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Commission approves special permit to restore historic barn, expand garage at 12 Nursery Road
Summary
The commission unanimously approved a special permit July 29 for a restoration and modest expansion of a historic timber‑frame barn and attached garage at 12 Nursery Road; the proposal keeps the barn’s historic character, slightly reduces net coverage by removing a shed, and has an inland‑wetlands permit.
The New Canaan Planning and Zoning Commission on July 29 approved a special permit for work to restore a historic timber‑frame barn and to slightly expand an attached garage at 12 Nursery Road, allowing the accessory structure to exceed 1,000 square feet under section 3.4(c.0.7) of the zoning regulations.
Christopher Fagan of Christopher Fagan Studio Architecture presented the application on behalf of owner Daniel Pollock. Fagan described the barn as likely original to the property (circa 1760), and said the work will stabilize and rehabilitate the timber framing, create family recreation space inside the historic portion, and rebuild the attached garage as a two‑car workshop and storage area. “By removing a somewhat dilapidated shed closer to the street, we'd be able to make a slight expansion of the garage,” Fagan said, and the net built area would be slightly reduced.
The applicant told the commission the cumulative outbuilding area triggers the special permit because the accessory structure will exceed 1,000 square feet. The project team presented a survey and a drainage plan prepared by a civil engineer; the applicant said the town Inland Wetlands Department had issued a wetlands permit earlier in the year and offered guidance for construction mitigation near the brook on the property.
Key technical points cited at the hearing: the existing shed is about 193 square feet and the proposed garage expansion is about 180 square feet (approximately a 6‑foot extension to the east), producing a slight net reduction in coverage; the proposed garage and barn rooflines will remain essentially unchanged; the historic barn framing will be stabilized in place and may be insulated with a thin exterior system so the visible interior character remains; and limited landscaping will be added (evergreen screening along the property line) while leaving the wetlands frontage largely undisturbed.
Commissioners praised the project as a sensitive preservation effort that keeps the historic structure’s proportions and makes modest interventions to keep the barn in active use. One commissioner recommended, as a nonbinding suggestion, that the applicant consider designing garage doors that better reflect barn‑style doors; the board left that as a recommendation rather than a condition.
A motion to approve the special permit was made and seconded; a roll‑call vote recorded unanimous approval among commissioners present. The commission noted standard building, drainage and wetlands‑permit conditions remain in effect and staff will monitor compliance during permit review and construction.
