The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Marino’s restaurant to be rebuilt
PZC approves site plan for new restaurant to replace burned facility
“Good luck. You’ve had such a presence in town for so many years.” Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Greg Mele
TORRINGTON — A popular restaurant that was heavily damaged by fire in 2019 has received Planning & Zoning Commission approval for a site plan to rebuild and the proposal is for the eatery to grow.
Marino’s on Pinewoods Road was severely damaged by a fire in November 2019. Torrington Fire Marshal Ed Bascetta, who was on the scene with firefighters that day, called the fire “devastating.”
The new site plan increases the building’s footprint by 1,000 feet and includes an improved parking lot, patio and a newly designed building.
The application was filed by Cheryl Marino and Christian Marino, both of Torrington. The plan was designed by Ralph Colabella of Laurel Engineering in Winsted.
Torrington architect John
Martin designed the building. Unlike the previous one, the new structure is a one-story gray stucco design with fieldstone wainscoting and columns, a ramp for handicapped access on the southern side, an outdoor patio and a flat roof.
A low wall will separate the service area from guests in the dining area. The restaurant will have a lounge, a kitchen with a separate entrance and a dining room. The square footage, 7.385 — includes space for a walk-in freezer.
“It’s a very nice design,” said commission Chairman Greg Mele.
The commission unanimously approved the Marino’s site plan.
“Good luck,” Mele said. “You’ve had such a presence in town for so many years.”
Outside, the newly paved parking area with marked spaces also has an island to guide traffic in and out of the Pinewoods Road location. Before the fire, Marino’s was used for weddings, by civic groups for meetings and parties, and as a dine-in restaurant.
According to Colabella, the restaurant’s stormwater management system was to be reconstructed to avoid crossing into an abutting property owned by Eversource.
“It was taking a long time (for Eversource approval) so we put a manhole in (on the Marino property) to deal with stormwater,” he said.
The whole property is surrounded by curbing,
“We’re also adding sidewalks across the parking lot island.” Ralph Colabella of Laurel Engineering
Colabella said, to prevent runoff.
Colabella said the parking lot will be built with “permeable pavers” and grass. Permeable pavers, also known as permeable interlocking concrete pavements, are installed with layers of varying-sized stone or aggregate underneath that filter and direct stormwater to underground aquifers, according to belgard.com.
“We’re also adding sidewalks across the parking lot island,” Colabella said, as well as flowering trees and shrubs.
The lot has seven standing lights for evening events. The property will use city water and sewer, and the new restaurant will have a dedicated sprinkler line for fire safety systems inside.
Neither Cheryl Marino nor Christian Marino could be reached for comment.
City Planner Marty Connor reviewed the plan with the commission this week and said he would endorse the application when the Eversource issue was resolved. He asked for a grading permit, and said the city’s Architectural Review Board had approved the building plan. After construction, the city fire marshal will review the plan’s drawings before a building permit is issued.