KENT, Conn.—The Planning and Zoning Commission last week gave its stamp of approval for the Farmers Market to continue weekly in the center of town through October.
The market has been located on the Kent Land Trust field south of the village for the past several years but attendance there had waned. The Chamber of Commerce moved to bring it into the center of town and last month the PZC granted a one-month special permit to see what impact the market had on traffic flow and parking.
Members concluded that the Chamber of Commerce has been addressing the operation of the market, adjusting it each week to make it more efficient.
PZC member Donna Hayes said she visited the market on its opening night. “They had a couple of things to iron out, and the second time was better, even though there were more vendors than the first. The first night was a free-for-all in the Webster Bank’s parking lot. The second time, there were reserved spaces for bank customers and people were honoring that.”
She believed, however, that the traffic cones used to regulate traffic were too small. “I don’t know if drivers even see them until they are right on top of them,” she said. She also commented that the signs advertising the site remained up all week. “They should make sure the signs are down because it could be confusing.”
Land Use Enforcement officer Tai Kern noted that temporary signs can be displayed for 30 days before a permit must be renewed. She suggested that removing the signs between markets could extend the permit until the market shuts down in October.
The question was raised if holders of permits for temporary signs can extend the length of the permit by taking them down and putting them back up repeatedly.
“It’s unusual to have special events go on this long,” said Kern. “In this case we have an event that is running several months, and they are getting close to being in violation of the regulation.”
Chairman Karren Casey said she was disappointed that there was no sign a anyone coordinating traffic when she passed by, “especially as I had made a big thing about having someone directing traffic.”
The commission approved operation of the market through October with the conditions that larger traffic cones be used, that they take down signs between markets, and that a person be present to direct traffic.
Marvelwood School applied for permission to install 18 light posts around a circular drive near the Admissions Building. Mike Gawel, acting as the agent for Marvelwood School, reviewed the installation plan.
He said the poles would be about four feet tall and would meet all dark sky specifications. “The lights are for safety purposes,” he said. “In winter, it is dark by 4:30 and students walk around the drive.”
He said the lights won’t be seen from the road because there are dorms in front of them and the ones in front will be hidden from most cars by a wall.
Casey asked if they would be on all night long and Gawel said they would be turned off at any time the PZC members specified. The application was approved without a specified time for them to be turned off because it was whimsically noted that private schools do not like higher electric bills.
Howard Rosenfeld appeared on behalf of the Farmers Table, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting local agriculture organization, seeking permission to hold a special event at Kent Falls Brewing Company. The dinner is a farm-to-table benefit that features a multi-course menu prepared by local chefs using produce purchased directly from Litchfield County farms.
This year’s event is planned for Aug. 1. The venue changes each year to highlight a different farm or local family agricultural center, and no property has ever been visited twice. Previous dinners have been hosted at prominent locations such as Chanticleer Acres and the March Farm in Bethlehem, Conn.
“The dinner is an attempt to build community and is our primary fundraiser,” Rosenfeld said. “It’s taken on a lot of popularity.”
Attendees will be capped at 216 and the activity will be confined to 5 to 9:30 p.m. There will be a four-piece band, but no PA system.
Commission members noted that notification of neighbors is not required under their regulations but strongly suggested that Farmers Table alert them to the event. “Alerting the neighbors might be good,” commented member Chris Harrington. “There are quite a few neighbors and quite a few object [to special events.]”
