Date: Fri 13-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Avance-Esthetiques-P&Z-zoning

Full Text:

Avance Esthetiques Seeks Zone Change For Expansion Plans

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The proprietor of a spa at Sand Hill Plaza is seeking a zone change from

residential to business for a piece of land north of the plaza so the spa can

relocate there and expand its operations.

Judith B. Volpe and her husband, Bob, of Southbury, presented their zone

change request to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) at a June 5 public

hearing.

Mrs Volpe operates Avance Esthetiques, a day spa at Sand Hill Plaza which

provides services such as massages, body treatments and facials. The Volpes

want the zone change for 224 South Main Street, where they would construct a

new building to house an expanded day spa. They also are seeking a zone change

for the adjacent properties, 220 and 216 South Main Street.

The Volpes presented letters from the owners of 220 and 216 South Main Street,

endorsing converting the zoning for those properties from residential to

business.

Overall, the three residential properties comprise 9.3 acres lying on the west

side of South Main Street between Sand Hill Plaza and Resurrection Cemetery.

The Volpes hold an option to buy the 1.75-acre 224 South Main Street from

James and Joan Crick of 7 Glover Avenue.

Mr Volpe told P&Z members the land proposed for a zone change is in an area

that is largely commercially developed. Land in the area no longer serves as

desirable residential property, he said.

Mr Volpe said Avance Esthetiques doesn't have expansion opportunities at Sand

Hill Plaza, so it wants to build a new facility and move. The new building

that would house the spa would contain one or two other businesses.

Mr Volpe presented P&Z members with a petition signed by spa customers

endorsing the relocation and expansion proposal.

Mrs Volpe said she has successfully operated Avance Esthetiques for more than

six years. The business now attracts about 170 customers during a six-day

business week, Mrs Volpe said.

Mr Volpe explained the building that Avance Esthetiques would occupy would

contain about 8,000 square feet of space. The spa would use about 5,000 square

feet of that space.

Mr Volpe said it's unclear the uses to which 220 and 216 South Main Street

would be put if a zone change is granted.

In considering the proposed zone change to allow business uses of the three

parcels, P&Z members must address the heavy traffic that flows past them on

South Main Street, P&Z Chairman Stephen Koch said.

Cricks

Joan Crick said the area proposed for the zone change is not a desirable

residential location. Mrs Crick said she and her husband, James, have rented

out the 224 South Main Street property for the past 10 years.

The property had been listed for sale in the past, but no interest in it was

shown until the Volpes proposed using the site for an expanded Avance

Esthetiques, she said.

Mrs Crick asked P&Z members to approve the requested the zone change, noting

that the site makes more sense as a commercial location than a residential

one.

James Crick said "I am sure the highest and best use is not `residential' at

this location."

P&Z members are expected to act on the zone change request at an upcoming

meeting.

If a zone change is approved, the applicants would need a site plan approval

for a new building from the P&Z.

In April, the Volpes informally presented the idea of a zone change to the

P&Z. P&Z members then asked Avance Esthetiques to prepare a formal proposal

for their consideration.

In April, Mrs Volpe said that due to space limitations at the plaza, she finds

herself in a situation where she has to turn away customers. She said she

doesn't want to leave the area where her business began, so she is proposing

an expanded facility immediately to the north of the plaza.