fmaceachern@wiltonvillager.com

WILTON — The proposed new senior center in Wilton is going to be happening place, said a Comstock Community Center steering committee member.

"It's not going to be like other senior centers, which are rather dull in my opinion," said Malcolm Whyte. "It's going to be colorful and exciting and full of light so that people of all ages will say 'I want to go there,' that's the objective," said Whyte.

The selectmen approved the statement of requirements for the project at the meeting. The project now moves into the budget stage and has a few more hurdles before it can be approved.

"This will be coming back to us at least three more times," said First Selectmen Bill Brennan.

Whyte along with Judy Zucker are the proposed new co-chairs of the Comstock Steering Committee. Committee chairman David Stern has resigned from his position to take a job in Cincinnati. The board of selectmen will vote at its next meeting on April 21.

The senior center is one part of the proposed 45,000 square foot building which would also incorporate 25,000 square foot area for a community center and recreation space, 2,600 square feet for town offices and nearly 6,000 square feet for a fitness center.

There would be eight multi-purpose rooms in the facility and there would be a basketball court and an indoor track on the upper level.

The current facility is approximately 38,000 square feet and is housed in a converted school. The meeting was told it is becoming more expensive to maintain the building as it ages.

Selectman Hal Clark said it's important for the town to build a proper center which will last for decades. That's going to cost money, but it will be money well spent, said Clark.

"It just costs a lot of money to build cheap," said Clark referring to the long-term repairs often associated with building something quickly and cheaply.

Replacing Comstock has been an issue in the town for the last 10 years but has never moved forward. It's going to be different this time, vowed Brennan.

"We're going to do it this time. It's going to get done but we're going to do it right," he promised.

There will be costs to operating the building and selectman Richard Creeth said the town has to "focus on it like a laser."

The committee had looked at incorporating an ice rink and a swimming pool as possible options but that was turned down as impractical.

A suggestion an indoor athletic field be built raised a few eyebrows at the meeting.

"I think the town needs that like a hole in the head," said Michael Graupner.

Parks and recreation director Stephen Pierce said that was added as an option and is not integral to the project.

The need for a fitness center was also questioned.

Whyte said the center wouldn't compete with other fitness facilities in town. He said the fitness center wouldn't have any weights or weight machines.

Town resident Barbara Holdridge urged the town to move quickly on the project to avert more seniors from moving out of town due to lack of facilities, she said.

"More and more of our friends and neighbors are voting with their feet," she said.

Brennan said the selectmen agreed with her that a facility is necessary. "I don't think we disagree with you at all."