The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘We need to see what’s there’
PZC members to check out dog training business in person amid neighbor complaints
WINSTED — Sometimes it’s best to see things in person before passing judgment.
Members of the Planning & Zoning Commission are planning a site walk of the Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities property next week, after a public hearing earlier this week drew a group of neighbors complaining about the facility’s plans to expand.
Neighbors’ concerns range from stormwater runoff from the site to dust, noise, traffic and what an expansion could do to their own property values.
ECAD, owned by Dale Picard, has been on Newfield Road for more than 25 years. In 2016 and 2018, the organization, which trains service dogs for people with disabilities, received preliminary approval to add a second building to the Winchester Center property. The project calls for an indoor training area, office space and more kennels.
The commission on Monday discussed ECAD’s two applications: a text amendment to the zoning regulations to allow more impervious surface on the site; and a special permit to build a
7,100-square-foot building.
The text amendment request came after the town fire marshal and the fire chief said the property’s driveway was too narrow for emergency vehicles in case of a fire. Properties are allowed a certain percentage of pavement or gravel. Because the driveway has to be 20 feet wide, per emergency services, it will add more pavement.
The special permit for the site plan includes a stormwater management system for runoff from the property, which was part of a long discussion Monday. Residents living around ECAD have complained that the facility’s property causes Newfield Road and some of their own properties to flood.
During the discussion, project engineer Jason Dismukes said the application, first filed in 2020, hadn’t changed. “There’s really not a lot that’s different this time,” he said.
“We moved the (dog) exercise run inside the building,” Picard said. “By moving the run inside to eliminate noise, the building is now 7,100 square feet, originally 5,000 square feet. That change didn’t impact our impervious surfaces.”
ECAD can apply for the zone amendment if it follows Low Impact Development principles, meaning it must provide screening around the property and sufficient stormwater management.
Amy Reeve, a next-door neighbor of ECAD, said living close to ECAD has affected her own home on Newfield Road. She questioned changing the zoning regulations for just one property, saying the Rural Residential Zone, which allows ECAD on Newfield Road, included a large portion of town.
“That’s a pretty big ask, to have the majority of Winchester’s zoning changed for this one project,” she said.
PZC Chairman George Closson reminded Reeve that the change is not universal. “Everyone has to ask for it (with an application),” he said.
Pat Renzullo, a Winsted attorney representing ECAD, said the zone change shouldn’t be a concern.
“How many people come to the commission with special permits?” he said. “There are instances where you need it . ... Having such a provision fits. The board will not have a flock of individuals seeking this provision.”
During the special permit public hearing, Dismukes discussed the flooding problem on Newfield Road, saying the expansion project will include an increased water retention area on the lower end of the property. He reminded the commission that during previous discussions with the public works department and fire marshal, it was determined that flooding on the road also was the town’s responsibility. When commission member Jerry Martinez asked about flooding and ice on the road during winter, Dismukes said it was not coming directly from ECAD.
“The town would need to put a gutter in the road before the water breaks out and freezes,” he said. “We’ve had that discussion before.”
When the commission discussed the building and its appearance, Reeve said ECAD’s designs were not attractive.
“These are flat-roof buildings with mechanicals on the roof that are visible from our property,” she said. “You can’t convince me or anyone that has seen these buildings that they are in keeping with the aesthetics of the community,” she said. “They are not. When you look out your window and see a paved parking lot and handicap signs, that is not in keeping with a rural residential area.”
Reeve also said ECAD didn’t belong there at all. “Make no mistake — this is a commercial endeavor in a residential area,” she said.
Closson asked the commission to consider taking a site walk.
“It would be beneficial, I think, for some of the members to visit the properties, and see what they see,” he said. Rodriguez and member Willard Platt said they would go.
“There’s been a lot of work done on this, and we need to make a decision, not just look at drawings,” Closson said. “We need to see what’s there.”
ECAD’s public hearing was continued to Feb. 8.