The move comes after the Town Plan and Zoning Commission approved, then denied, and then agreed to reconsider the denial of the project, prompting the council to take the matter into their own hands.
"According to the town attorney, this is the appropriate action to take," said Town Council Chair Michael Clark. "We approved the boathouse by a unanimous vote and it is moving ahead."
In an action that Town Attorney John Bradley categorized as "confounding," the TPZ voted unanimously Oct. 30 to approve plans to build a crew boathouse at Tunxis Mead Park and then denied the project three weeks later - after the council unanimously gave their approval.
The second TPZ denial put the plan in legal limbo - since state zoning laws require certain town-proposed building or land purchase projects receive zoning approval before the town's legislative body - in this case, the council - gives their final approval.
The boathouse was donated by parents of the Farmington High School crew team who in early October also sought funding from the Miss Porter's School crew team.
Under the plan, both teams would have use of the boathouse during scheduled practice times for each team. Both teams would also kick in half the cost of constructing the building.
The TPZ learned Miss Porter's had come on board with the project minutes before they gave their unanimous approval for the construction plans. A few weeks later, the council also unanimously approved the plan and the lease agreement between the town and Miss Porter's.
Construction on the project began the day after the council approval. But during the Nov. 21 TPZ meeting, three members of the TPZ voted down the 8-24 referral - which is a referral required by the state so that local zoning boards can examine and give their approval to certain town building or land purchase projects.
In a letter to Town Manager Kathleen Eagen, Bradley called the TPZ's actions "confounding" and then encouraged the zoning board to rescind the negative vote. Bradley also said if the TPZ refused to reconsider the denial, the council would have to approve the boathouse again by a two-thirds majority to override the TPZ denial.
TPZ members did agree last Monday to reconsider their denial during their Jan. 8 meeting. But Clark said since the item was on the agenda for the council meeting Tuesday, the council went ahead and took the vote.