Panel OKs zone changes to spur redevelopment in Mystic, Pawcatuck

Supporters say decision will help investment in underutilized area

Stonington — The Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday approved two changes to the zoning regulations that supporters say will spur development and investment in underutilized mills along the Pawcatuck River and the so-called Golden Triangle in Mystic.

The Heritage Mill Zoning District applies to three manufacturing properties on Mechanic Street and changes the zoning of 11 others on Mechanic and Prospect streets to downtown business.

The mill district is designed to spur investment in the properties by allowing a wide variety of commercial uses, streamline the permitting process by allowing planning staff to approve some uses without commission review and loosen lot size requirements.

In its decision on the heritage mill district, the commission added distilleries to breweries and wineries as allowed uses. It also shifted a few of the uses that could have been approved by town planning staff to ones that need commission approval.

Director of Planning Jason Vincent said Wednesday that, prior to Tuesday night’s approval, developers had to gain commission approval for almost all uses that involved considerable time, money and risk. The original proposal for the mill district called for approval of specific uses to be split among the planning staff and the commission. But on Tuesday night, the commission took over the approval for a few uses that originally were designed for planning staff approval.

The fact that planning staff can now approve some uses, though, makes the town more competitive in attracting investment, Vincent said.

The Martin Olson Revocable Trust, the owners of Olde Mistick Village, gained approval for changes in the tourist commercial zone around Interstate 95 Exit 90 to allow for increased lot density and buildings as much as 65 feet tall.

Supporters said that loosening the height and density restrictions would not only allow for more development in the designated tourist zone, where some properties are underutilized, deteriorating or in need of significant reinvestment, but also would in turn help preserve the town’s open space and more rural areas.