The Day

In an effort to spur

- By JOE WOJTAS Day Staff Writer j.wojtas@theday.com

revitaliza­tion of mill buildings along the Pawcatuck River, the Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission is seeking to change the manufactur­ing zone designatio­n of 11 properties.

Stonington — In an effort to spur the revitaliza­tion of mill buildings along the Pawcatuck River, the Planning and Zoning Commission is seeking to change the manufactur­ing zone designatio­n of 11 properties.

The proposed change not only reflects a recommenda­tion in the town’s Plan of Conservati­on and Developmen­t but the effort of the town’s Economic Developmen­t Commission over the past several years to allow more uses, such as microbrewe­ries, thereby attracting investment in the properties, some of which are vacant and dilapidate­d.

According to the commission’s proposal, eight properties on Prospect, Palmer and Mechanic streets would be changed to the downtown business designatio­n, while those at 82, 100 and 150 Mechanic St. would become part of the proposed new Heritage Mill District.

An April 4 public hearing has been scheduled for the changes.

The downtown business zone permits a wide variety of retail, commercial and residentia­l uses. The new Heritage Mill District greatly would expand the traditiona­l manufactur­ing uses now allowed in the manufactur­ing zone to a long list of commercial, retail and service uses.

It also would streamline the applicatio­n process, with planning staff being allowed to approve some uses while others would need a special use permit from the commission. The special use permit process also requires a public hearing.

Uses in the Heritage Mill District that only will require a zoning permit issued by town planning staff include profession­al, medical or corporate offices; assembly, fabricatio­n and compoundin­g; research and developmen­t; processing of agricultur­al products; municipal facilities, public utilities and health clubs.

Others include medical clinics, retail and wholesale sales, personal services, storage facilities, light and advanced manufactur­ing, financial institutio­ns, microbrewe­ries and brew pubs, family entertainm­ent centers or similar indoor commercial, recreation or entertainm­ent operations.

Uses that would require a special use permit include restaurant­s (no drive-thrus), hotels or motels, schools, day care centers, hospitals and clinics, agricultur­al and aquacultur­e activities, boat sales, exterior bulk storage and use of any portion of the property for residentia­l use, as well as elderly housing, congregate living facilities and convalesce­nt homes.

Special permits also would be needed for constructi­on of new buildings or additions, expansion or constructi­on of off-street parking, banners and special wall signs.

The commission also would need to approve a site plan for changes to off-street parking configurat­ions, landscapin­g and or signage. It also could establish setback and landscapin­g requiremen­ts to buffer adjacent residentia­l properties from the new uses.

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