So it looks like the town of Cheshire is again dealing with a “pool” issue-but this time it isn’t the Community Pool-it is local resident Joanne Newton who has a special permit in front of Planning and Zoning which would allow her to run private swim lessons at her residence.

I happened to be channel surfing and this issue-caught my attention-I did read about it briefly in the Cheshire Herald-it is in their June 25th edition-and after seeing this issue presented a few weeks ago to the Planning and Zoning Commission and hearing the neighbors concerns (which are legitimate), I decided to go see for myself–video camera in tow.

When I was looking for the house-I immediately knew I was in the right spot because the glass enclosure surrounding the pool (which is retractable and is quite nice), can be seen from the street.

Now,  Ms. Newton is doing a nice job with the landscaping and from the Herald article I was able to glean that this structure-in order to be classified as an “in home business” has to be “attached” to the house.

This apparently will be done by the construction of a “vestibule” which will sort of be like a connecting tunnel between the home and the pool.

Apparently some of the neighbors are concerned about swimming lessons taking place at night-but from what I was able to see from the P and Z meeting on TV, the swim lessons will end before 5 p.m. and will not be conducted during the winter-summer only.

Another concern was parking-and traffic from cars dropping and picking up students that would be taking swim lessons and that this really isn’t an in home business because of the vestibule that will be attached to the house-some of the neighbors think this is “stretching” the meaning of in home business.

Something to think about.

Ms. Newton told the P and Z that she would only be taking one student at a time in order to alleviate concerns about noise and traffic.

Everywhere I have lived-and I have lived in many towns in many states-there has always been a neighbor who had an in home business-whether it be resume writing, arts and craft lessons, my aunt cut hair three days a week in her home in Bridgeport-no body seemed to care-in fact, most of her neighbors were her customers!!

Even here in Cheshire, I had a neighbor who ran an auto body shop at one time-I had a neighbor who taught pottery classes in her home-complete with a pottery studio and kiln!! I had a neighbor who ran a video production company in his home-in fact, I do business with a woman in North Haven, that runs a video production studio in her home and believe me-this woman lives in a neighborhood of homes that are worth at OVER half a million dollars!!

But, I understand the concerns of Ms. Newtons neighbors and hopefully, everyone will be able to work things out-I hope so-She does seem very accommodating.

P.S.-I noticed the Newtons had enough foresight TO TILE THEIR POOL NOT LIKE SOME OTHER ENTITY WE KNOW!!

Plus, The Newtons also hired Mr. Fazzone–SMART MOVE!! But that should not matter now should it??

But, as I state in the video, people are entitled to quiet enjoyment of their property, so any concern these neighbors have-needs to be taken seriously and addressed accordingly.

Remember, we do have zoning regulations in place for a reason-and any deviation or special permit-must be dealt with seriously and fairly-which I believe this Plan and Zoning Commission does (at least most of the time).

It is one thing to disagree with a decision-but as long as it was arrived at in a fair manner-that is what is important.

So, this video will show the pool and the enclosure-WHICH CHESHIRE SHOULD BE USING AT THEIR COMMUNITY POOL.

The one thing I would like to see-is maybe a set of tall shrubs to be planted in front of the enclosure to hide it from the street view-it is VERY NOTICEABLE and I think some added shrubbery would  soften the view somewhat.

So here is the video-you be the judge.

(PS-YES AGAIN, YOU WILL SEE MY BUTTINSKY HUSBAND GETTING IN ON THE ACT). I THINK HE IS JEALOUS OF ME BUT CAN YOU BLAME HIM-I HAVE ALL THE TALENT!!!

GOD!! GET A HOBBY!!

ALSO ATTENTION CPD: THE STREET SIGN TO PAYNE DRIVE COMING OFF OF WOLF HILL ROAD IS MISSING!!

I HAVE A PHOTO OF IT THAT I WILL RUN LATER!!

REPLACE THE SIGN PLEASE IT IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY!! IT IS FUNNY-I NOTICED IT RIGHT AWAY.