Following lengthy review, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members on February 5 unanimously rejected a proposed change to the zoning regulations, which would have allowed privately-owned solid waste facilities for the storage and recycling of scrap tires at properties with M-1 (Industrial) zoning.

Such a rule change had been sought by MAAK Environmental Corporation, which had wanted to employ new rules to start a tire recycling operation at an industrial site at 40 High Bridge Road.

The zoning rule proposal turned down by the P&Z was a modified proposal from MAAK that was narrower in scope than a previous scrap tire recycling/processing proposal that had drawn stiff opposition from nearby property owners.

High Bridge Road area property owners had strongly opposed the earlier proposal citing concerns about the potential for tire fires, which are difficult to extinguish. They had also raised issues about the potential for air pollution, water pollution, industrial noise, and truck traffic. The site lies in a recharge area for the Pootatuck Aquifer.

Although 40 High Bridge Road is industrially zoned, it is in an area that is largely residential.

Before the P&Z voted on the MAAK application, P&Z member Donald Mitchell said that the operation proposed by MAAK for the site appears to be a solid waste transfer station, which could generate much truck traffic if the business were to grow.

P&Z Chairman Robert Mulholland said that broadening the zoning rules to allow the type of waste handling proposed by MAAK would apply to all the land in town with M-1 zoning.

Mr Mulhollond told MAAK President Moses Velez that there are other places in the state where the type of activity sought by MAAK is permitted by existing zoning regulations.

P&Z member Michael Porco, Sr, said the local road network is not well suited for an industrial use such as the one proposed by MAAK.

Mr Velez noted that the firm had scaled back its initial tire recycling/processing proposal after encountering opposition to it.

P&Z member Jim Swift said, “I think you have the potential for a tremendous amount of business,” adding that such business would generate much traffic. Also, if the zoning regulations were to be revised to allow such uses, then other firms could arrive in town to conduct similar operations, but less responsibly than MAAK would run its business, he said.

P&Z member Frank Corigliano said revising the zoning regulations as requested could result in a “Pandora’s box situation,” in which other firms could start other solid waste operations in town, creating undesirable situations.

P&Z member Fred Taylor said the operation proposed by MAAK could have an adverse traffic effect on the High Bridge Road area.

P&Z members then unanimously voted to reject the application for a zoning rule change to allow a solid waste facilities for tire storage and recycling in M-1 zones.

The P&Z had been reviewing aspects of the MAAK tire-handling proposal since September.

The six-acre 40 High Bridge Road site holds a 59,000-square-foot industrial building that was constructed in 1965. It formerly housed Make-A-Home Foundation, Inc, which has moved its operations to Waterbury.