Woodside Plaza owners propose demo, rebuilding plan for site
SHELTON — Owners of Woodside Plaza are proposing a major redevelopment of the buildings on the Bridgeport Avenue property.
The owners, PAK LLC, appeared at the Planning and Zoning Commission’s Zoom meeting Tuesday seeking approval for demolition and redevelopment of some 14,700 square feet of retail and office space on the property which also houses Plaza Diner and a Dunkin Donuts to the rear of the site.
Since the proposal is simply for site plan modification, no public hearing is necessary, officials said. The commission chose to table the application to allow staff time to review the plans and offer any input.
Commissioner Mark Widomski voiced concern about the parking, saying that this particular lot is often overcrowded with vehicles — specifically in long lines out nearly to Bridgeport Avenue, extending from the Dunkin Donuts drive thru.
The application states that 122 parking spaces are required, and the plans show 123 spots.
“I don’t think this will work,” Widomski said, adding that, in his opinion, “there is a problem there now.”
The plans call for phased development. The work would begin with demolition of the smaller building now home to Pepi Realty and Hair Language — the former home of the since- closed Woodside Deli — which will be rebuilt and modernized.
The next phase calls for the demolition of another separate structure — the current home of DJ’s Pizza and Wash Time Laundry — and the larger building attached to the Plaza Diner.
The businesses are to remain, which is the reason for the phased work, the commission was told.
Plaza Diner would be untouched in the plan. In place of the two demolished structures would be one two- story building with retail outlets on the first floor and offices on the second floor.
The new phase one
Since the proposal is simply for site plan modification, no public hearing is necessary, officials said.
replacement building would be one story but larger than the building it would replace. It would also be farther away from the two- story structure, allowing for a two- way access to the rear of the property, the plans say.