Guests Check In ... But Will They Check Out?

While it's a far cry from the Bates Motel, people living next to Bayberry Motor Inn in Old Lyme say they've seen plenty of things that have scared them in the past year or so.

They've seen motel residents having trysts in cars practically in their driveways, witnessed mysterious packages being dropped off under their bushes to be picked up by people stopping by, and have had to clean up the mess when people have treated their gardens like a dog park.  

When the motel was sold to a group going by the name of 1,500 Boston Post Road LLC in April, residents hoped things would improve. But a few weeks ago, they saw the scariest thing yet. New electrical meters were being installed at every "room"—and then some. 

Wendy Zito, who lives on Shore Road directly opposite the motel, said when she saw 13 electrical meters being installed (when as far as she knows there are only 11 rooms), she saw a "red flag." 

Bayberry Motor Inn has been in operation since the 1950s and, under Old Lyme Zoning rules, motel stays must be limited to a maximum of two weeks. Motels don't charge guests for electricity use by room—but someone renting efficiency apartments would. 

Wearing Out Their Welcome

This past year, the motel's neighbors said they'd seen a number of signs that suggested people weren't just staying at the motel for a couple of weeks. They said that cars had been on blocks undergoing repairs for up to seven months, and that children from the motel had been standing in their driveways to catch the school bus on a daily basis. 

Now they worry that the motel—which may have been a de facto residence for some people—will become a permanent home for even more.

"This property has been a blight on the community," said Stacy Winchell, who lives next door to the motel. She said that under previous ownership, motel residents dumped their garbage on her property and connected a hose to her home's external spigot to get water. 

"The previous owner let them become residents," said Winchell. "I'm tired of it." 

"It's not a safe place," said a spokeswoman for the Riverdale Landing Association, a neighboring housing development. "We've had enough. Longterm housing? We are against it." 

The Town's Position

At the July 1 Board of Selectmen meeting in Old Lyme, First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder said the town would in no way support Bayberry Motor Inn being turned into longer-term residential housing units. But, she added, until neighbors came forward last week, the town was largely unaware of the scope of the problem. 

After neighbors sent letters to the Board of Selectmen and to town departments alerting them to recent developments, Reemsnyder said, she immediately convened a meeting on June 28 with officials from the town's Zoning, Health, and Sanitation departments, the Building Inspector and the Fire Marshal, all of whom went to visit the site. 

Some of the current renovations, such as painting or replacing carpets and sinks, don't require a permit. However, the building inspector went out and discovered there was no permit issued for the electrical work or installation of the meters. What's more, he also found that the electrician working on the site had illegally (and dangerously) tapped into a power line.

At that point, Reemsnyder said, the town contacted Connecticut Light & Power, which de-energized the wire and a "stop work" order was issued.

The health department inspected repairs that were being made to the septic system—again, without a permit. Meanwhile, town zoning officials began researching the regulations and the history of permits issued for the motel in the past to determine what uses are allowed, what previous uses may be grandfathered, and what permits may be required for future use or changes of use.  

"The day we found out something was going on, every town department was down there," Reemsnyder said. "We're looking at this very, very closely. I know you have great concerns. We are on the same page."