July 30, 2025
Members present: Mark Fiorentino, Meg Jabaily, Eric Myers, John Oates, Martin Schwager.
Review of Draft Plan
Fiorentino noted the purpose of that night’s meeting is to continue the review of the center zone boundaries proposed by the consultants and the land use chart.
Myers would like to expand the consultant’s recommendation and the land that is already being used, including some areas the consultants missed that are largely commercial, i.e., the three houses in disrepair on Route 10/202, the VNA, the fire department and the church. He believes the center area should be expanded to include the cemetery, behind Station 280, the bank, town hall complex, etc. and further down Route 10/202. This would encourage commercial development and would add more land that allows for future growth. At some point, the committee should decide what the commercial center should look like and believes it should be bigger than what the consultant proposed.
Oates questioned how far south the center goes down Route 10/202 and pointed out it would be challenging to have different zones on different sides of the same street and it creates a disconnect. He noted this is true for Route 20 heading toward East Granby as well.
Schwager believes the mapping should be more precise and pointed out there was interest from the public to include the T-1 zone going further south down Route 10. He would like to expand the center south but feels caution should be taken regarding about going too far. He would like to avoid zone changing of one-off lots.
Jabaily stated in preparation of tonight’s meeting, she focused on uses. When expansion is being considered, preservation should always be reviewed in regard to how it ties in. She also noted if uses are looked at, the zone should go up to Station 280 and down Route 10.
Fiorentino looked at the original concept of the area in the center and noted the committee wanted it to be more connected and walkable. The concept was to encourage development to fit a pedestrian focus, more greenery, review codes to see what could possibly fill some vacant buildings, create uses in current buildings, etc. He recommended going through the consultant’s proposed uses and recommend boundaries to planning and zoning for goals to be achieved.
The committee reviewed the consultant’s proposed center uses and made suggestions:
Permitted use: business or professional offices; restaurants limited seating; retail sale, rental, and/or repair (auto repair clarification needed); personal services, including barbershops, beauty shops; commercial educational, instructional, or recreational; open air markets; printing, photography, or similar services; government buildings and facilities; accessory uses incidental to permitted uses.
Not permitted use: fueling stations for motor vehicles; single family dwellings; home occupation; agriculture; attached accessory apartment; family child care/group child care home; bed and breakfasts; churches, religious buildings, similar organizations; neighborhood retirement housing assisted living; detached accessory apartment; antique sales.
Special permit required: mixed use buildings (regulations to be reviewed; minimum lot size discussion tabled); banks/financial institutions; daycare centers/preschool; movie theaters; charging stations; retail sales of alcoholic beverages.