Date: Fri 28-Nov-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

business-Sand-Hill-P&Z

Full Text:

P&Z Rejects Plan For 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.

P&Z members turned down the application November 20, following consideration

of the development proposal. The applicant for the project was seeking a

"special exception" to the zoning regulations to build the store. In ruling on

such requests, P&Z members have more latitude than in reviewing more typical

zoning applications.

Applicant R2D Corporation sought approval to build a 6,000-square-foot

freestanding store in the parking lot, east of the General Nutrition Center.

R2D of Hartford had 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 had said the building might

house a video store.

In explaining the reason for rejecting the store, P&Z members said the

proposal did not meet all the standards and criteria required to obtain a

special exception to the rules.

The development plan did not comply with zoning regulations on minimum parking

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

In reviewing the application, P&Z members determined the proposal violated the

regulations concerning the creation of traffic hazards and traffic congestion,

as well as rules concerning architectural harmony among buildings on a single

lot.

R2D Corporation wanted to build a store in the parking lot of the plaza to

make the commercial structure 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 because it is not very visible and also

because the 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 had wanted

to expand the plaza's parking lot to make up for some of the parking spaces

lost to building construction, and also to provide 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.

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.