After nearly a year of securing funding, meeting with community members and negotiating with town officials, Edward Redmond’s efforts to save the revered yet dilapidated Longfield estate at 1200 Hope St. got one step closer — and one step further — following the Zoning Board of Review’s decision to continue its hearing on the subject for another four weeks. The board met Monday night and convened without making a decision, pushing the topic until a meeting at the end of the month.

In what he’s described as his “best effort,” Mr. Redmond pitched to the board the construction of four new carriage house-style residential buildings that would act as a frame around Longfield, mimicking the feel of a traditional New England-style village square — a plan which would require extensive dimensional variances.

“The relief we’re requesting is not a result of hardships we created,” Mr. Redmond reminded the board.

With the way the historic home sits on the property, Mr. Redmond and architect John Lusk have been limited in the amount of alterations their design can accommodate. While the overall proposal has gone through several iterations based on previous boards’ suggestions, the number of total dwellings — 12, including the two in Longfield itself — has remained inflexible in order to finance and sustain the renovation, restoration and preservation of the property.

“Nothing in that house can be bought at Home Depot,” Mr. Redmond said.

Board members criticize plan

Regardless of how expensive the entire process will ultimately be, Vice Chairman Bruce Kogan still viewed the overall design as “an overdevelopment” and encouraged Mr. Redmond to find the means to totally eliminate two out of the four proposed new structures. Doing so, he reasoned, would solve many of his problems, involving the side yard setback, parking and proximity to Hope Street.

Mr. Lusk, the architect, argued that because the carriage houses rest at a lower level on the property and will be largely shielded by natural landscaping, it’ll be impossible for them to detract any attention away from Longfield. Their being within roughly seven feet of the south property border was a result from a recommendation made by the Historic District Commission.

Audience asks for approval

Despite these concerns, several people in the audience rallied behind Mr. Redmond, urging the board to work with the best proposal they’ve seen in years.

“People have done everything they can to make Plan A happen,” said Catherine Zipf, president of the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society. “It’s not happening, so let’s make Plan B work.”

Longtime Bristol resident Linda Arruda agreed, offering her full confidence in Mr. Redmond and his intentions with the project.

“It’s so refreshing for me to have someone come before you and be totally transparent,” she said. “He’s the real deal.”

Others, however, weren’t as easily convinced. Zoning Board member Joe Asciola, who, as an abutter, had recused himself earlier that evening, wasn’t buying into the picture Mr. Redmond had painted of a quiet, idyllic community comprised of empty nesters and single young professionals when each unit would be two to three bedrooms. He and another resident, Jill Pica, cited additional concerns over how the potential for 24 more cars coming and going out of the complex would impact already grievous traffic patterns around Rockwell School and the Bristol Medical Center.

Without a formal traffic study in hand and remaining apprehensions over the proposal’s overall density, board member Charlie Burke was hesitant to vote Monday night.

“I understand the sentiments, but I’m going to have to make decisions I don’t really want to have to make,” he said.

Even with Mr. Burke’s hint at a grim outcome, Mr. Redmond championed for a decision to be made that meeting. With a seller losing patience and the harsh winter months just around the corner, his window of opportunity to save the beloved historic home is getting slimmer. 

“Time is not on Longfield’s side,” he pleaded. 

Nonetheless, the board voted unanimously to continue discussions at their regular Oct. 29 meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.