Borough halts Stonington tennis court project

Stonington — The borough on Wednesday ordered the Stonington Community Center to stop work on its $300,000 tennis court replacement project after borough officials said the work appears to be more extensive than what they originally thought.

The notice of unauthorized construction came as crews completed the removal of many of the trees on the Cutler Street site despite opposition from neighbors. The notice, however, does not pertain to the trees, as the community center, better known as the COMO, does not need any permits for the tree removal.

Borough Warden Jeff Callahan said the notice issued by borough Zoning Enforcement Officer Thomas Zanarini was sent to the COMO Wednesday morning. He said the scope of the work planned for the site appears to be more intensive than what was described to Zanarini during a meeting with a COMO representative.

Callahan said the impression was the COMO was resurfacing the four courts but there is also landscaping and replacement of fencing involved.

He said the borough, which tightly regulates fencing, would like more details about the COMO’s plans for new fencing and landscaping.

He said the next step is for the COMO to meet with Zanarini to detail the scope of the work. Zanarini then will determine if the COMO can proceed with the work or will need to seek a permit from the borough Planning and Zoning Commission. The latter would delay the start of the project to later this month.

COMO Executive Director Beth Ann Stewart said Wednesday the COMO was “quite surprised” to receive the notice.

“We were under the impression we were in full compliance with the zoning regulations based on the plans we shared,” she said.

“We’re hopeful we can work this out,” she said.

Private individuals have donated all the money for the courts, which will have the same blue Deco Turf surface as those at the National Tennis Center in New York, site of the U.S. Open. The current courts, which were installed in 1957, are now riddled with cracks and weeds and have depressed areas.

The COMO also is adding two courts to its paddle tennis facility next to its thrift shop on Cutler Street. Those courts are located in the town, and comply with zoning regulations, according to town zoning officials.