SIMSBURY, CT — Local land-use officials Monday easily approved a plan to overhaul and improve access to one of the town's most historic and most-used locations.
With a unanimous, 6-0, vote, the Simsbury Zoning Commission approved a site plan amendment that allows the town to begin work improving access to Eno Memorial Hall, 754 Hopmeadow St.
As a result, the town will soon begin work at the historic site, which serves as a regular meeting place for civic functions and town events.
Among the plans for the location are enlarged sidewalks, improved parking, and improvements to the building's entrances.
Simsbury Deputy Town Engineer Adam Kessler was on hand Monday to present the project to the commission.
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"The project tonight is at Eno Memorial Hall. It's actually three projects at the same time, and they'll be phased," Kessler said, saying the work on the entrances, namely to improve Americans with Disabilities Act access, would be the priority.
Kessler did say that a little-known bocce court at Eno would be shuttered, adding that it hasn't been used for years and has been abandoned anyway.
"That will be sacrificed as part of this project," Kessler said of the bocce court.
With the removal of the bocce court, Eno's south entrance would be made ADA accessible via new sidewalks, walls, and steps. Currently, only the north entrance is ADA compliant.
Work is also planned for the north entrance to improve access as well.
Regarding the parking lot, the available spaces would be cut from 40 to 30 spaces, according to the project narrative, but the work would create less parking lot congestion.
That element, combined with added on-street parking near Eno, means the number of cars that will be served won't change, just the configuration.
Eno was built in 1932 and is seen as a centerpiece to Simsbury's meetings and events. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For the minutes of the April 21 Simsbury Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.
For the full application and project narrative, click on this link.