After ruling out Newtown Hall at Fairfield Hills as a viable site for a permanent home and expanded facility, the EverWonder Children’s Museum is hoping a minor text amendment to local zoning regulations will pave the way for relocation to a significantly newer building in a much more accessible location at 11 Mile Hill Road.

EverWonder Executive Director Merredith Christos told The Newtown Bee February 15 that pending what is hoped to be something of a formality, a lease-to-own situation will eventually transfer ownership of the former National Sports Shooting Foundation headquarters. The NSSF vacated the building and moved to Shelton last year.

“I’m a huge believer that everything happens for a reason,” Christos said. “This space was brought to our attention exactly when we needed it to be. It has the potential to truly transform into a regional children’s museum. With the ability to create multiple classrooms, larger exhibit areas, outdoor play space, and plenty of parking, 11 Mile Hill has everything we’ve been looking for, and lots of room to grow.”

The issue at hand is a text amendment to the property’s current zoning, that technically adds language expanding the zone to permit “public museums” on lots with a minimum of 1 acre. While the language amendment may be a minor and innocuous change, it must still go through a process involving deliberation and approval or denial by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The application for the text amendment will be handled during a March 2 P&Z meeting scheduled for 7 pm at the Municipal Center. Residents and supporters are invited to come to the meeting to support the application, or to submit letters or emails of support through the Newtown Land Use office, which assists administering the P&Z Commission.

Comments in support or objection can be addressed to the P&Z commission through the Town website at: newtown-ct.gov/land-use-agency/webforms/land-use-pz-inquiries — and similar letters can be sent to The Newtown Bee’s “Letter Hive.”

The Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It was founded in January 2011 by a group of mothers who enjoyed bringing their children to other children’s museums and who wanted to create a similar experience closer to home for everyone in the surrounding communities to enjoy.

EverWonder Children’s Museum cultivates a lifelong love of learning in children by encouraging them to think, inquire, and wonder about the world around them. Christos and her staff offer hands-on exhibits and programming to spark imagination in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

But it is clear that with access to new, contemporary and expanded space, offerings and exhibits can be significantly expanded.

“We are so excited to keep our home in Newtown, too, as we love our community and the support we’ve received over the past few years from area businesses and nonprofits,” Christos added.

Until recently, museum principals and trustees were considering occupying Newtown Hall; however, the unknown expense of determining whether the facility was even feasible for the museum’s use from a construction standpoint ruled out the pending tenancy at Fairfield Hills. But if granted the zoning text amendment, the proposed location on Mile Hill Road would be within walking distance of Fairfield Hills.

Editor John Voket can be reached at john@thebee.com.