The firm that is constructing a 12,170-square-foot retail center at 73-75 Church Hill Road, near Exit 10 of Interstate 84, is seeking Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) approval for a modified wetlands/watercourses protection permit for the project.

Developer Sunrise Church Hill Road LLC is pursuing that approval in connection with its proposal to build more parking facilities than previously approved and also to construct a dual-lane shelter for two drive-through automatic teller machines (ATM) at the proposed parking lot.

The IWC is scheduled to review the development proposal when it meets at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, October 24, at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street. IWC members learned of the application at their October 10 session.

The development of the 3.3-acre property has involved major site work, including the rerouting of the nearby Tom Brook to remove an oxbow curve from its course. The proposed additional construction would increase the amount of pavement planned for the site. Such an increase in pavement would require modified stormwater control plans.

A review of mapping provided with the development application indicates that the proposed construction would add about 30 parking spaces to the site in the area, which is now occupied by Edmond Road, just north of that road’s intersection with Church Hill Road. If the application is approved, the retail property would hold about 113 parking spaces. The initially approved parking facilities for the project have not yet been built.

If the IWC approves a modified wetlands/watercourses protection permit for the proposed parking expansion, the applicant also would also need Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) approval for a modified special zoning permit.

In 2016, the developer sought and received P&Z approval to create a new zone, known as the Exit 10 Commercial Design District (X10-CDD), which allows the project to be constructed at 73 Church Hill Road, which has underlying M-5 (Industrial) zoning, and at 75 Church Hill Road, which has underlying B-2 (General Business) zoning.

Also, through the newly created X10-CDD zoning, the developer gained P&Z approval for drive-through window service at a coffee shop to be located at the northwest corner of the retail building. The developer recently disclosed that the coffee shop would be operated by Starbucks. That 2016 development approval was the first time since 1958, when town zoning went into effect, that the P&Z approved drive-through window service for an eatery.

While the retail center is under construction, work also has been underway on a $2.85 million state project that will relocate the southern end of Edmond Road to the west to have it form a conventional four-way signalized intersection with Church Hill Road and Commerce Road. Both the intersection realignment project and the retail center are slated for completion by December.