Ahead of a Planning and Zoning Commission hearing slated for July 6, design details for the community center and senior center were shared at two Community Center and Senior Center Advisory Committee information forums, as well as during separate meetings between the design team and committee members.Aquatics, Exterior OptionsCost Issues DevelopingThe Newtown Bee that she was very concerned if authority members did not feel they were engaged enough up to this point in the process, and she was ready to hold all ongoing design work until the design team could meet again with members of that advisory panel to ensure their input is heard and, wherever possible, factored into project development going forward.Final Public ForumsThe Newtown Bee that the Wednesday evening session drew more than two dozen residents, and there was enough dialog and questions to extend that session beyond its anticipated closing time. But the Saturday session was more sparsely attended, with mostly elected and appointed officials and design team members present.

Community Center and Senior Center Advisory Committee members asked a range of questions regarding the continuing plans for the building at a June 28 meeting held at the offices of Caldwell & Walsh Building Construction in Sandy Hook. Caldwell & Walsh is serving as the construction manager for the project.

Commission on Aging Chair Anna Wiedemann, commission member LeReine Frampton, and Senior Center Director Marilyn Place attended and each asked about details that might affect use of the space for seniors and other community members, such as whether a planned area with billiards and ping-pong tables could be reworked to be away from a reading area to allow for a quieter space for senior readers.

To Ms Wiedemann's concern about whether the smell of chlorine would be problematic in other areas of the building frequented by seniors, project architect Rusty Malik of Quisenberry Arcari and First Selectman Pat Llodra said the air would not be circulated between the rooms.

After advisory committee members spoke about some of the details in the plan, Mr Malik answered more questions and revealed some of the most current design images.

Mrs Llodra said she wanted to make sure Ms Place is comfortable with "all her questions," as at this stage the project is still "refining and refining, refining and refining."

"This is a snapshot," said Mrs Llodra, when describing how the work in progress should be described at this stage. "This is where we are today, so it is still in design development. It is not necessarily where we are going to be tomorrow."

If the documents are finalized to be presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on July 6, Mrs Llodra said the Planning and Zoning commission could potentially render a final decision within two weeks.

As Mr Malik shared elements of the current design, he affirmed that the project is "still on schedule to try to get everything completed by the end of July so that they can start developing bid packages; but it is tight."

When discussing the pool area, Mr Malik said designers looked at "what it would take" to include a competition pool in the plans for the building.

"In a competition pool scenario the locker rooms would also probably change," said Mr Malik, explaining that team locker rooms would need to be included in the design, which he said is not in the budget for the project.

"It means expanding the building," he said, later adding, "I think as a group the decision has been made that we are not going in the direction of a competition pool."

Community Center Commission member Kinga Walsh said having a competition pool would be cost prohibitive.

Community Center Commission members asked Mr Malik about the different pool areas to assure there would be accessibility for all ages.

Mrs Llodra said thanks to the input from the community, "program opportunity" was the impetus behind the design of the pool area.

Mr Malik also shared plans for flooring and wall materials for the spaces, such as tile for restroom floors. He also shared that the building will be designed to incorporate technology including Wi-Fi, along with projectors and screens for use in various locations.

"We're continuing to work on the design of the building," said Mr Malik as he projected an image of the center, pointing out details that have been added to help make the contemporary facility better resemble other Fairfield Hills buildings.

He also reminded those in attendance, "We need to be aware that all this detail costs money. One of the concerns is going to be where we end up budgetwise."

While Mr Malik said the plan does not "emulate" the buildings at Fairfield Hills, he shared details that have been incorporated in the design to reflect the area.

Ms Walsh noted that the community and senior center entrances appeared to be complementary to the adjacent Municipal Center.

"I think the building has come a long way, and I think you have done a lot to make it try to blend," said Ms Frampton.

Parks & Rec Director Amy Mangold pointed out that trying to make the building appearance conform to other buildings is driving up the cost "a lot higher. At what point are we going to be losing some of the very important amenities that people want on the inside because we are trying to appease?"

Caldwell & Walsh Project Manager Joe Giacobbe said determining the cost for the project has been on hold due to needing a final plan for the building. Mr Malik added that determining the details in the design is a compromise.

Commission members also briefly discussed communication with the Fairfield Hills Authority, which has asked for modifications to the exterior to help the facility be more visually conforming to the campus. Several of those proposed modifications were included in updated renderings provided to the newspaper by Mr Malik.

First Selectman Pat Llodra later told

Mrs Llodra expressed some concern that there were still ongoing issues on the part of the authority as the project design was about to go to the P&Z. But she said Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Ross Carley had been present at numerous meetings on the project providing "good and relevant" input.

In addition, Mrs Llodra said other members of the authority along with appointees to the town design review board and sustainable energy committee all met with and provided added input to Mr Malik last month.

"We set it up so all three of those groups could come together at the same time," Mrs Llodra said, adding that during that session, Mr Malik also agreed to come back and meet exclusively with the authority to discuss any additional concerns, and he has yet to be included on an authority meeting agenda.

Consensus June 28 seemed to form around moving the project to its next phase toward finalization of design plans ahead of the P&Z presentation on July 6.

"Let's do what we can, and hopefully we can do it in a timely manner where it gets done," said Ms Walsh. "We are here for an important reason and we need to move this forward."

Similar consensus was also evident by lack of any vocal opposition to the current phase of the project, as presented by Mr Malik, and Community Center Commissioners, during two final public forums held on Wednesday, June 21 and Saturday, June 24.

Commissioners Brian Hartgraves and Andy Clure told

Stephanie Dunn was among the handful of residents who had a number of specific questions about the aquatic component, if there were future plans to provide more contiguous access to the new center from the adjacent Nunnawauk Meadows senior housing complex property, and if the cavernous nature of the interior would create amplified noise in the quieter program spaces.

Ms Malik assured Ms Dunn that soundproofing and sound diversion would be incorporated into the design as it continued to be refined, and that there were no current plans to directly connect the center with the housing complex property.

Resident Julio Carbonell asked at what point would design features be "cast in stone," and Mr Hartgraves assured him that there were still a number of steps to go for the project that would provide opportunities for design tweaks or enhancements to be included as other necessary local boards and commissions reviewed plans in development.

"All through the process we are exchanging documents with the construction manager, who is an active participant in our team," Mr Malik said. "We have a schematic budget for the design development process we are in now, and we will have a much more extensive budget that we will be checking against the costs they are developing. That's when some of the harder decisions are going to have to be made - and what we can afford."