Design Advisory Board To Review Industrial Project

By Andrew Gorosko

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have asked a development firm to submit its proposal to build 20,000 square feet of industrial space on Peck’s Lane to the town’s Design Advisory Board for a review of the project’s architectural and landscaping aesthetics.

Peck’s Lane Properties, LLP, of Newtown is proposing construction of two industrial buildings, each of which would contain 10,000 square feet of enclosed space, on a 4.7-acre site at 8 Peck’s Lane. The site is on the west side of Peck’s Lane, north of its intersection with Turkey Hill Road and south of its northern intersection with South Main Street. The property has M-5 (Industrial) zoning.

The sloping, wooded site is adjacent to Mathison Floors at 133 South Main Street and to Newtown Self Storage at 137 South Main Street.

Peck’s Lane Properties proposes constructing two structures, each of which would have five 2,000-square-foot units that could be used as warehousing and office space. The ten spaces would be occupied by tradesmen such as plumbers, electricians, and heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) specialists, among others. The site would have 50 vehicle parking spaces. General retail sales would be prohibited on the premises.

The town recently formed a three-member Design Advisory Board for aid in reviewing the architectural and landscaping elements of commercial projects that are proposed for the two existing design districts. The panel has two architects and one landscape architect.

The P&Z created the Sandy Hook Design District (SHDD) in Sandy Hook Center in 1995. P&Z members created the Hawleyville Center Design District-East (HCDD-E) in Hawleyville Center 1999. The P&Z also plans to create a new design district along South Main Street later this year.

Although the P&Z cannot require an applicant for a commercial project lying outside of a design district to submit its application for Design Advisory Board review, engineer William Carboni, representing Peck’s Lane Properties, agreed to submit to such a review.

The P&Z approved a very similar application for the Peck’s Lane property in June 1998, but the applicant for that project, Oak Street Design and Construction, never proceeded with the project.

Because those land use permits have lapsed, Peck’s Lane Properties must now seek new approvals for the project.

Mr Carboni said the pending application has been revised in view of various rule changes that have occurred during the past seven years in parking regulations and driveway regulations. Also, the design of a stormwater detention basin on the site has been revised, he said.

The project would be served by United Water’s public water supply. Wastewater would be discharged into a septic system.

Mr Carboni said that each of the two buildings would be 200 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 26 feet tall. The buildings would constructed of three different colors of concrete block and would have shingled roofs.

The ten spaces for tenants would be leased out, Mr Carboni said. “There are no known users at this time,” he added. It was expected that each of the ten spaces would contain four employees, he said.

The site would contain plantings and would have a conservation easement, he said.

After listening to a physical description of the proposed buildings, P&Z member Lilla Dean suggested that the applicant have the Design Advisory Board review the project. The P&Z is expected to resume its public hearing on the application after the Design Advisory Board comments on project aesthetics.

The proposed Peck’s Lane project is similar to a project that the P&Z approved for Barnabas Road in Hawleyville in April 2004. The Hawleyville project submitted by applicant Steve Nicolosi specifies a 9,980-square-foot commercial building for storage and garage space, plus offices, behind the commuter parking lot for Exit 9 of Interstate 84.

Initially unsatisfied with the aesthetics of Mr Nicolosi’s proposal, P&Z members suggested various design changes which he incorporated into the building’s appearance.