Norwalk Land Trust nature preserve rejected by Pine Point Association

Update, correction, 3:22 p.m., replacement for cottage would be smaller; PPA statement added.

NORWALK, Conn. – A plan to create a nature preserve on an “historic” piece of Rowayton property was voted down Sunday by members of the Pine Point Association.

The vote on the Norwalk Land Trust’s plan to buy 2 Nearwater Road from architect Bruce Beinfield failed by a wide margin, according to an email sent by Pine Point Association secretary Steve Lipson: 

“By solid majorities, both votes were against the Norwalk Land Trust proposal for a bird sanctuary and in favor of maintaining 2 Nearwater Road as a private residential property.

“On question 1, “Do you oppose the use of the property at 2 Nearwater Road as a public bird sanctuary that would be owned and maintained by the Norwalk Land Trust?” the votes were:

“39 yes, I oppose

“19 no, I do not oppose

“2 non votes

“On question 2, “Do you support use of this property as a public bird sanctuary providing that the Board can negotiate with the Norwalk Land Trust conditions that the Board deems prudent to protect the interests of the Association?” the votes were:

“21 yes, I support this proposed use providing the Board can negotiate conditions

“38 no, I do not support this proposed use even with such conditions

“1 non vote

“In addition there were 4 votes cast that were ruled ineligible because Association dues had not been paid in full. These votes were not counted.

“With 64 votes out of 78 total possible this means 82 percent of the Association cast votes. The Board thanks everyone for participating in this advisory vote. The Norwalk Land Trust and other lawyers representing various groups in regards to this proposal will be informed of the vote results.”

NLT President Kathy Siever said prior to the vote that the land trust would not go ahead with the purchase of the property if the neighbors did not want a nature preserve in their midst.

Siever said the land trust made the deal to buy the property in response to a public outcry denouncing Beinfield’s plan to replace the cottage that has been on the peninsula for decades with a much larger structure. Since signing the contract with the land trust, Beinfield informed the Pine Point neighbors that he had formulated a new plan, which would include a 3,500 square foot house closer to the road and another structure on the peninsula, where the cottage is now. That structure would be 25 percent smaller than the cottage.

The land trust was said to have raised $350,000 in its pursuit of the $1 million needed by Oct. 1 to purchase the property under the contract with Beinfield.

On Monday afternoon the Pine Point Association board of directors released the following statement:

“The majority of the Pine Point Association has expressed its preference that the property at 2 Nearwater Road be retained as a private residence. The vote is an advisory vote only, taken according to the requirements in the bylaws of the association.  While the vote reflects the preference of the majority of the association, it is not binding on the Norwalk Land Trust or the current owner of 2 Nearwater Road, Bruce Beinfield.

“Some association members who voted to keep the property private were concerned that adding public space within a private association could have legal ramifications due to certain deed restrictions on the land in the association. Association members were also aware of new preliminary plans for construction at 2 Nearwater that were far less intrusive than the original plans.”