Denise Savageau | Zoning Commission

Why should someone vote for you?
Zoning is one of the most important local commissions in Old Lyme. As a Zoning Commission member, I am looking to utilize my expertise and passion for sustainable land use planning/management to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our residents.

​Education
BS Agricultural Economics, University of Connecticut

What inspired you to run for local office?
I recently retired having worked as an environmental planner for over 35 years. I now have the time to bring my expertise in local land use planning to Old Lyme.  Old Lyme is a beautiful community and I feel extremely fortunate to live here. I am looking to ensure that we utilize land use planning tools, such as zoning, to maintain the quality of life enjoyed by our residents. I understand that land use planning works best when all boards and commissions work in collaboration with each other, and I am committed to this goal.  Communities develop and maintain a keen sense of place when they are welcoming and inclusive and serve diverse populations. This includes providing housing opportunities for all family units including single adults, the elderly, and families with children. Effective zoning encourages appropriate development, protects land and water resources, and provides for vibrant, resilient communities. This is what I want for Old Lyme.
Volunteer Activities
CT Council on Soil and Water Conservation – Chair
CT River Coastal Soil and Water Conservation District –Chair
CT’s Water Planning Council Advisory Group – member
CT State Water Plan Implementation Workgroup – member
Governor’s Council on Climate Change (GC3) – member
EPA Long Island Sound Study Citizens Advisory Committee and EJ work group – member
​National Association of Conservation Districts – Northeast Region Chair and National Board member
Rivers Alliance of Connecticut – member
Connecticut League of Conservation Voters – member
Sustainable CT - volunteer reviewer
Old Lyme Land Trust - volunteer
Bio and Qualifications 
I have worked as an environmental planner in Connecticut for over 35 years providing technical assistance and education to land use commissions in towns and cities across the state. I retired in 2018 after serving as the Conservation Director for the Town of Greenwich for over 20 years. I understand the important role of Zoning Commissions in protecting the health, safety and welfare of Old Lyme's residents and balancing those needs with private property rights. My experience includes reviewing development proposals to ensure that they meet health and environmental standards relating to water supply/private wells, on-site septic, flood zones, erosion and sediment controls, storm water management, open space protection, and protection of cultural resources. I grew up in Shrewsbury, MA in a lakefront community where I developed my love for the outdoors and learned the importance of protecting water resources. I have spent most of my adult life in Connecticut and raised my family in Coventry, CT where I served on the local town council before accepting my position in Greenwich. During this time, our family vacationed at Point of Woods and developed a love for this special town. Upon retirement from Greenwich, my husband Michael and I chose to retire here and have been here since 2019. We immediately felt at home, as we have been involved in Connecticut Audubon and the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center for some years. ​
What’s your favorite place in Old Lyme?
I love hiking and exploring the open space properties in Old Lyme.​
What do you do in you spare time?
I love to cook, volunteer and give back and spend time with my grandchildren!
What do you want voters to know about you?
Although retired, I am active on numerous local, state, and national environmental boards related to soil and water conservation where I share my knowledge of the local land use process with them. In turn, I gain knowledge of innovative land use solutions and funding opportunities that I bring back to my local
community. I am an experienced grant writer and have already been active in Old Lyme. This includes helping the Halls Road Improvement Committee, the Senior Center, and the Old Lyme Land Trust with writing grant applications and/or identifying grant funding sources.