chair, attended remotely by phone. John — Commissioner, present. Susan — Commissioner, present. Ann — Commissioner, present. Tom Herman — Commissioner, absent; co-drafted the Parcel E consultation motion. Robin — New Canaan Land Trust liaison for Bristow Preserve, joined by phone. Tiger — town staffer covering South Avenue tree replacement and the transfer station. Barbara Skibicki — resident and former 37-year Tot Spot program leader, public commenter. Neely Stiknoth — resident, 137 Elm Place, public commenter. Jennifer — resident, 1328 Smith Ridge Road, public commenter. Sally Ann Powell — resident, Cheese Spring Road since 1985, public commenter. Michelle Crookenden — resident, 49 Bartling Drive, and executive director of the Waveney Park Conservancy, public commenter. Charles and Sarah — residents, Carter Street, online public commenters.
Waveney Life Care Network — the entity proposing the continuing care retirement community on Parcel E, the subject of the commission's consultation request. Waveney Park Conservancy — independent nonprofit with its own 11-year-old memorandum of understanding with the town covering park land north of Lapham Road; has taken no position on the Parcel E proposal. New Canaan Land Trust — partner organization on Bristow Preserve maintenance, trail repair and events, represented by Robin. Town of Darien — cited by Tom as a peer municipality forming its own conservation commission, which contacted him for guidance on how New Canaan's commission operates. 1967 Lapham parcel brochure — a promotional pamphlet distributed to residents ahead of the town's 1967 purchase of Waveney parcels D and E, provided to Neely Stiknoth by Steve Banko and entered into the record during public comment. 2019 National/State Historic Register resource map — cited by Stiknoth and Crookenden as documenting the historic significance of Parcel E and the full Waveney Park property. Connecticut parkland-conveyance statute (updated 2025) — cited by commenter Jennifer as requiring replacement parkland and a public hearing before any municipal change of use of land dedicated for park or open-space purposes. Kensington Playground, New Haven — a court case cited by Jennifer as a recent enforcement example of the state parkland-conveyance law. Conservation Commission charter sections 11a-4 and 11a-5, and town ordinances cited in the motion — the legal basis John's motion cites for the commission's authority to request consultation on the Parcel E proposal.