Sharon IWWC considers applicationfor new development on Low Road

SHARON — The fate of an application to create an office space, retail facility and gallery remains undecided after a public hearing at the Feb. 10 meeting of Sharon’s Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Commission.

Low Road Sharon, the applicant, is a non-profit that will run an artist residency program planned on Jasper Johns’ Sharon property.

The project involves a new development on property that is owned by Low Road Sharon, but is auxiliary to Johns’ main estate. The proposed construction site sits at the addresses of 1, 15 and 29 Low Road, adjacent to the shopping plaza on North Main Street.

An application for this project was submitted to the IWWC in the fall of 2024. It was ultimately denied by the commission at its Dec. 12 meeting, but with a note that the applicant may reapply. The proposed building site sits on a gradient above a stream, and several commission members expressed a desire to see alternative building strategies explored in the plans.

IWWC accepted the applicant’s resubmission at its Jan. 13 meeting, and set a public hearing as the proposed development was deemed a “significant activity.”

Jim McTigue of New Milford-based firm Howland & Associates presented the amended application at the Feb. 10 public hearing, highlighting the downscaled nature of the new proposal, including relocating and sizing down the north building.

McTigue emphasized erosion control measures on the slope above the stream, as well as the elimination of a pathway that had previously been planned to be located close to the waterway.

McTigue maintained that the development will remain consistent with the residential nature of the street.

Commissioners and members of the public levied questions regarding the extent and duration of disturbance during construction, the two planned construction vehicle entrances, erosion control and site drainage and the use of a proposed pathway that would be directed toward Lovers Lane.

After closing the hearing, members of the Commission decided to table the matter for further review.

IWWC will resume discussion of the application at its next meeting, which is scheduled for March 10.

Latest News

Swinging into spring sports at HVRHS

HVRHS sophomore Wyatt Bayer will suit up for the Mountaineers' varsity baseball team.

Photo by Riley Klein

FALLS VILLAGE — With the arrival of warm weather, so too comes a new season of athletics at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

The Mountaineers will field teams in five different sports for the spring season: baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis and track and field.

Keep ReadingShow less
Northlight art show opens at Historical Society Gallery
One of a dozen artists participating in the Northlight Art Center’s 14th annual student exhibit is Cathleen Halloran, above, who paused for a photo by one of her several works on display. The opening reception at the Sharon Historical Society’s Gallery on Saturday, March 15, brought out a robust group of local art fans.
Leila Hawken

Fans of fine art filed into the Sharon Historical Society’s gallery on Saturday, March 15, for the opening reception of student works from the Northlight Art Center in Amenia, New York.

Northlight was founded in Sharon by Pieter Lefferts in 2010 and later moved to Amenia. This is the 14th year of the annual student exhibit.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Urinetown’ makes use of brand new HVRHS auditorium

Tess Marks as Little Sally and Jackson Olson as Officer Lockstock in the Housatonic Musical Theatre Society production of "Urinetown."

Tom Brown

Last week’s Housatonic Musical Theatre Society production of “Urinetown” featured strong performances and superb choreography.

The remodeled auditorium at Housatonic Valley Regional High School made a big difference as well. New seats were a welcome addition, and the increased technical capability meant that the show was flawless from a production point of view.

Keep ReadingShow less
Race Brook Lodge: A timeless haven for music, art, and community

Race Brook Lodge

Lety Marcos

Tucked away on Under Mountain Road in Sheffield, Massachusetts, The Stagecoach Tavern dates back to the mid-18th century and offers fine dining in an enchanted setting. It also serves as the portal into the Race Brook Lodge, which harbors unique spaces for entertainment, lodging and wellness.

Intimate outdoor gathering areas are illuminated by strings of lights. A cluster of mid-century bungalows can be rented by guests who come to spend the weekend and attend concerts and retreats, which typically take place in the barns farther back in the woods.

Keep ReadingShow less