Home Care In Madison, CT

MADISON — A developer proposes to build a three-story, nearly 13,000-square-foot office building on Wall Street, on two lots just south of the former Moxie restaurant.

A site plan review and Downtown Village District major alteration applications were submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission by Saltwater Properties Group, LLC and Saltwater Properties Group II, LLC.

The Planning & Zoning Commission has scheduled a public hearing on the applications for Thursday, Dec. 21.

The 12,836-square-foot Principle Wealth Partners offices would include a 3,400-square-foot cellar; 3,100-square-foot first floor, 3,400-square-foot second floor and a 2,896-square-foot third floor.

There will be a patio and pergola in the rear of the building, along with 31 parking spaces.

The proposal requests a reduction in the required 36 parking spaces for this project, per the Zoning Standards Schedule. The additional five spots would be located on Wall Street and the municipal lot.

On Tuesday, July 11, the project went before the Advisory Committee on Community Appearance.

“It was a preliminary discussion,” said Erin Mannix, town planner.

Discussions centered around the shapes of the windows and the elevator shaft.

“They ultimately felt that the scale of the building was appropriate for the existing street scape, but wanted to see more detailed renderings, including a street view with adjacent buildings,” Mannix said.

Developers will go before this committee again on Tuesday, Nov. 14, for more specific feedback, according to Mannix.

They also went before the Zoning Board of Appeals in September for a height variance.

“The rules for Wall Street state that there is an average height maximum that we may slightly exceed based on the proposed grading level required on this lot,” said Robert Paolucci, founder and CEO of Principle Wealth Partners.

“We have small dormers on the building, similar to many residential properties on the street, which required a 4-foot height variance, which they approved,” he said.

Paolucci purchased the quarter-acre lot in the spring. It is 64 feet wide and over 100 feet deep.

“The land requires a significant amount of fill and grading in order to raise it closer to street level,” said Paolucci.

“There’s a beautiful tree in front of the lot that we’re going to work around,” he said. “We’re going to keep that intact.”

Paolucci said he is building is a “residential looking, commercial building that blends seamlessly with the other properties on Wall Street.”

“From every aspect, whether it be the inside or outside, it’s going to have residential quality finishes, residential flooring, fixtures,” he said.

The material list for the project includes a foundation of thin stone veneer in Gray Liberty Stone, exterior siding of 7-inch exposure lap siding, white exterior trim and panels, aluminum storefront windows and a decking of solid wood Ipe.

Proposed plant materials for landscaping include shadblow and honey locust trees; boxwood, dwarf fothergillia and arrowwood shrubs and creeping lilyturf, Juniperus chinensis sargentii groundcoverings, in addition to native varieties of perennials.

There would be a total of 31 offices.

“This is going to be built to blend in,” Paolucci said.

The application includes demolition of two existing structures on lots 36 and 37 at 48A and 48B Wall St. prior to commencing construction.

The structure on 48A Wall St. is a 560-square-foot one story, bungalow and 48B Wall St. has a 1,050-square-foot Cape Cod style, vinyl sided house on site.

Paolucci said he is proud of the local team he has brought together for the project.

That team includes architect Gregory Nucci of Point One Architects, Madison and Old Lyme, along with Madison-based John Cunningham, TEC Landscape Design; Madison Earth Care; Paul Coady Construction LLC and Michael Ott, Summer Hill Engineers & Land Surveyors, P.C.

Paolucci moved to Madison in 2020 with his family and said, “I have a very vested interest in town, making sure it looks the way the town wants it to look.”

“I want to make sure Madison is what it’s supposed to be, which is a quaint New England town that has buildings and structures that match the charm of the town,” he said.

“I’m going to build something that adheres to those requirements.”

Contact Sarah Page Kyrcz at [email protected]

MADISON, CT (WFSB) – A man caught a shark while paddleboarding in the Long Island Sound off the coast of Madison.

Eddie Carroll got the catch on video and posted it to Instagram.

Carroll was fishing in the Bluefish Tournament over the weekend when he caught the 8 foot shark.

“I knew it was big right when I hooked into it. It pretty much took all of my line,” Carroll said. “After you know, 20 minutes or so, I realized this probably isn’t a bluefish anymore.”

After an hour long fight, he realized it was a shark.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) identified the animal as a female sandbar (brown) shark.

“I got my phone out and got a little closer and quickly realized it was a giant brown shark,” said Carroll.

