OBSERVER file photo The town of Pomfret intends to move its Town Hall to this former church on Chestnut Road.

The Pomfret Zoning Board of Appeals has unanimously approved a special use permit for the proposed new town hall on Chestnut Road.

The board did this at a Tuesday meeting where it also approved a State Environmental Quality Review declaration of no negative impacts from the slated project.

Pomfret needed a special permit for the project to convert a former church into a new town hall because the area is zoned residential.

Pomfret Town Supervisor Dan Pacos attended the meeting to describe the project — and offered some new details.

He confirmed the town also wants to move its courtroom and senior center to the Chestnut Road site. Pomfret currently uses Fredonia’s Village Hall courtroom and rents space for its senior center.

Pacos also envisions a fishing access point at the rear of the property, which is next to Canadaway Creek.

He noted that an offer was extended to the town of Dunkirk to also move its town hall to the building. “I’m waiting for an answer from them,” Pacos said.

However, he said Pomfret has two plans in place for the building: one if Dunkirk joins in, and one if the town does not. “Our preference would be to share it.”

Pacos continued, “Being zoned where it is, I’m not sure what else you could use a building of that size for.” He said he welcomed the permitting process so neighbors could voice their concerns.

The town supervisor said “some alterations to the inside of the building” will be needed, but didn’t get too specific.

Comments in a public hearing about the permit for the town hall mostly focused on worries that unsavory folks might cause trouble down by Canadaway Creek, if it is designated as a public fishing site.

One neighbor of the property said, “You’re going to need to put up more lighting (around the building), because it’s pretty dark.”

Todd Eggleston said he liked the plan to move the town hall overall, but worried about publicizing creek access. Even now, “people literally bring their own barbecue pits…they leave dirty diapers.”

Don Michalak suggested signage clearly stating the site is closed at 7 p.m. His wife, Sara, sought to tamp down any suggestion that the creek at the rear of the property offers a constant partying problem. “It’s very unusual to have any people using the creek abusing it in any way. Once in a while, but that happens everywhere.”

The Zoning Board of Appeals ended up approving the permit, 5-0, under the following conditions:

— Lighting on the property can’t impede night driving or neighbors’ privacy.

— There will be signage that follows town code.

— The town will ask for a review of the speed limit on Chestnut Road.

— Security cameras will be installed on the outside of the building.