More than a dozen residents and representatives of the Riverside On Lake Zoar Association (ROLZA) cheered and applauded Monday, March 20, as the Board of Selectmen unanimously agreed to transfer ownership of a pavilion, boat launch, and small beach area from town control back to the association and its residents.

About 90 minutes later, representatives of the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission were being congratulated by selectmen after successfully negotiating the donation of a small ball field, which will likely become the site for a 12/14 memorial.

The SAC land transfer will need to go before the Legislative Council for approval in the coming weeks, before further development occurs on the site.

The transfer of 5.3 acres at what is currently known as SAC Field marked a significant turning point for the commission, which had struggled since 2013 identifying several hopeful sites for a permanent memorial, only to see each potential location disqualified for one reason or another.

Deputy Director of Planning Rob Sibley told selectmen that part of the parcel abuts other town property that is part of Treadwell Park, and confirmed the town Planning & Zoning Commission had voted unanimously approving the property's referral to the town.

The SAC site is located at 28-30 Riverside Road. According to P&Z minutes, Mr Sibley explained that the Boy's Social and Athletic Club (SAC) of Sandy Hook will be donating the land for the 12/14 Permanent Memorial. He said site plans have not been developed yet, but will move forward once the land acquisition is fully approved.

He told selectmen on March 20 that the site is now cleared to go through a conveyance process, asking the officials to vote to accept the gift and refer the parcel to the council as a site for the permanent memorial. That motion was made and passed unanimously.

During a March 9 meeting of the memorial commission, Chairman Kyle Lyddy said that anticipated plans for submitting a design, the group's outreach to other individuals and groups, and the final selection process are still fluid, but a handout was distributed to commissioners as a guideline. The design outreach and selection process is set to take place through the end of July.

Mr Lyddy also emphasized that even though they reached out to the families directly affected by 12/14 two to three years ago at the beginning stages of the process, they want to communicate with them that their insight for submitting a design and incorporating it into the final stages of the memorial are important.

The SHPMC is in the process of deciding if it will establish a specific location for design ideas and donations to be sent.

ROLZA Presentation

Coincidentally, just like with the selectmen, the ROLZA conveyance was also on the March 16 Planning and Zoning agenda as a mandatory referral, although no vote was taken. During that meeting, the minutes indicated that Mr Sibley gave the commissioners background information on ROLZA and how the town came to acquire certain properties in the Riverside/Alpine area.

He explained that the town had taken ownership of the ROLZA properties in 2009 when they were acquired in order to reset a well system for the neighborhood.

P&Z commissioners expressed concern about making the area private for Riverside residents versus the entirety of the town, requesting more information before calling a vote. But the P&Z endorsement was not required for the selectmen to take action to transfer ownership back to the ROLZA, and their endorsement of the transfer is final.

At the selectmen's meeting, ROLZA representative Ron Tichy, Jr, made a brief presentation that affirmed the association's commitment to preserve what was described as "the historical epicenter of the Riverside and Beardsley Heights neighborhoods."

Mr Tichy said that to ensure sustainability and upkeep of the parcel, the association will secure the area and will require a supplemental annual basic maintenance fee from any resident who wishes to have access to the pavilion and beach area, and a higher-tiered fee for any resident who also wanted to utilize the boat launch. He said those fees would initially be set at $45 and $90 per year.

He said if only 61 households in the area participated by paying just the base fee, it would cover the $2,750 in annual anticipated maintenance and related costs to the association. But he previously told selectmen the association anticipates greater participation and support from neighbors in the area.

The annual minimum operating budget would include all maintenance and establish a maintenance reserve fund for larger projects; costs for association postage and telephone service; accounting; property taxes; and insurance. An added $5,000 is being budgeted to create secure fencing and a keyed gate system that will only give paid members access to the property.

Association Treasurer Eva Zimmerman told selectmen that association leaders have been very proactive about communicating to all the area residents, even going door to door soliciting membership and contact preferences. ROLZA Vice President Kevin Shepard said the goal is to bring people in.

"We don't want to kick them out," he said. "We want members to use it and participate to make the community what it once was."

Selectman Herb Rosenthal said as a child he recalled the pavilion and adjacent beach was a thriving community gathering place, and Mrs Llodra called the ROLZA leaders efforts "a great example of community activism."

In making the motion to convey the property, Selectman Will Rodgers included a provision in the event that some nominal transfer payment had to transact.

"If disposition requires a purchase back, it would be for one dollar," Mrs Llodra said.

Ahead of the vote, Mr Rodgers advised the association leaders to take early steps to administer any transition of power, and to stagger board membership to assure continuity of upkeep and administration, "so we don't get this back in 15 years."