McNally: Darien Has A Lot Of Energy Right Now

DARIEN, CT — With 2022 coming to a close, Darien officials held the annual State of the Town presentation before the Representative Town Meeting on Monday.

First Selectman Monica McNally; Board of Finance Chair Jim Palen; Board of Education Chair David Dineen; and Planning & Zoning Chair Stephen Olvany gave reports and updates on what's going on in town in their respective areas.

McNally said Darien is evolving and growing.

"Our town has a lot of energy right now — it really does," she said.

McNally recapped several initiatives and developments that have been underway in town over the past year.

Addressing Flooding

Of note, McNally said the the town has been committed to addressing flooding issues, particularly after storms impacted the town in the summer of 2021.

Following those storms, the town initiated and updated several extensive studies in hard-hit areas, such as Bailey Avenue and Salt Box Lane. The studies were completed this month and findings are under review.

Darien also made physical improvements to help with future flooding events, McNally said. Drainage has been upgraded on Leeuwarden Road, Brookside Road and Laurel Lane, along with sidewalks and curbing on Nearwater Lane.

For the upcoming fiscal year, McNally said the town will seek funding for drainage improvements on Long Neck Road, Hanson Road and West Avenue.

Great Island Acquisition

The town's interest in acquiring Great Island was a hot button issue in Darien for 2022.

"This property, viewed by town leaders as a potential resource for residents, is an important 61-acre parcel for all of Darien and all of Long Island Sound. If we can, we should save it from substantial development, and hold the land forever under town ownership," McNally reiterated to the RTM. "Should we complete this transaction, I look forward to inviting all of you to an open house tour. But this transaction is far from complete, as our buyer due diligence effort has uncovered items that are holding up progress."

McNally said the town is "hard at work" trying to address these issues with the sellers and contiguous land owners. An update on the transaction is expected in the next 100 days, McNally said.

Developments In Town

McNally highlighted the construction at Darien Commons and the Corbin redevelopment. She said she expects a "positive update" in the near future on the Palmer property, which is located adjacent to Federal Realty.

"These multi-family developments will add over 300 new residents and families to our town. Many restaurants and small businesses will accompany these projects, bringing numerous local jobs and an expanded tax base," McNally said.

The influx of new residents and businesses will increase the need for certain resources, McNally noted.

"Growth and change are inevitable. We must welcome growth for the benefit of our town, and we must plan for the changes driven by growth. As changes require additional police, fire personnel or teachers, we will address those requests as they come to the forefront," she said.

Of note, McNally said Darien welcomed 224 babies in 2022, an 11 percent increase over the town's five-year average.

A Look Back On 2022

McNally touted several other accomplishments from 2022, such as the establishment of a mental health task force which has been spearheaded by the town's Human Services Department.

The Board of Selectmen this year adopted a community values statement, which McNally said "reflects Darien's commitment to respect and inclusion for all."

Darien was recognized for its efforts on sustainability, and received a silver level certification from Sustainable CT. The town also reached an agreement with Eversource on tree-cutting on Little Brook after a lengthy mediation process.

"My fellow selectmen and I attended a multitude of annual events, supporting a variety of causes, and this year, we were pleased to participate in new events, including a rally for Ukraine, unveiling ceremonies for Darien's new heritage trail, and the first Darien Pride event," McNally said.

"We have a truly unique and wonderful town, whose selfless residents volunteer their time to so many causes," McNally said in conclusion. "These are some of the things that I hope will never change, and why I continue to be so proud to represent our town."

Watch the State of the Town presentations here. They begin at the 1 hour, 34 minute mark.