Plant Nursery Proposal—

P&Z Approves Change Of Zone In Hawleyville

By Andrew Gorosko

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have approved a change of zone for a 3.7-acre parcel along Hawleyville Road (Route 25) from R-2 (Residential) to HCDD (Hawleyville Center Design District) for future commercial development.

The 3.7-acre parcel lies on the west side of Hawleyville Road in the area situated between eastbound Interstate 84’s Exit 10 off-ramp and Covered Bridge Road.

The land that received the change of zone is owned by Grace Christian Fellowship, a local church. The church would sell the 3.7 acres for the future development of a plant nursery.

The church initially had proposed a change of zone from R-2 to B-2 (Business), but after discussion with land use officials agreed to seek a HCDD zoning designation instead. HCDD zoning is less developmentally intensive than B-2 zoning.

At a public hearing on the requested change of zone held earlier this month, attorney Peter Scalzo, representing the church, told P&Z members that the 3.7-acre parcel was cut out of a 42.9-acre parcel owned by the church.

The church is in purchase talks with a buyer who wants to construct an approximately 4,000-square pole barn on the site that would be used for a seasonal plant nursery business, Mr Scalzo said. That structure would visually blend in with the neighborhood, Mr Scalzo said.

The 3.7-acre parcel, which has a street address of 9 Covered Bridge Road, holds significant wetlands, limiting the size and location of any structure which could be built there.

The presence of a plant nursery would not be detrimental to existing residential properties in that area, Mr Scalzo said. The business would have no retail operation in the wintertime, he said.

During the public comment section of the hearing, resident Helga Ruopp of 46 Hawleyville Road said that wetlands along Hawleyville Road are an important part of the aquifer in that area. The presence of more development along Hawleyville Road would create stormwater runoff and would alter water infiltration patterns into the ground, she said.

P&Z Chairman Lilla Dean pointed out that the proposal for a plant nursery has not yet been submitted for review by the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC).

Ms Ruopp said she would prefer that the site retain its R-2 zoning designation.

One resident asked whether a traffic study would be need to be performed for a plant nursery proposal.

Such a traffic study would be required when a plant nursery proposal is presented to the P&Z, according to George Benson, town director of planning and land use.

Resident Terry Laslo of Old Bethel Road told P&Z members that existing roads in the area are inadequate for the traffic that they carry, adding that many tractor-trailer trucks drive through the area. Ms Laslo added that the presence of plant nursery would pose stormwater runoff issues.

In approving the change of zone, P&Z members decided that such a change is consistent with the 2004 Town Plan of Conservation and Development.

In November 2007, Grace Christian Fellowship received P&Z approval to construct a new church on adjacent land that it owns in the Covered Bridge Road/Hawleyville Road area. That church, which has not yet been built, would replace the building which congregation currently occupies about one mile away at 174 Mt Pleasant Road (Route 6). The group wants to build a new larger church to meet the needs of an expanding congregation.