P&Z Approves Office Building On Berkshire Road

By Andrew Gorosko

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has approved a proposal to construct an office building on Berkshire Road in Sandy Hook, near Newtown High School.

P&Z members on June 5 approved an application from TNT Offices, LLC, and Michael Bodetti for a special exception to the zoning regulations to build a 7,500-square-foot office building at 7 Berkshire Road, on the east side of that street, near Exit 11 of Interstate 84.

The office building would contain multiple offices. It would be the most recent of a string of several office buildings that have been built in that area during the past several years.

At a recent public hearing, a neighboring property owner urged that the P&Z require sufficient landscaping on the office building site to visually screen the building.

P&Z members discussed the landscaping requirements for the property at length on June 5, deciding how many trees and what type of trees should be planted on the property, as well as how those trees should be configured on the site. Discussion focused on locations where trees would be planted and on desirability of hardwoods versus softwoods for landscaping.

The site lies in the town’s Aquifer Protection District (APD). Consequently, the development plans underwent added review by the Conservation Commission and the P&Z to ensure that activities proposed for the property would not contaminate the underlying Pootatuck Aquifer. The aquifer is the source for two local public drinking water supplies, plus numerous domestic water wells.

The P&Z toughened its aquifer protection regulations in 1999, requiring stricter controls on development lying above the aquifer.

The office building approval takes effect on June 16.