Expanded Commercial Uses Sought For South Main St Property

By Andrew Gorosko

P&Z members are considering a proposal from Newtown Properties, LLC, to expand the uses of its properties at 47-49 South Main Street.

The site, at the corner of South Main Street and Mile Hill Road, formerly held Trudeau’s Service Center, Inc., and Trudeau Oil Company. The site now holds Newtown Tire and Service, Inc., and Newtown Oil Company.

To expand the uses of the properties, the firm is seeking an amendment to a special exception to the zoning regulations, which was granted by the town in 1992. Officers of Newtown Properties, LLC, listed in the application are Andrew Hunihan and Heather Bliss.

Newtown Properties seeks to allow a limousine company to locate on the property; increase the off-street parking at the site from 13 to 25 spaces; do landscaping on the corner of South Main Street and Mile Hill Road; reposition a driveway that enters the site from Mile Hill Road; build a concrete pad for the placement of a propane storage tank and fire escape for the rear of 49 South Main Street; post commercial signs; create a lot line change; build a walkway; and install a drainage basin.

In a letter to the P&Z, the Conservation Commission withheld its support for the requested changes on the property, noting that the plans it had reviewed are incomplete, adding that a plan describing erosion and sedimentation controls is needed.

Zoning Enforcement Officer Gary Frenette, in a letter to the P&Z, asked how propane would be used on the property. Mr Frenette asked how many different uses would exist on the property. Such commercial properties are allowed two different uses.

Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker, in a letter, recommended that the proposal be denied, noting that the proposal lacks sufficient information, and also violates aspects of the zoning regulations.

The town engineer noted that much information required for such an application is missing, adding that the state Department of Transportation should review any drainage calculations provided by the applicant.

In a letter to the P&Z, Gary and Blanca Sheehan of 72 Queen Street registered their opposition to the proposal, noting that limousine operations would generate unacceptable nighttime noise levels.

Mapping

At a December 7 public hearing on the proposal, Attorney Stephen Wippermann, representing Newtown Properties, presented a set of maps to the P&Z, providing additional information on the development proposal. The P&Z is expected to review that mapping.

Mr Wippermann explained that the proposed propane storage tank would be used as part of Newtown Oil’s business.

Acknowledging that the P&Z only allows two different uses on a commercial property, Mr Wippermann said that, if necessary, the applicant would seek approvals from the Zoning Board of Appeals in connection with its proposal.

The property’s appearance has been improved compared to what it had been in the past, he said.

Engineer Alan Shepard, representing Newtown Properties, said the applicant would build a berm with plantings at the open corner at the intersection of South Main Street and Mile Hill Road to improve the site’s appearance. The corner had contained vegetation in the past, but the owner cleared to corner to improve the visibility of the businesses there.

The site needs additional parking to make it more workable, Mr Shepard said.

Lawrence Keane, owner of the Flintlock Ridge office building at 11 Mile Hill Road, told P&Z members he had not yet been able to review the maps containing additional information which Mr Wippermann had just submitted to the agency. The office building lies just east of the site.

P&Z Chairman Daniel Fogliano said town land use staff members will research the conditions of the 1992 special exception which the P&Z had granted on the uses of the 47-49 South Main Street properties in considering the various requested changes to that special exception.

P&Z members continued the public hearing on Newtown Properties’ redevelopment proposal to a future meeting.