A business on 40 Grove Street, Heritage Homes, has submitted a proposed amendment to the town’s zoning regulations to allow residential units on the upper level of commercial buildings. —Steve Coulter photo
Density concerns didn’t stall the discussion of a two-part applicationto amend the residential densities allowed in the town’s commercial zones last Tuesday night — it was conflict of interest and short-handed Planning and Zoning Commission.
“I have to apologize and recuse myself from this discussion — I just noticed I own one of the Branchville properties marked off here and it’s a conflict of interest,” commissioner Joe Fossi said about 30 minutes into the application’s third public hearing.
With Mr. Fossi recused, the commission only had four members present — one short of a quorum.
Vice-chairman Patrick Walsh and commissioner Steven Cole were not present and commissioner George Hanlon had recused himself from the table at an earlier hearing.
New fill-in commissioner Tim Dunphy, who replaced James Coyle last week, was said to have “not had enough time to review the application,” and therefore couldn’t vote.
Chairman Rebecca Mucchetti apologized to the applicant Reed Whipple, who’s proposing the construction of a mixed-use office building at 40 Grove Street, and offered a continuance to tonight, Tuesday, Feb. 11.
The applicant’s attorney, Robert Jewell, accepted the continued hearing, but made note that the Branchville properties that recused Mr. Fossi stemmed from a suggestion made by the town planner, Betty Brosius.
“I’m not going to take anything out of the application that the town planner deemed necessary to getting this proposal to pass,” he said.
“The good news is we have two weeks before we’re out of time,” Ms. Mucchetti replied.
The application will now have its fourth public hearing since first coming in front of the commission on Nov. 19.
What started out as a proposal that would affect all B1, B2, and B3 commercial properties in town has now been whittled down to an application that seeks to change only 12.5 acres of land in “various pockets” around town, including Danbury Road, Grove Street and the Branchville area along Route 7.
“The first draft was met with shock and awe,” Mr. Jewell said earlier before the discussion had stalled. “Now we have a revision that is very specific and affects only small parts of town.”