DEEP said there are three large species of sharks that live in Long Island Sound: the sand tiger shark, the dusky shark, and the sandbar (brown) shark. These sharks are harmless to humans.

“Brown sharks are pretty common in Long Island sound,” said a spokesperson for DEEP.

Jim Noel from Madison is on the water every day, and is no longer surprised by shark sighting.

“You see dolphins, we see lots of seals, so many more seals than we’ve seen in the past. Starting to get larger sharks in the area. It’s bound to happen. They’ve always been here but now we’re starting to see them a little more,” Noel said.

You can read DEEP’s guide on sharks in the Long Island Sound below:

“This is no cause for alarm as dusky sharks, sandbar sharks, and sand tiger sharks are harmless to humans – in fact, they could use our help!” said DEEP.

The department said if you catch one of the sharks, you should immediately release it back into the sound, unharmed.

Eddie has grown pretty comfortable fishing off his paddleboard, and is planning to head back out on the water soon.

“I think around here, people have the mentality that there are no sharks in the sound. I had that similar mentality. I was pretty shocked by what I had pulled up,” Carroll said. “People should be aware that they’re here.”

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MADISON – Plans to upgrade the HVAC system at Polson Middle School sparked a short debate about spending limits and the town’s goals for environmental sustainability at Monday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting.

The work at Polson Middle School and the new elementary school are part of a larger $89.2 million project approved by referendum in Feb. 2022. The new school budgeted for $61.15 million and improvements on Polson budgeted for $21.55 million. There is a third project for improvements on Brown Intermediate School, budgeted at $6.5 million.

By a vote of 4 to 0, with one abstention, the board approved a $935,000 bid for the Polson project by BL Companies, a local architectural and civil engineering firm.

The $935,000 is divided into three different projects as part of the improvements at Polson.

$170,000 is for auditorium upgrades; $135,000 for electrical power distribution upgrades; and $630,000 for modernization of the HVAC system.

“This was all part of the referendum,” said Democratic First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons..

Republican Selectman Bruce Wilson, who was the one abstention, voiced concerns that the HVAC project for Polson was at odds with the town’s strategic plan and vision for sustainable energy.

“I think it’s a mistake to invest in traditional HVAC equipment in a renovation of this scope and magnitude, especially with the other work scheduled to go on on the grounds,” he said. “I’m particularly struck that the working draft of our strategic plan repeatedly talks about sustainability and investing in the future and this… we’re committing the town to at least another 15 to 20 years of fossil fuel use and it is difficult for me to support that and the strategic plan at the same time.”

In response, Lyons said that although a more sustainable system would have been preferable, it didn’t warrant the added investment.

The town has been under significant pressure to reduce spending for school construction.

Elementary school update

Graham Curtis, chair of the New Elementary School Building Committee, provided an update on the progress on the new elementary school, telling the board that the architects had completed a design for the school, and were in the process of getting the final sign offs from the state.

“Hopefully in the next two weeks, we’ll be going out to bid with the main package,” Curtis said.

There had been problems with the project going over budget.

After grants and rebates, the $61.15 million project was initially estimated to cost the town about $48.7 million, but with inflation, and the addition of four classrooms to meet changing expectations for student enrollment, the project was $5.9 million over budget.

In June, the board approved the transfer of $3.5 million from the Polson project, which was under budget, to help offset the cost, leaving $2.4 million of costs unresolved

“The building committee is working really hard to get us back on budget,” Curtis said. “We came up with $1.8 million in reductions.”

The “reductions,” Curtis said, do not reduce the number of classrooms, nor do they reduce programming in the school.

“They’re on budget and back on schedule,” he said.

As it currently stands, Curtis said, the rest of the contracts will go out to bid in early 2024.

“Hopefully we’ll hit a favorable bidding market when we go out to bid,” he said, “and we can get positive bids.”

Curtis said that construction should commence in the spring and take about 15 months, finishing by spring 2025.

“Hopefully despite some bumps in the road we’ll be able to bring that in.”

MADISON — The Board of Selectmen voted to delay approving the town’s new 10-year strategic plan until December, in order to make amendments and get further public feedback.

The Monday decision came on the heels of an informational session held an hour before the board’s meeting, where the community expressed concerns about the proposed plan.

Sheryl Trent, founder of Colorado-based SBrand Solutions, has spent the past six months consulting Madison in developing the strategic plan, and said the focuses are financial and environmental sustainability, a high-performing government, modern and innovative infrastructure, a safe and healthy community, and thriving business and economy.

