Date: Fri 05-Dec-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Sand-Hill-Plaza

Full Text:

P&Z Turns Down Request For A New Building At Sand Hill Plaza

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have turned down a proposal to

build a freestanding store in the parking lot of Sand Hill Plaza, the town's

largest shopping center.

The applicant for the project was seeking a "special exception" to the zoning

regulations to build the store at 228 South Main Street. In ruling on such

requests for special exceptions to the regulations, P&Z members have more

latitude than when reviewing more typical zoning applications.

Applicant R2D Corporation of Hartford sought approval to build a

6,000-square-foot freestanding store in the parking lot, to the east of the

General Nutrition Center.

R2D initially submitted plans for the project to the P&Z last August, but

withdrew them after P&Z members determined the proposal lacked adequate

technical details. R2D representatives then had said the building might house

a video store.

According to P&Z members, the proposal did not meet all the standards and

criteria required to obtain a special exception to the zoning regulations. The

development plan did not comply with zoning regulations on minimum parking

space requirements for a shopping center, according to P&Z. P&Z members

determined the proposal violated the regulations concerning the creation of

traffic hazards and traffic congestion, as well as the rules concerning

architectural harmony among buildings on a single lot.

R2D Corporation wanted a store in the parking lot to make it highly visible to

passers-by. Although there is much vacant space in the section of the plaza

known as the mini-mall, that space has proved difficult to rent out because it

is not very visible, and also because that space is far-removed from the Super

Stop & Shop supermarket at the plaza, the most highly visible store there.

R2D Corporation represents shopping plaza owners DD Newtown Partners, Limited

Partnership. The plaza is managed by The Hutensky Group, a shopping center

management firm.

Besides constructing a 6,000-square-foot store, DD Newtown Partners wanted to

create some new parking spaces to make up for some of the spaces which would

have been lost due to building construction. The new parking spaces also were

intended to provide better, more convenient parking for the section of the

plaza which formerly held Superstar Sports, Picaso Restaurant, and Duchess of

Newtown. Those three commercial spaces are now vacant.

The plaza now holds 1,065 parking spaces. If the proposed changes were made,

there would have been a net loss of 21 spaces.

According to P&Z records, P&Z members questioned the validity of photographs

of the existing parking lot which had been submitted by the applicant because

many commercial spaces at the mini-mall are now vacant.

P&Z member Heidi Winslow observed the application was actually two

applications merged into one.

P&Z member Daniel Fogliano pointed out that the area where the applicant

proposed creating new parking spaces is the only area available at the plaza

for families to use as a picnic area. It is the area east of the former

Duchess of Newtown, Picaso Restaurant, and Superstar Sports.

Members questioned whether a solid brick wall on the northern side of the

proposed freestanding building for the plaza wouldn't create an eyesore in the

middle of the parking lot.

P&Z member James Boylan moved that R2D Corporation's application for a new

building and parking spaces be denied. P&Z members unanimously turned down the

application. Voting in opposition were Mr Boylan, Mr Fogliano, Ms Winslow,

Chairman Stephen Koch, and member Michael Osborne.

In December 1995, Sand Hill Limited Partnership sold the plaza for $20 million

to DD Newtown Partners. The sale was transacted through DD Newtown Partners'

financial arm known as DRA Advisors, Inc, of Manhattan. FDP Newtown, Inc, a

Connecticut-chartered corporation, is a general partner of DD Newtown

Partners.