Stonington — Residents packed Borough Hall Tuesday night as the borough Planning and Zoning Commission held two public hearings on the Stonington Historical Society’s third version of a controversial plan to renovate and slightly expand the Old Lighthouse Museum.

Several neighbors of the lighthouse, who also identified themselves as historical society members, spoke in opposition to a proposed text amendment the society is seeking for the project while the hearing on a special permit and coastal site plan approval had not yet begun late Tuesday night. The commission was expected to adjourn the hearing by 10 p.m. and continue it to a later date.

In late March, the society outlined a new, smaller proposal at a community forum after neighbors of the museum opposed two previous designs in 2013 and 2015. Project Architect Conrad Ello said at the time that the design had been reworked and scaled back to reflect the concerns of neighbors and to provide for the minimal essential needs of the museum, which is to restore the building to protect it and the exhibits while offering handicapped accessibility.

The proposed text amendment would allow a legal nonconforming use in the R2 zone, such as the museum, to expand to provide handicapped access plus 10 percent more space.

Richard Easton of Main Street said the society’s proposed amendment is a clear case of illegal spot zoning because it would only apply to one property in the zone.

Several other residents said that while they do not oppose improved handicapped accessibility at the museum, the addition should be limited to that use only.

Archie Leslie of School Street said that while providing handicapped access is commendable, the society is not being required to provide it. He added that only 12 percent of the addition is for the handicapped bathroom with the rest for ticketing and a small gift shop.

Resident Jesse Diggs suggested the society seek another solution other than a text amendment to help it provide handicapped access. Easton urged the commission to deny the text amendment and let a court rule on an appeal from the society.

But Binti Ackley, whose home abuts the lighthouse, said she supports the text amendment as it would bring the lighthouse into zoning compliance and provide handicapped access.

The original plan in 2013 called for an 805-square-foot addition off the rear of the museum that had a modern, glass-enclosed design and two handicapped-accessible bathrooms. The new proposal calls for a 495-square-foot structure that would contain a ticketing area, gift shop and one handicapped-accessible bathroom.

The addition could not be seen from Water Street and would allow ticketing and the gift shop to be relocated from the front of the museum, which is not handicapped-accessible and where they are mixed in with exhibits, to the rear. The new plan calls for a more traditional, historic feel with less glass and the look of a weathered shingle barn.

Neighbors are also concerned the society will host more special events on its lawn and generate more traffic, an issue that is expected to be raised during the hearing on the special permit.

j.wojtas@theday.com