Several residents used the public-comment period at the Sept. 17 New Canaan Town Council meeting to urge the council to open the town charter for review and to increase elected oversight of appointed boards and commissions, citing a proposed St. Luke’s parking structure as an example.

Sarah Pierce, who identified herself as representing a neighborhood group impacted by the St. Luke’s matter, told the council the proposed parking structure will be roughly 80,000 square feet — a scale she said is among the largest projects in the state and that is unprecedented in local residential neighborhoods. Pierce urged the council to expand elected oversight of commissions that have authority over land-use and wetlands matters and to strengthen checks and balances between appointed commissions and the executive-managed town staff.

Pierce described the matter as having progressed over several years, saying the project “snowballed” and citing concerns about enforcement and the lack of detailed hazard analysis for children and neighbors. Pierce also raised infrastructure concerns such as heavy truck traffic and possible road damage, and she called on the council to put charter review and greater electoral oversight on the agenda.

Another public commenter, Roy Rollins, argued the charter needs to be opened because appointments to town committees have become “popularity contests” rather than selections based on expertise. Several speakers asked the council to ensure the charter review would consider direct elections or expanded electorate control of boards that affect residents’ property rights.

Council members acknowledged the public comments and later discussed opening a charter review commission (see separate article). No formal action specific to the St. Luke’s case was taken during the meeting; Pierce and other residents said they intend to present testimony to the charter-review process when it forms.