Stonington - The Stonington Historical Society unveiled a new preliminary plan for the renovation and expansion of the Old Lighthouse Museum Tuesday night that calls for an addition with a more traditional design, instead of the controversial glass pavilion many residents criticized last year.

The society's architect, Conrad Ello, displayed what he called a "super, super conceptual design" during the borough Planning and Zoning Commission workshop held to discuss the society's plan to amend the regulations to allow the museum to be a specially permitted use in the residential zone where it is located.

As society attorney Frank Eppinger pointed out, the museum is now a nonconforming use in the district, even though it has five times the required lot size. Regulations do not allow the expansion of a nonconforming use without a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The proposed change would allow the society to seek approval for renovations without having to obtain a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals by proving the lot has a unique hardship.

But even if a museum is allowed in the zone, the society would still have to obtain a special use permit from the commission. The commission, which would be required to hold a public hearing on the special use request, could decide not to approve the society's plan or may attach stipulations to an approval to address any concerns its members or the public may have.

Some residents at Tuesday's workshop criticized the society's plan for the addition and its desire to change the regulations to allow a museum in a residential zone. The museum has been allowed to stay on the site because it predates the implementation of zoning.

"The regulations were set up to keep the zone residential," said resident Ed Smith.

Resident Jesse Diggs added that even if the museum is permitted in the zone, he does not feel the addition complies with the regulations. Other residents reiterated a suggestion they made last year: that the society move artifacts from the museum to its Palmer House headquarters if there is need for climate controls to protect them.

Ello explained that the need for the 547-square-foot addition to the rear of the museum is driven by the fact that the value of the needed restorations triggers improved handicapped requirements, such as an accessible bathroom.

Ello said the new design incorporates some of the concerns that some residents expressed about the proposed 827-square-foot, glass-enclosed entrance lobby with a flat roof.

While the new design calls for some large glass windows, it has a pitched roof and shingles, so it would mesh with the existing wooden addition to the rear of the original stone structure.

The society has said the project is needed to better protect and display the collection, improve handicapped access and provide a bathroom for visitors.

However, critics of last year's proposed addition said it was out of character with the village and would result in additional traffic and special events on the museum lawn.

Eppinger said Tuesday there is no intention by the society to attract more visitors or intensify the use of the museum.

A handicapped accessible path would continue to lead to the new lobby.

j.wojtas@theday.com

Twitter: @joewojtas