“Each key focus area will have multiple goals and smart objectives underneath that goal,” she said, recommending that the board adopt the plan. “It is a living document and you continue to talk about the plan. The plan needs to be adopted so the staff can actually start doing work.”

First Selectman Peggy Lyons, however, said that after hearing feedback from the public, another review of the document would be the best step.

“I think the way we positioned this tonight is we’re going to do another pass through, at least one more public hearing, and then we adopt it,” she said. “We can do another hour before our next meeting and then meet in mid-December to vote to adopt it.”

The next scheduled Board of Selectmen meeting is Nov. 27 at 7 p.m.

Selectman Jen Gordon said the perception of the text needs to be clearer to remove possible misconceptions by the public.

“I think we know what this says, but perception is reality, and the way the public is reading it, we want it to be perceived the proper way,” she said. “We want to put the right wording in the document.”

Selectman Bruce Wilson said people reading the plan felt it excluded topics they wanted addressed.

“I think we probably would do well to polish our talking points,” Wilson said. “… We’re going to bring our sensibilities to historic preservation to everything we do. We’re going to bring our sensibilities to resource sharing and regional sharing to everything that we do. We would be alarmed if we inadvertently prevented something from happening.”

“This is not meant to be an exhaustive document,” Selectman Scott Murphy added. “We heard you, we have your feedback, but this is also a prioritized document. You go forward and find the most high-priority items for the town. Not everybody’s priority personal agenda item is going to make the town’s top priority agenda. We have to find an appropriate way to say that.”

Gordon said context is important.

“Clearly people were leaping to conclusions,” she said. “We want to be careful of that. I don’t want people to be alarmed … and have a major concern that the document is going to totally change the landscape of the town.”

She said the public needs a deeper understanding of the intention behind the plan.

“This is a plan that you, as part of the community, created over the course of many months,” Trent said. “It’s not a master plan. It’s not super specific. It does not have extreme detail, because it’s intended to be big picture, policy level guidance.”

Another concern raised during the information session was ensuring that decisions made by the Planning and Zoning Commission aligned with the vision of the strategic plan — a concern shared by Lyons, particularly regarding business development in North Madison.

Resident Allan Katz said the strategic plan should reflect public involvement in such decisions and that a referendum should be held.

“Shouldn’t people in town have a right to know their property designation is going from an R1 to a commercial zone overnight?” he asked.

Lyons said the Planning and Zoning Commission will have to pay attention to the plan and that she would ensure public discussions are had regarding zoning.

“Preserving our small town, preserving our history, is all part of it,” she said. “If they’re going to be making zoning changes, they have to pay attention to all this. These are important goals and objectives. This is a bigger picture.”

When discussing economic development, she said she is referring to items like supporting home based businesses and agrotourism.

“We are not directing what the zoning is going to be, that’s a separate conversation,” Lyons said. “Going forward, any of those types of changes need to be done in a more town meeting-type of environment so the public can have feedback.”

Resident Alex Province said he was concerned that Planning and Zoning could pass something antithetical to the strategic plan before it gets approved.

“As we spend time working on this, which has been a slow process, P&Z can do something really quickly that can undermine all this,” he said, expressing concern about historic structures and the town’s colonial history.

“I would like to see preservation of historic structures,” he said.

Resident Jim Nordgren also asked how the strategic plan would address population projections.

“Madison’s population has been declining in the past eight years and is projected to decline for another two decades,” he said. “How does the strategic plan plan on dealing with that? We have to figure out how the town is going to respond to a declining population.”

Lyons said the town needs to focus on being multigenerational.

“How do we attract that?” she asked. “Part of the population issue is the aging population in town.”

Focusing on economic development in North Madison would help, she said, by using tourism, agrotourism and farming to attract people to town.

“It’s trying to be more comprehensive about what we see around town, home-based businesses, agritourism,” she said. “This isn’t a commercial development zoning discussion. It’s more of we want to be supportive of all kinds of businesses around town.”

Resident Frank Angelino suggested a statement about economic development should be included in the plan that explains the board’s intent.

“That statement should somehow get into the report,” he said. “It’s an important refinement about commercial development. It’ll put people’s minds at ease that this is a way to develop commercially right in the center of a residential district. This is a projection of what the town is going to look like. What we want to do is keep that direction of making it better.”

The butterflies Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis, who is from Madison, Connecticut, felt over the past two weeks disappeared Sunday.

