Planet New Canaan approved a short extension to use the Benco Pool parking lot for a tree-cycling program, covering Dec. 30, 2025, through Jan. 14, 2026, after a brief motion and voice vote.

The meeting’s facilitator asked for a motion to allow the group to use the Benco Pool lot while the prior three-year agreement with the town had expired; the motion was made and Hank Green seconded. After a voice vote, the facilitator said, “Motion carries.”

Why it matters: organizers said the pool lot has been used in recent years to handle overflow for seasonal collections and to provide contractor and health-care worker parking during off-season pool months. Meeting participants noted the Benco Pool lot is expected to be used for construction parking beginning in February for a roughly three-year period tied to a project that will add about 30 rooms to the New Life Network facility, which means the group will need a longer-term site if it seeks a multi-year arrangement.

Discussion and next steps: the group discussed possible alternative locations, including Kiwanis Park and the Exchange Club lot, and the facilitator offered to meet with Exchange Club representatives and to bring a formal proposal back to the commission when the organizers have a suggested site. The facilitator said, in part, that the organizers should “talk amongst yourselves” and return with a proposal; the group agreed to do so.

Program results: Katie Owsley of Planet New Canaan said the organization had a record year and reported it had collected “more than 14,000 pounds.” A Planet New Canaan representative thanked the town and Kiwanis Park for the opportunity to host collections and noted there had been no neighbor complaints about site tidiness.

The meeting closed with a brief adjournment vote; the facilitator noted the meeting lasted about seven minutes.