Mystic - Toll Brothers, the firm developing a luxury housing project of 48 homes off Pequot Trail known as Old Mystic Estates, has appealed a decision by the Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission rejecting its design for a revised drainage system. Problems with the existing system have not only caused serious erosion and flooding problems for some neighboring property owners but restricted Toll Brothers from developing 27 of the lots and some roads. Toll Brothers is asking a New London Superior Court judge to invalidate the commission's denial and order it to approve the plan. Despite the appeal, Town Planner Keith Brynes said this week that Toll Brothers is also trying to find a new solution or revise the rejected plan. The project has been a controversial one dating back to 2004, when the Planning and Zoning Commission approved plans by the previous developer, Meehan Group, for the cluster subdivision. The approved application included a drainage plan created by a licensed professional engineer hired by Meehan. He assured the commission his design could handle rainfall without impacting neighboring properties. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Future in Limbo for Historic Home on School Site
CLINTON - A sign is up at the new Morgan School site at 69 Killingworth Turnpike, explaining that the home that currently exists on the property is slated for demolition on March 1. This has some residents in town up in arms. "The Town of Clinton is growing increasingly callous about preserving historic architectural treasures," said Kirk Carr. "The historic home purchased by the town at 69 Killingworth Turnpike was built on minuteman David LaBarron's farm in 1800 and owned by the family for 143 years." Carr, a frequent critic of the new Morgan School project in general, is upset the town is not having the home moved and preserved as was discussed. First Selectman Willie Fritz said that moving the home was one option and remains an option, but explained that a sign must be posted 90 days prior to a building removal, regardless of how it is taken down or removed. At this time, the town is unsure how the historic home will be removed. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Controversial housing development in Avon approved
AVON — A developer's effort to get approval for a housing subdivision that had gone on for nearly a year concluded Tuesday when the planning and zoning commission gave permission for the plan to go ahead. The homes will be built on a 45-acre parcel between Haynes and Lenox roads. The proposal had attracted a lot of opposition from people in that neighborhood. Officials have said the process of approving this plan was one of the longest of its kind in recent memory. "I would like to thank the commission for its patience and due diligence," commission Chairwoman Linda Keith said after the vote on Tuesday. "We have done a lot of soul searching and a lot of compromise."
Last spring, Sunlight Construction asked permission to build 57 homes but withdrew that plan in the face of opposition from residents and concerns on the commission. Sunlight came back with a proposal, in the summer, for 39 homes. But even then there were many concerns and a lot of review before approval was given. A hearing the commission held on Sunlight's application started in October and did not wrap up until early January. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Harwinton >> Voters approved an additional $450,000 for the construction of a new building for the Harwinton Emergency Medical Service by a wide margin at referendum on Tuesday. The official vote was 623 to 186. “It’s been a long road through the approvals and over the hurdles,” said Harwinton Ambulance Chief Jason Emery. “The membership is very excited and we’re thankful to the people who came out to show their support today.” Nearly 20 percent of the town’s registered voters came out to vote on the referendum, which First Selectman Mike Criss called, “huge.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Zoners table plans for shopping center
CHESHIRE — An application by a Massachusetts developer for an outlet shopping center was tabled Monday until Feb. 10 because of a scheduling conflict. W/S Development, of Chestnut Hill, Mass., doing business locally as Route 10 LLC, has submitted final plans for the first of two phases of development on a 111-acre site in the town's north end bordering Southington. Plans before the Planning and Zoning Commission are for the development of an outlet shopping center on about half of the property. A housing complex, hotel and fitness facility is expected to be built later, once the market for that type of development improves. The application was tabled Monday until the commission's next meeting. An architect and civil engineer, hired by W/S Development, are expected to be at the February meeting to provide additional information, according to Louis Masiello, W/S vice president of development. W/S has submitted plans for a 500,000-square-foot shopping center, which will be called The Outlets at Cheshire. The project would consist of 10 buildings clustered together with 2,460 parking spots. A second phase would include 147 apartments, a hotel and fitness center and an athletic club. If plans are approved, construction on the shopping outlet could begin this year, and the center could open for business in 2015. Also on Monday, the commission approved plans by Whole Foods Market to turn a field on its 400 East Johnson Ave. property into a truck queuing area with enough paved parking for 31 trucks. Company representatives have told commissioners the queuing area will allow trucks to line up before they approach the building.
Whole Foods has a distribution warehouse at the Cheshire location, but trucks from other Whole Foods locations and distributors use the facility. The company plans to have a gate with a guard who will assign each truck a queuing spot. The trucks will line up before moving 150 to 160 feet to the building.
Zoners table plans for shopping center
CHESHIRE — An application by a Massachusetts developer for an outlet shopping center was tabled Monday until Feb. 10 because of a scheduling conflict. W/S Development, of Chestnut Hill, Mass., doing business locally as Route 10 LLC, has submitted final plans for the first of two phases of development on a 111-acre site in the town's north end bordering Southington. Plans before the Planning and Zoning Commission are for the development of an outlet shopping center on about half of the property. A housing complex, hotel and fitness facility is expected to be built later, once the market for that type of development improves. The application was tabled Monday until the commission's next meeting. An architect and civil engineer, hired by W/S Development, are expected to be at the February meeting to provide additional information, according to Louis Masiello, W/S vice president of development. W/S has submitted plans for a 500,000-square-foot shopping center, which will be called The Outlets at Cheshire. The project would consist of 10 buildings clustered together with 2,460 parking spots. A second phase would include 147 apartments, a hotel and fitness center and an athletic club. If plans are approved, construction on the shopping outlet could begin this year, and the center could open for business in 2015. Also on Monday, the commission approved plans by Whole Foods Market to turn a field on its 400 East Johnson Ave. property into a truck queuing area with enough paved parking for 31 trucks. Company representatives have told commissioners the queuing area will allow trucks to line up before they approach the building.
Whole Foods has a distribution warehouse at the Cheshire location, but trucks from other Whole Foods locations and distributors use the facility. The company plans to have a gate with a guard who will assign each truck a queuing spot. The trucks will line up before moving 150 to 160 feet to the building.