Exit 9 Area—

Hawleyville Retail Building Under P&Z Review

By Andrew Gorosko

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members are considering a developer’s proposal to construct a 7,500-square-foot general retail building at 23 Barnabas Road in Hawleyville, at the southern corner of Barnabas Road and Hawleyville Road (Route 25).

Hawleyville Development, LLC’s, construction proposal was the subject of a March 15 P&Z public hearing.

Engineer Larry Edwards, representing the developer, described the project to P&Z members. The 1.5-acre triangular lot on hilly terrain is bounded on the west by Hawleyville Road, on the north and the east by Barnabas Road, and on the south and the east by westbound Interstate 84’s Exit 9 ramps. The site lies across Barnabas Road from the commuter parking lot for Exit 9 of I-84.

Last December, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) granted two zoning setback variances to the developer. The setback variances concern the building placement and the parking lot placement on the oddly shaped site that has streets on its three sides. The property is in the Hawleyville Center Design District (HCDD) zone.

The site would have two access driveways on Barnabas Road. On Hawleyville Road, it would have an entrance-only driveway for northbound traffic, which would make only right turns to enter the site.

The property has no wetlands, and would be served by a water well and a septic system, Mr Edwards said.

The retail building’s functional façade would face eastward, toward the structure’s parking lot, he said. The side of the building facing west toward Hawleyville Road, and also the side of the structure facing north toward Barnabas Road would be “architecturally dressed” to provide visual appeal, Mr Edwards said.

As tenants for the building are enlisted, the developer would seek approvals for commercial signs, he said. It is yet unclear what tenants would occupy the building, he added.

Excavation would be required to construct a building on the hilly site. The site’s unusual triangular shape results from the adjacent property acquisitions that were required for the past construction of I-84.

Resident Don Hutchins of 58 Barnabas Road said he expects the proposed store would be an ugly building.

P&Z members cannot control the particular appearance of a commercial structure, said P&Z Chairman William O’Neil.

Noting that there is much traffic flow on Barnabas Road, Mr Hutchins asked what effect the proposed building would have on traffic volume in the area.

Resident Mary Fellows of 120 Walnut Tree Hill Road said the proposed retail building looks like other such buildings situated along other sections of Route 25. Ms Fellows urged that the proposed building contain some historical design aspects representative of Hawleyville.

 Ms Fellows urged that sufficient sidewalks be provided on the site. She predicted that the initial tenants for the building would be a bank, nail salon, and drop-off dry cleaners.

The architectural design proposed by the applicant could be improved, she said, adding that better-looking buildings would attract better commercial tenants.

Due to the proposed building’s façade facing its parking lot, the rear of the building is facing Hawleyville Road, Ms Fellows noted.

 Resident Carol Hutchins of 58 Barnabas Road said the proposed construction would result in her viewing commercial driveways and a parking lot from her home. She already faces the commuter parking lot, she noted.

Ms Hutchins predicted that the presence of retail building would generate much traffic.

In response to public comments, Mr Edwards said the building would not be very visible from Hawleyville Road, adding that there would be landscaping buffer planted along Barnabas Road. Additional trees could be placed in that proposed buffer, he said.

Mr Edwards noted that Barnabas Road serves the industrial traffic generated by the Hawleyville Industrial Park situated along the northern side of that street.

The P&Z closed the public hearing on the retail building application. P&Z action on the proposal is expected an upcoming session.