It showed as Levis threw four touchdown passes for a performance that matched what only two other quarterbacks did in their NFL debuts. Levis celebrated the last TD on his back with his arms in the air.

Levis helped the Titans score their most points since 2021 in beating the Atlanta Falcons 28-23.

“I’ve been dreaming of this moment as a kid my entire life," said Levis, who finished with 238 yards passing. "Even to just touch the field in an NFL game, let alone get a win, is incredible.”

The Titans (3-4) snapped a two-game skid in their lone stop at home in a seven-week span ahead of a three-game road swing.

“This was a big win for us, important win at this point in the season,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said with a trip to Pittsburgh up Thursday night.

This win came on alumni weekend as the Titans wore Houston Oilers' throwback uniforms down to an oil derrick logo at midfield with the old nickname in each end zone.

Levis was cheered when introduced as the starter. He became the seventh rookie quarterback to start this season, the most to start in the first eight weeks since the NFL merger — excluding the 1987 strike season. Six rookie quarterbacks started in that span in both 1971 and 2021.

The Titans quarterback became the third rookie to start in the AFC South alone, joining the Colts' Anthony Richardson and the Texans' C.J. Stroud. Then Levis joined Marcus Mariota in 2015 with the Titans and Pro Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton as the only quarterbacks ever to throw four TD passes in their debuts.

“We obviously knew he could do what he did today," Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said despite not practicing much with Levis. "And that’s how he practices. That’s how he approaches the game.”

Two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons had two of Tennessee's six sacks, including a strip-sack of Desmond Ridder that the Titans turned into a touchdown. Harold Landry had two sacks as well.

A three-time All-Pro wide receiver, Hopkins finished with 128 yards and three TDs on four catches. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine caught Levis' fourth TD pass, a 33-yarder in the fourth with the rookie throwing off his back foot. Derrick Henry also ran for 101 yards.

Atlanta (4-4) came in atop the NFC South. The Falcons dropped to 1-3 on the road this season.

Ridder was evaluated for a concussion after being sacked five times before halftime. He was announced as having been cleared, but he didn't return.

The Falcons switched to Taylor Heinicke in the third quarter. Atlanta coach Arthur Smith, who spent 10 seasons with the Titans before the Falcons hired him in 2021, said this is why Heinicke is on the roster.

"We’re always going to be cautious, and I’ll be conservative,” Smith said of a player's health.

Heinicke threw for 175 yards, driving Atlanta to points on four of his first five possessions. He pulled Atlanta within 28-23 with 3:46 left with an 8-yard TD pass to Scotty Miller. When the Falcons got the ball back with 2:19 left and no timeouts, they turned it over on downs.

Vrabel stuck to his promise, playing second-year quarterback Malik Willis. He came in on the fifth play of Tennessee's opening series and fumbled the snap. Calais Campbell recovered for Atlanta at the Titans 28. Atlanta was held to the first of three field goals by Younghoe Koo.

The Titans stuck with the No. 33 pick overall in April out of Kentucky. He showed why they traded up for him throwing more TD passes through three quarters than Ryan Tannehill (two), who started the first six games.

HELPFUL HOPKINS

By catching Levis' first NFL TD pass, Hopkins has done that for four different quarterbacks tying Marvin Harrison and Joey Galloway for the most such receptions in league history.

Hopkins was wide open for a 61-yard catch, putting the Titans up 21-9 late in the third quarter, becoming the first Titans receiver with three or more TD catches since Kenny Britt on Oct. 24, 2010, against the Eagles. That tied Hopkins' career high for TD catches in a game.

DON'T BOO

The Titans made clear they didn't appreciate Willis being booed when he came out for a run out of the shotgun just before Levis' second TD pass. Vrabel was seen trying to quiet the fans.

Levis said that left a “sour taste in all of our mouths" and that Willis will be a big part of helping them win this season.

"So let’s just come correct next time as fans and treat him correctly,” Levis said.

INJURIES

Atlanta defensive lineman Grady Jarrett hurt a knee early and didn't return. His replacement LaCale London went down early in the third quarter with an injured knee. Fullback Keith Smith did not return with a concussion. Falcons wide receiver Drake London hurt a groin.

The Titans lost right tackle Chris Hubbard to a concussion late in the first half. LB Joe Jones hurt a hamstring and didn't return for the second half.

UP NEXT

The Falcons return home to host Minnesota.

The Titans already have turned their attention to Thursday night's trip to Pittsburgh.