Stonington planning board OKs permit for Mystic hotel

Developer made changes to plans based on commission’s suggestions

— The Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday night to approve a special use permit to build a six-room, three-story hotel with a rooftop pool on the site of the former Broadway Auto service station.

During the first night of public hearings two weeks ago, commissioners asked numerous questions about parking, lighting, setbacks and other issues. They asked more questions Tuesday night after the developer made changes to the plan based on commission suggestions, such as installing a sidewalk along Washington Street.

Commission member Lynn Conway, who voted against the permit, expressed concern Tuesday the rooftop deck and pool would become “party central” on summer nights.

But project engineer Sergio Cherenzia assured Conway the deck would not be open to the public.

In written comments read during the hearing, School Street resident Jesse Diggs said the contemporary design of the hotel is not in keeping with the historic character of the surrounding neighborhood. Conway agreed, saying the whole design concept would not fit in with the neighborhood.

Commission Chairman Dave Rathbun said the commission does not have much control when it comes to design.

The estimated $1.5 million to $2 million project will be developed by G Development LLC of Waterford. G Development, whose principals are Candice and Fotis Georgiadis, originally had planned to construct a three- story restaurant with a rooftop deck on the Broadway Auto

site but scrapped those plans after learning that zoning regulations would not allow the off-site parking that was needed. The Board of Police Commissioners also expressed concerns about parking and traffic. All the parking for the proposed hotel would be accommodated on the property.

Architectural drawings show a ground floor with parking spots, a second and third floor with three guest rooms each and a rooftop deck that contains an open-air pool and hot tub. There also would be landscaping to improve the appearance of the streetscape.

Plans call for tearing down the garage, which is located on a 0.18-acre site at 32 Broadway. Records show G Development purchased the property for $375,000 last year.