Darien P&Z To Continue Hearings On Piacentini Preserve Parking, Country Club Pickleball Courts

DARIEN, CT— The Darien Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled Tuesday night to continue public hearings on proposals involving public access improvements, recreational facilities and residential development, including a plan to create a small public parking area at the Piacentini Preserve on Hoyt Street.

The commission will meet Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. in Room 119 at Darien Town Hall, 2 Renshaw Road. The meeting is listed as in person. Public comment is permitted as part of the public hearing process.

One of the items listed on the agenda is the continuation of a public hearing on a site plan and special permit application from Darien Land Trust LLC for the Piacentini Preserve at 96 Hoyt St.

The proposal calls for removing an existing asphalt driveway and constructing a new parking area with five public parking spaces to serve visitors to the preserve. The approximately 2.3-acre property is located north of Echo Drive North in a residential zone. The hearing was opened Feb. 24 and is scheduled to continue.

Also scheduled for continuation is a public hearing on an application from the Country Club of Darien at 300 Mansfield Ave. The club is seeking approval to expand and modify two existing tennis courts to create four pickleball courts and one tennis court, along with related site work on the 139-acre property. That hearing was also opened Feb. 24.

In addition, the commission will continue a public hearing on a land filling, excavation and regrading application at 45 Old Farm Road, where the applicant proposes site work related to a new single-family home, pool, generator and utilities.

Beyond the public hearings, the commission is scheduled to hold a workshop discussion on the 2026 Plan of Conservation and Development, including a presentation with H&H and a review of the Board of Selectmen’s vision statement. The agenda also lists a possible appointment and swearing-in of a new commission member.

Under general meeting items, the commission may review amendments to previously approved special permits, including proposed exterior terrace renovations at Wee Burn Country Club and a request from the Darien Board of Education to allow two additional Suburban vehicles to be parked at 35 Leroy Ave. for transportation use.

The agenda also includes deliberations and possible decision on a flood damage prevention application at 10 Holly Lane, where the public hearing has closed, as well as deliberations only on a closed hearing involving a proposed gas station and convenience store redevelopment at 805 Boston Post Road.

The full agenda can be found here.