By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The Westport Weston Family YMCA’s request to substantially increase summertime hours of its outdoor water-related activities was met with opposition from neighbors, and words of caution from Planning and Zoning Commission members and other elected officials Monday.

The P&Z continued its hearing on the Y’s request for a special permit/site plan, delaying a decision on the matter.

When the new location of the Y on Allen Raymond Lane was improved in 2008, hours of operation for the outdoor activities were limited. It is now seeking to expand the hours for popular features, and to have other restrictions eased, including:

• Expanding hours of use for the outdoor splash pad. Currently, it can be open May through September from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Y would like to use it from May to mid-October, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

• Stretching the hours for the outdoor pool and pool house. Currently, the allowed hours, May through September, are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Y would now like to use the facilities from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.,

• More hours for use of a slide, currently restricted to the same hours as the splash pad, to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

• Increasing the number of Camp Mahackeno campers from 360 to 400.

At Monday’s P&Z hearing, neighbors, most of whom are or have been part of the YMCA community, indicated they know the difference between noise — leaf blowers, chain saws and such — and happy noise, children having fun.

But, they said, there’s a limit.

Candice Savin, of Twin Falls Lane, made it clear she was speaking as an abutting neighbor, not in her capacity as a selectwoman.

“Many of us in the neighborhood are and have been members of the Y, we support its mission and appreciate its contributions to our community,” she said. “And speaking up in support of our rights as homeowners, I hope will not be taken as an attack on the Y, but rather offered in the spirit of respectful disagreement on the path to maintaining the right balance for land use in our area.”

“The Y in their request is essentially seeking to eliminate entirely all protections that were put in place for the neighbors, and in particular, the abutting neighbors at the time of their approval of their special permit in the first place …, ” Savin said.

“Essentially, if these proposals are approved, they would effectively eliminate all daylight hours of quiet enjoyment for the neighbors, 100 percent,” Savin said.

The Y’s lawyer, John Fallon of Fairfield, said only four letters in opposition had been submitted to the Planning and Zoning Department.

Neighbor Tim McHugh, of Stone Drive, across a reach of water from the Y’s Camp Mahackeno, had a response to that.

“If you only got four letters from people, that’s because we can’t hire lawyers,” McHugh said. “We have all the responsibilities of life …”

Daniel Gross, of Twin Falls Lane, noted that just because there has not been a police record of complaints about noise at the Y, didn’t mean there have not been concerns.

“My neighbor does not call and register a complaint when I go and powerwash things outside and I don’t call and register a complaint when he uses his chain saw, but we have an agreement, tacit agreement, that you don’t do it at 7 in the morning on a Saturday, or at 9 in the morning on a Sunday, or 8 at night,” Gross said.

“Part of being a neighbor is recognizing the common norms and the way we sort of treat and relate to each other,” Gross said. “Which is that you don’t impinge upon other people’s silence and periods when that’s to be expected.”

Two Representative Town Meeting members from District 3, where the “new” YMCA is located, urged compromise.

“Camp Mahackeno is a special place,” Jimmy Izzo said. “I understand the Y wanting to extend their hours, but the quiet enjoyment of the neighbors, I think you have to find a compromise.”

Don O’Day said the Y is an integral part of the community, but the neighbors are, too.

“I think that it would behoove the Y, and the neighbors, to further discuss what compromises can be made,” he said.

The commission agreed to continue the matter to its meeting at 7 p.m. June 12.

Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 35 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.