Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) had multiple public hearings during its meeting in the Municipal Center on March 17, including a proposal for mixed use development on Glen Road.

According to the agenda, Application 22.05 by Michael Burton, is for a Special Exception, for a property located at 24 Glen Road, so as to permit a mixed-used development within the Sandy Hook Design District, as described in documents submitted to the Land Use Agency dated received February 14, 2022 and revisions as received.

At the previous P&Z meeting, on March 3, Burton told the commission that this would be his fourth project in Sandy Hook and he plans to call it “Dayton Crossing.” His most recent work was The River Walk development on Washington Avenue that is a 74-unit apartment complex.

He noted that his past projects, as well as this current proposal, would help with the “revitalization” of Sandy Hook.

Since there is currently an existing building on the property, Burton said his plans include renovating and enlarging it, as well as putting up two new buildings.

He hopes to have a restaurant, office space, and apartments. Half would be commercial and half would be residential for the mixed-use property.

On March 17, Burton began talking about the proposed parking spaces and that there would be enough for a restaurant.

“I know there was a concern about delivery trucks. We feel that the driveways are wide enough,” he said.

He informed the commission that since the last P&Z meeting, he met with the Design Advisory Board and said that the board liked that they are keeping the existing building and making the apartments in the back look like the existing building.

Burton went on to say that the board inquired what the sign out front would look like. He then passed out a sketch of the design and newly proposed streetscape to P&Z members.

It will include “Sandy Hook-style light posts.”

Land Use Agency Director of Planning George Benson discussed the topic of streetscapes and the funding element for the town.

“This design will let us put it in eventually,” Benson said.

It was then mentioned how the property may get sewer and town water in the future, which would affect the streetscape.

P&Z Chair Dennis Bloom said the P&Z can make a condition that the streetscape has to be done.

Bloom then opened the public participation portion for comments.

Most residents had left the meeting after the first two applications of the night were presented. Those applications were for a Spanish language center and for apartments on South Main Street – both approved by the P&Z. The P&Z had a 10-minute intermission between those applications and Application 22.05.

There was no public comment.

The P&Z closed the public hearing and made a motion to approve the mixed-use application.

Benson and the commission discussed how to phrase the inclusion about the streetscape.

The meeting minutes stated the condition as, “Sidewalk will be completed (appendix B) Sandy Hook Street improvement concurrently with the Town of Newtown streetscape extension to the property.”

Application 22.05 was approved unanimously and will become effective April 9, 2022.

Subdivision

The last public hearing of the night was for Application 22.06 by Santo Silvestro, for a subdivision located at 18 Platts Hill Road, as demonstrated on a set of plans titled “Overall Site Plan” dated 02/23/22, and supporting documents submitted to the Land Use Agency February 28, 2022, and revisions as received.

The property currently includes a FAA-approved grass airstrip, main house, and barn.

The applicant returned to the P&Z on March 17, after having his original plans for the subdivision denied by the P&Z on December 16, 2021.

The original plans had licensed engineer Steve Trinkaus representing the applicant. He reported then that his client does not intend to sell the property or create new structures on the land. Instead, his client wanted the four lot subdivision to put different uses on separate parcels.

The commission expressed concerns including that there was a lack of accessibility with only one driveway and that they have not put in a fire suppression system.

P&Z unanimously voted to deny the application due to:

*Memos from the fire marshal, town engineer, health district sanitarian, and land use deputy director recommending to not approve the proposed application;

*Absence of wetlands approval;

*Failure to provide the P&Z with cut and fill calculations, driveway access to all proposed lots, a fire suppression tank, septic and well information, a complete survey map, complete existing conditions map, and a letter of archeological review and recommendations.

On March 17, Trinkaus started off by saying that in the new plans for a two lot subdivision, there is no driveway waiver requested but there is a waiver request on the setback from the cottage to the accessway.

He noted that he has supplied updated information about the septic systems and wells in a letter and is comfortable continuing the public hearing to the next meeting.

“We are not proposing new wells,” Trinkaus mentioned.

He added that he has provided a bond estimate and construction entrance details.

Bloom asked, “How long has it been since these wells have been used?”

Trinkaus responded that they are all being used and servicing the existing resident.

Bloom also inquired about the need for a fire suppression tank and Trinkaus said, “That only applies for three lots or greater.”

P&Z decided to review the new plans and continue the public hearing to its next meeting.

The next P&Z meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 7, at 7 pm, in the Newtown Community Center’s multipurpose room — instead of its regular location in the Municipal Center’s Council Chambers.

Application records are available for the public to view at the Land Use Department.

For more information about the Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission and upcoming meetings, visit newtown-ct.gov/planning-zoning-commission.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.