January 9, 2024
Present: Mark Lockwood, Eric Myers, Robert Lavitt, Steven Muller, Eric Lukingbeal, Christine Chinni, and Alternate Paula Johnson, Director of Community Development Abigail Kenyon and Land Use Coordinator Renee Deltenre.
Johnson was seated for Brennan Sheahan.
Application seeking a modification to a Special Permit to change restaurant hours of operation and for an illuminated building sign, for property located at 7 Mill Pond Drive, Suite C, C2 Zone: File Z-23-23.
Stefan Drago, 72 Kimberly Road, East Granby wants to open a restaurant at 7 Mill Pond Drive, Suite C. The existing space was previously occupied by a restaurant but has been vacant for years. Drago’s restaurant would be open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for breakfast and lunch, and the applicant also proposes to host private events after hours. Therefore, he is requesting the overall hours of operation be from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Kenyon stated for the record that hosting private events is accessory to the restaurant and not a separate use. The commission previously approved a Special Permit for a restaurant with alcoholic beverages in this space with the condition that the hours of operation be limited to 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; therefore, a modification is necessary to accommodate the new hours of operation. The proposed signage complies with the zoning regulations in regards to size and would be illuminated by an existing overhead light.
There was no public comment.
The commission voted (7-0-0) to approve the application subject to the following: 1) Hours of operation from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., 2) Installation of an illuminated building sign, as detailed in the Jan. 4 memorandum from Kenyon to the commission.
Application seeking a Special Permit for a restaurant serving alcoholic beverages, for property located at 518 Salmon Brook Street, Suite 8 and 9, I Zone: File Z-24-23.
Yoelin Edith Sanchez Lopez of New Britain, wants to open a Mexican restaurant in Suites 8 and 9 at 518 Salmon Brook Street. Suite 9 was previously occupied by Toni Ann’s restaurant, and Suite 8 was once a Karate Studio.
The total proposed area of the restaurant will be around 2,200 square feet and the main entrance will remain at Suite 9. Since restaurants require Special Permit approval in the Industrial Zone, expansion into the adjacent space requires commission approval.
Alcohol sales were not previously approved, so the sale of alcoholic beverages at the proposed restaurant also requires Special Permit approval. The existing restaurant space will be renovated to accommodate a bar and an opening will be made in the wall to connect to the other unit, which will be a dining area. The proposed hours of operation were stated as 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, after discussing the possibility of serving breakfast, the applicant requested 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. No exterior changes will be made and new signage will be installed in the existing sign cabinets. Kenyon noted that the required parking conforms with the regulations and existing site plan, and the proposed bar area is 6 percent of the gross floor area; the regulations allow a bar area up to 15 percent of the gross floor area.
There was no public comment.
The commission voted (7-0-0) to approve the application, subject to the following conditions: 1) Hours of operation from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., 2) Restaurant and bar area square footage, and site plan to be sized as detailed in the Dec. 27 memorandum from Kenyon to the commission.
Informal Discussion: 254/256 Salmon Brook Street, Proposed Four Unit Multi-Family Residential and Office Use
Property owner John Pagliaro discussed a concept for his properties located at 254 and 256 Salmon Brook Street, which he purchased in August 2023. The properties are located in the Center Edge (CE) zone and consist of a single-family home, a garage and a print shop. The existing structures will remain and be refurbished both internally and externally. The owner would like to convert the existing, detached garage into a professional office space for a speech pathologist on the first floor, consisting of two offices, a restroom, a waiting room and a kitchenette. The second floor would consist of a one-unit efficiency apartment. The print shop would be converted to office space, while the single-family home would be renovated to accommodate three residential apartments.
Land Surveyor Brian Denno was retained to lay out a site plan that would accommodate the proposed uses, as well as access to the sites. The proposed multi-family use is not permitted in the CE zone therefore, a zone change to the Commercial Center (COCE) zone would be necessary. Kenyon noted for the record that a zone change would not impact the historic overlay district. The commission discussed next steps and shared their thoughts, as a zone change would increase the number of potential commercial uses; however, they are open to the concept.