Walker: 'A Once in a Generation Opportunity'

Watch complete video of First Selectman Jeb Walker and New Canaan Library Board President Karen Stevenson announcing the vision for what could be a new village common. Walker put out the following release in advance of the 5 p.m. press conference Wednesday at Town Hall:

Describing it as a "once in a generation opportunity", New Canaan First Selectman Jeb Walker, announced plans for the town of New Canaan to work cooperatively with the New Canaan Library in their efforts to construct a new library building.

The current library, first constructed in 1913 and last expanded in 1979, is facing mounting pressure as the aging facility has experienced a 25 percent increase in circulation over the past four years. In addition, each month over 2,500 people attend the over 60 events held at the library, placing considerable strain on the existing building.

Walker, speaking at Town Hall and flanked by members of the Board of Selectman, Town Council, Board of Finance, and library board, explained that, "The decision by the library board to build a new library presents a unique opportunity for the town to plan for and implement some necessary civic improvements. While in the past we have looked at various projects individually—such as the Town Hall renovation, expanding parking, and upgrading downtown—the need for a new library is a catalyst for action."

Walker announced plans for the town to take a comprehensive look at executing essential municipal projects to meet the long term needs of the town. Many of the projects have been long studied with well-documented needs but never undertaken. The town will work cooperatively with the library, which, faced with an undersized, aging facility and increased demand and visits, has concluded that a new facility is the best option to serve its patrons and the community.

In addition to the library, projects to be reviewed by the town for inclusion in a master planning effort are town hall, the fire station, Board of Education central offices, and parking. Town Hall has been studied by two building committees charged with executing renovations to address OSHA, accessibility, and operational issues. The fire station suffers operational and structural deficiencies and deferred maintenance. The Board of Education's central offices continue to incur annual rent and it may be possible to include that space in town-owned facilities. Additionally, parking, which has been the subject of countless studies since the early 1960s, will be addressed with this effort.

With the library moving forward on a project that will impact the downtown area in many aspects, the opportunity exists for the town to determine if coordination between town facilities and a new library might prove practical for the town, both from aesthetic and efficiency points of view. Depending on the final site of a library building, opportunities exist to create an area similar to a New England village commons and to minimize construction disruption with regard to various projects that must be addressed in the coming years.

The First Selectman stated that it may be financially wise for the town to take advantage of the current favorable construction environment and historic low financing rates, particularly as many projects must be addressed in the coming years.

Town Council Chairman Mark DeWaele emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to the project. 

"As we begin to move forward with our efforts, we need a thoughtful, holistic view of New Canaan's future and to think about our town's needs over the long term. We also need a careful financial analysis of the impact on our budget," DeWaele said.

The First Selectman announced he would immediately begin appointing a committee to examine the issues and undertake development of a master plan for the major town buildings which are located in the central area of New Canaan.