In response to a letter of inquiry concerning the possibility of adding a "restaurant" as an allowed use in a Business-Professional Office (BPO) zone, George Benson, town director of planning, has told Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members that he would research the matter.

The letter from real estate agent Maureen Van Hise of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices of Brookfield requested that the P&Z provide her with an informal opinion on the possibility of including a restaurant as a permitted land use in a BPO zone.

Ms Van Hise represents Faith Gulick, who owns a house at 68 Church Hill Road, near the intersection of Church Hill Road and Interstate 84's Exit 10 westbound ramps. That property has BPO zoning.

In the letter, Ms Van Hise notes there are many restaurants located on Church Hill Road, adding that 68 Church Hill Road would be "a perfect location" for a restaurant.

At a P&Z meeting earlier this month, Wes Thompson, an Economic Development Commission member, told P&Z members that he does not expect that having restaurant in that location would be bothersome to neighboring properties.

P&Z Chairman Robert Mulholland pointed out that changing the BPO zoning regulations to allow restaurants as a permitted use would set a precedent and would affect all BPO zones in town.

Currently, there are several areas in town with BPO zoning. These include properties along both sides of Church Hill Road lying between Interstate 84 and the Sandy Hook Design District in Sandy Hook Center, as well as land on the northern side of westbound I-84 in that general area.

BPO zoning also exists at 50 Berkshire Road, which lies across Berkshire Road from Misty Vale Deli; at #7 through #25 Berkshire Road, which lie across Berkshire Road from Newtown High School; at #6 and #11 Mile Hill Road; and at several properties on the northern side of Mt Pleasant Road near the Bethel town line.

Mr Mulholland said that altering the BPO regulations would require careful review by the P&Z. Any such proposed rule changes would require a public hearing before any P&Z action, he said.

Mr Benson noted it would difficult to create a restaurant use at 68 Church Hill Road due to the steep terrain at the site.

Mr Benson is expected to brief the P&Z on his zoning research at an April 7 meeting.

The P&Z created BPO zoning to provide for a business district where there would be limited commercial activity, including limited hospitality uses.

Permitted uses in a BPO zone include residences in the form of one-family and two-family dwellings, a professional office, and a bed-and-breakfast business. Also, in large structures, permitted uses include financial institutions, medical or dental laboratories, and offices.

Special permit uses in BPO zones include: adult day care, child day care, personal services businesses, veterinary hospitals, and places of religious worship.

The BPO regulations also address commercial structures which house multiple tenants.