New Canaan Charter Panel Keeps ZBA, Wetlands Boards Appointed

Other Committee · Meeting of April 28, 2026

New Canaan charter panel votes to keep two land-use boards appointed, tightens control over town property sales. The Charter Revision Commission voted 9-0 to keep the Zoning Board of Appeals appointed and 5-4 to keep the Inland Wetlands Commission appointed, rejecting a push to make either elected. Commissioners voted 7-2 to require Town Council approval for any sale, lease or change of use of town property, dropping a proposed $500,000 threshold after resident Christina Ross warned "any property can be subdivided" to dodge it.

Parking Commission chair Nancy Beamis told the panel "we never had a chance" to weigh in on the latest draft language affecting her board. The commission has spent $31,227 of its $50,300 budget through late March, with legal and public-notice costs still pending before the report heads to the Town Council, whose next meeting is May 20.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 911 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of April 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

NEW CANAAN — April 28, 2026 — The Charter Revision Commission voted Tuesday to keep the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Inland Wetlands Commission as appointed rather than elected bodies, two of several decisions made during a marathon working session on the panel's draft report to the Town Council.

The commission, working from the 14th draft of its proposed charter rewrite, also voted 7-2 to require Town Council approval for any sale, transfer or change of use of town-owned real property, striking a proposed $500,000 threshold after a resident warned it could be circumvented by subdividing land. The commission has spent $31,227 of its $50,300 budget through late March, with additional legal and public-notice costs still to come before the report's expected transmittal to the Town Council, whose next regular meeting is scheduled for May 20.

The Full Story

Commission Chair Kathleen opened the special session, called for 4 p.m. to accommodate what she described as likely the panel's last in-person meeting before finalizing its draft report. The commission has meetings scheduled into November but expects to cancel most of them if the report is completed on schedule. Kathleen said the panel would move its regular meetings back to 5 p.m., with sessions set for May 12 and May 26.

Kathleen gave a budget update, noting the commission's $50,300 appropriation for the current fiscal year included $20,000 for legal counsel, $5,000 for printing, $6,000 for newspaper notices and funds for secretarial services and a townwide survey. As of late March, legal costs totaled $23,171, mailing costs were $5,865 and secretarial costs were $2,191, for a combined $31,227. Kathleen said legal costs would likely climb further because the figures did not include April or May, and the commission had not yet obtained a quote for the newspaper publication of its final report required under state statute.

Much of the meeting was devoted to line-by-line edits to the draft charter, including language on the town attorney's role, alternates on the Ethics Board, and reconciling charter amendments with town ordinances. Commissioners debated at length whether the Town Council should have an independent right to retain outside legal counsel without going through the Board of Selectmen's budget process, a discussion attorney Nick Babonte said was not addressed in any charter he was aware of. No resolution was reached, and Babonte was asked to draft revised language for the panel to review later.

The commission reached consensus, though not a formal vote, to remove the word "solely" from language governing how the town treasurer's salary is set, agreeing it should read that the salary "shall be set by the town council pursuant to the general statutes." Commissioners said they intend to broaden similar language to cover all elected officials in a separate section of the charter.

On the real property provision, the commission voted to require Town Council approval for any change in use, capital lease, or sale or transfer of town-owned property, regardless of dollar value. Nancy Beamis, chair of the Parking Commission, told the panel she had not seen the latest revisions to parking-related draft language until the morning of the meeting, despite her commission having worked extensively on the original wording.

"We never had a chance after that series of changes to come in and weigh in." — Nancy Beamis, chair, Parking Commission

Christina Ross, addressing the commission during public comment, argued against the $500,000 threshold that was initially proposed for the real property provision.

"Any property can be subdivided. A sliver of it can be sold for under 500 which would undermine the whole process of having input from the town council and or the public." — Christina Ross, public comment

Kathleen closed the session by thanking commissioners and outside participants for their work as the panel nears completion of its report.

"We're not over the finish line yet and uh so we've got to get this done." — Kathleen, Chair, Charter Revision Commission

Why It Matters

The Charter Revision Commission's report, once finalized, will go to the Town Council for review and ultimately to voters in a referendum, the first full charter rewrite since the current document was adopted roughly 10 years ago. Tuesday's votes preserve the current appointed structure for two land-use boards that residents interact with directly on property disputes, while the new real-property provision would give the Town Council a formal check on any future sale, lease or change of use of town-owned land, regardless of size, closing what several commissioners called a gap exposed by past disputes over cell towers and park land. The commission expects to send its report to the Town Council around Friday, ahead of the council's next scheduled meeting May 20.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Retain the Zoning Board of Appeals as an appointed body Tally: For: 9, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 9

- Vote: Retain the Inland Wetlands Commission as an appointed body Tally: For: 5, Against: 4, Abstain: 0, Total: 9

- Vote: Require Town Council approval for changes in use, capital leases, or sales/transfers of town-owned real property, with no dollar threshold Tally: For: 7, Against: 2, Abstain: 0, Total: 9

• Action: Reached consensus, not a formal roll-call vote, to strike "solely" from draft language on town treasurer compensation, affirming the salary "shall be set by the town council pursuant to the general statutes"

Source

Town Of New Canaan: Charter Revision Commission meeting, April 28, 2026