Commercial Project Withdrawn; Resubmission Expected

By Andrew Gorosko

Following extended discussion at a Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) public hearing, a developer has withdrawn a proposal to construct a 20,400-square-foot commercial building at 146-148 South Main Street, opting to rework its plans before making a new development application.

The New Haven-based Monaco Properties Limited’s proposal to construct a two-level building, which would house eight stores on the lower level and four offices on the upper level, was the subject of an April 15 P&Z hearing.

The steep 2.35-acre property is in a B-2 (Business) zone, across South Main Street from Newtown Self Storage. A parking lot proposed for the site would contain more than 100 spaces. The developer would extend the United Water public water supply approximately 350 feet southward along South Main Street to serve the project.

Monaco Properties purchased the site recently 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. The project was known as Berkshire Plaza.

Attorney Robert Hall, representing Monaco, told P&Z members April 15 that the current development proposal represents a somewhat smaller commercial building than was approved by the town 15 years ago.

Mr Hall added that Monaco wanted to revise the development plans that it presented to the P&Z at the April 15 hearing. He urged that the P&Z continue the public hearing to another session to allow such design revisions and additional engineering calculations to be made.

Engineer Mark Lancor, representing the developer, said that developing the hilly site would require earthen cutting and filling to create a usable area. Visual screening would be placed on the site to obscure the development, he said. Additional design details would be provided at an upcoming session, he told P&Z members.

A section of South Main Street near the site would be widened to facilitate traffic flow, Mr Hall said. That road-widening proposal is under review by the state Department of Transportation, Mr Lancor said. South Main Street is State Route 25.

Public Comment

Resident Christian Qualey of 1 Cedar Circle raised various concerns about the development proposal, including traffic concerns.

“I’ve seen some terrible accidents at that place,” Mr Qualey said of the section of South Main Street near the development site. “I am very concerned about the entrance and the exit,” he said.

Resident Stephen Ugolik of 11 Cedar Hill Road said the site holds much solid rock ledge. Mr Ugolik raised concerns about the traffic safety implications of such development. Such development would adversely affect Cedar Hill Road residents, he said.

Resident Eric Klein of 16 Cedar Hill Road questioned aspects of the traffic study submitted by the developer.

Mr Hall urged P&Z members to extend the public hearing on the Monaco application to another session.

P&Z Chairman William O’Neil responded that the P&Z cannot allow itself to be viewed as “arbitrary” in granting such public hearing extensions simply because such extensions are requested by a developer.

“We need applicants to come before us [at public hearings] with finished plans, and this is not a finished plan,” Mr O’Neil said.

On that note, Mr O’Neil concluded the public hearing. Rather than potentially receive a P&Z rejection of the development project, the developer then withdrew the application.

Mr Hall later said he expects new development plans to be submitted to the P&Z for another public hearing.