New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Developer’s scaled back plan focuses on gas pumps, convenience store
SHELTON — Developers continued to scale back the plan for a property at the corner of Bridgeport Avenue and Cots Street.
Shelton Plaza Realty,
LLC, in September was denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission in its efforts to construct an 8,000-square-foot, twostory building with a convenience store on the first level and office space on the second, with gasoline pumps at the front of the site at 265 Bridgeport Ave.
The developer submitted new plans in October, seeking to make the site a Planned Development District with a 4,060-squarefoot retail and office building and a service station, a move which would keep the convenience store and gas pumps but remove the second-floor offices.
After listening to commission concerns, developers stated at the commission’s hearing Wednesday that the PDD request now calls for a 4,000-square-foot convenience store — removing the office space option altogether — with five, twosided gasoline pumps.
The newly reduced building allows for an improved traffic flow throughout the site, which will have two curb cuts, one on Cots Street, the other Bridgeport Avenue, according to the presentation. When exiting the Bridgeport Avenue curb cut, there would be no left turn.
“The new application addresses the concerns expressed by the commission and staff,” said attorney Dominick Thomas, Jr., who represents the developer.
“The PDD allows the project to address issues with the RBD (Restricted Business District) zone that restricts the internal traffic flow and the location of the building,” Thomas added. “The new application creates a much better internal traffic flow and still maintains a green streetscape.”
The commission closed the public hearing on this application and will discuss the plan at a future meeting.
The commission’s decision to close the hearing came moments after attorney Joel Green, representing 99 Bridgeport Avenue, LLC, asked that the hearing remain open so his client’s experts could review the application material and offer comments.
Green said his client has concerns about traffic safety and flow and sight lines. He said initial review of the plans also points to potential drainage issues resulting from the development.
Commissioners during the public hearing also voiced concerns about traffic impacts on Bridgeport Avenue and Cots Street.
Aldermen Eric McPherson spoke in favor of the project, calling it a “good plan.”
During its deliberations on the previous application earlier this year, commissioners were informed the developer had recommended changes to the plans, including removal of the second floor of the office building, which would also be moved away from the retaining wall at the rear of the property.
With the public hearing already closed, commissioners stated they were unable to receive new information, therefore the denial was based on the plans submitted last year.
The commission denied the application without prejudice, meaning the developer is allowed to resubmit an updated plan.
The adjacent properties are commercial and medical offices with residential farther west on Cots Street. The parcel, located between Constitution Boulevard and Exit 13 of Route 8, also abuts the area where the extension of Constitution Boulevard is proposed to occur.