Berkshire Plaza Approved

For South Main Street

By Andrew Gorosko

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have approved Berkshire Plaza, a 14,580-square-foot retail/office complex planned for 146-148 South Main Street.

Following lengthy review, P&Z members on October 6 approved a special exception to the zoning regulations for the steep 2.35-acre site for Monaco Properties, LLC, of New Haven.

Monaco plans the retail/office center for the west side of South Main Street. The property is in a B-2 (Business) zone, across South Main Street from Newtown Self Storage. The developer would extend the United Water public water supply southward along South Main Street to serve the project.

The 2½-story commercial building is intended for up to eight retail tenants and four office tenants.

Before Monaco receives a building permit from the town, it must submit its architectural plans to the Design Advisory Board for review and recommendations. The P&Z is seeking to have the building’s design, materials, and decorative elements be consistent with New England vernacular architecture.

If the applicant seeks to locate a restaurant in the facility, it must gain approval for such a use from the P&Z.

Also, the P&Z is requiring that the developer to limit the steepness of the driveway grade on the site

The applicant received zoning variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals for the project’s design concerning parking and landscaping.

An earlier version of the project called for a 20,400-square-foot commercial building. The size reduction allowed the project to meet applicable vehicle parking requirements.

The developer plans to install fencing on the site to create a physical barrier between the complex and adjacent residential properties to the west. Sections of the fencing would be as tall as eight feet. Exterior lighting fixtures will prevent light from straying off the property.

Developing the hilly site will require earthen cutting and filling to create a usable area. Visual screening would be placed on the site to obscure the development. A section of South Main Street near the site would be widened to facilitate traffic flow. The site is on a curve in the road.

At a past P&Z public hearing on an earlier version of the project, some nearby residents expressed concerns that such development could pose additional traffic hazards along an already hazardous section of South Main Street.

Monaco purchased the site from Gian-Santa Associates. Gian-Santa received town approvals in 1989 and 1992 to commercially develop the property under a plan similar to one proposed by Monaco. Gian-Santa performed some site work on the land, including grading and the construction of a foundation and retaining wall, but its commercial building never materialized.