Harbor commission to send letter saying zoning petition is consistent with harbor plan

The Old Saybrook Harbor Management Commission voted unanimously to write a letter stating that the petition to amend the town's zoning regulations, as described in Markelle Wells' 06/16/2026 letter, is consistent with the harbor management plan.

Joseph Hammar, who identified himself as counsel for nearby property owner Leo Caldarella, told the commission the draft text amendment's provision that would prohibit residential uses "limits future possibilities" and could undermine the mixed-use redevelopment vision discussed in a June 27, 2022 informational session. "We just don't think there's a reason to eliminate residential as they've proposed," Hammar said during public comment. Commissioners discussed that earlier presentation and repeatedly noted the harbor management commission's role is to judge consistency with the harbor plan, not to set zoning policy.

Chair (speaker 1) moved that the commission write the letter; the motion was seconded and commissioners voted in favor, with no recorded opposition. The commission recorded the outcome as "passes unanimously." The commission did not adopt any change to town zoning itself; commissioners instructed staff to transmit the consistency letter to the zoning commission as their advisory opinion.

Next steps: the commission will send the signed consistency letter to the town zoning commission so it can be included in the zoning review process. No formal zoning change was adopted by this body; the zoning commission retains authority over the text amendment.