Old Lyme Zoning Survey Finds Support for Flexibility, Not Major Change
An Old Lyme zoning survey found residents broadly support preserving the town’s small-town character and limiting or prohibiting data centers because of concerns about water use, space requirements and local well-water supplies. Town officials expect the concerns to be addressed in an ongoing rewrite of zoning regulations, which is not expected to be ready for a vote until mid-next year.
A zoning survey of 962 Old Lyme residents found opposition to data centers, which Land Use Coordinator Eric Knapp said would require substantial land and water in a town where many residents rely on wells. The town currently has no data centers and no zoning district where they could be built, but officials may include a prohibition in the comprehensive rewrite of local zoning regulations.
The survey also showed support for more flexible rules governing accessory apartments, while residents expressed concern about crowding, traffic and outside state influence. The Old Lyme Zoning Commission is using the feedback to develop updated regulations after completing an initial cleanup phase; the full rewrite is expected to take several months and likely will not come before voters until the middle of next year.