P&Z Commission Approves YMCA Expansion

The Darien Planning and Zoning Commission approved a proposal by the Darien YMCA Tuesday evening to build a new gymnastics facility and renovate several other portions of its property, capping a drawn-out conflict between the organization and neighboring residents.

The decision—debated at great length during a three-part public hearing this summer—will enable the group to reconstruct part of the building that houses Holly Pond School and enlarge its parking lot in addition to erecting the new gym.

Concerned by the footprint of the facility and potential increases in traffic, many neighboring residents had hoped that the commission's denial of an earlier—and largely identical—proposal from 2008 would stand.

More from Patch soon on this story.