Board refers proposed Byram dog park to Planning & Zoning for MI review

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously on Sept. 10 to refer a proposed dog park in Byram to the Planning & Zoning Commission for consideration of Municipal Improvement status. Lauren Raven moved to refer the proposal and Rachel Conn seconded; all three members voted yes.

Parks and Recreation staff presented a site map and timeline, and Chair Fred Camillo noted the proposed park would be 535 feet from the water and estimated incremental town costs at roughly $1,200 because much of the work overlaps existing parks maintenance. "This one's gonna be 535 feet from the water because we heard that concern last time too," Camillo said during the discussion.

Joseph Sliano, the town's parks director, described the MI referral as "the first step in the process" toward Planning & Zoning review and said the new park would be incorporated into the park ranger program for routine management. Byram Neighborhood Association chair Liz Eckert told the board that neighborhood outreach showed broad local support: "the great majority is in favor of the dog park," she said.

The motion to refer will allow Planning & Zoning to review site plans, coastal and permitting questions, and additional public input. No zoning approvals or final construction decisions were made at the Sept. 10 meeting; the referral only advances the proposal to the next review stage.