The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) met virtually on the evening of November 5 for the continued public hearing of Application 20.09 by Paul Hilario for a Special Exception and Site Development Plan for a property located at 135-139 Mount Pleasant Road.

According to the agenda, the request pertained to permitting the construction of buildings to store trucks and equipment and to perform repairs, as demonstrated on a set of plans titled “Site Development Plans Prepared for Hilario’s Service Center, Inc.”

Steve Sullivan of CCA Engineering spoke on behalf of the application, and went over some of the changes that have been made since he last spoke with the commission.

While sharing a site plan, he explained, “We did shift this middle building towards the front building at the applicant’s request. It used to be further back, but he wanted more room between these two buildings, so we split the difference between the front and the back.”

Other changes that were made, he said, pertained to driveways to satisfy a zoning regulation and the maneuvering plan with consideration to large tractor trailers coming into the site’s driveway.

Sullivan also took time to make a clarification on language used prior for the application, saying, “All three buildings are proposed ‘public garages,’ which by definition is a building for the use of storage, care, or repair of motor vehicles for enumeration. There might have been confusion when we called it a ‘warehouse.’”

To that note he added that Hilario’s will be the only business operating on the property.

Sullivan went on to inform the commission that the applicant had submitted the photometric analysis and manufacturer’s cut sheets of the lighting fixtures, as well as an A2 survey for public record to show how the multiple parcels would be combined.

Following his presentation, commission members were invited to ask their questions regarding the application.

P&Z member Jim Swift inquired, “The rear buildings, that interior space, is that going to be all open or is that going to be divided up?”

Paul Hilario, who was on the line, answered saying that the middle building will have an open plan and the rear building will be divided with a firewall partition wall, which was required by the fire marshal.

Swift also asked about how the parking would be utilized in terms of where damaged vehicles would be located.

Hilario said that damaged vehicles would be out of sight.

Sullivan added, “They could end up in the middle or rear building. Basically, behind the front building we believe there is ample space both exterior and interior with those two back buildings.”

P&Z member Corinne Cox asked what the hours of operation would be for the site and raised concern with tractor trailers potentially coming in at late evening hours.

Hilario said the current hours are 9 am to 4:30 pm and that he would not be “towing all night.”

P&Z Chair Don Mitchell brought up concern about the proposed development’s proximity to 133 Mt Pleasant Road, where the gas station is located.

“We’re all aware of the regulation that says 300 foot separating distance, and by making the westerly driveway emergency exit only I suppose the proposition is that that no longer counts for measuring and we would be measuring from the driveway at 131 to the single full service driveway at this new proposal,” Mitchell said.

He added that if they approved it as presented it would be creating an “illegal lot.”

Sullivan said he respectfully disagrees and interpreted the language of the regulation to mean “driveway to driveway,” while Mitchell interprets it as “lot line to driveway.”

Secretary Christine O’Neill asked in the meeting what the specific regulation was and was informed it is “4.03.317(c) regarding the required space between accessways for public garages,” as later noted in the meeting minutes.

After some discussion on the history of the regulation, it was brought up that continuing the public hearing would allow for the applicant to consult with town officials to see how the regulation applies to the application.

When the floor was open for public comments, Newtown resident Ernest Morgan, who says his property overlooks Hilario’s property, asked if the gas station would contribute to light pollution in the area.

Hilario said if it was bothersome, he could have the light fixtures adjusted.

Mitchell formally motioned to continue the public hearing to the group’s next meeting on November 19 and all were in favor.

Reverie Brewing Company

The P&Z also had a public hearing for Application 20.11 by Reverie Brewing Company.

The commission unanimously approved the application, stating, “Be it resolved that Application 20.11 by Reverie Brewing Company, for an Amendment to a Special Exception originally granted under Application 18.06, for a property located at 57B Church Hill Road, so as to permit the use of the back storage building as an auxiliary taproom and private events center with associated restrooms and parking, as demonstrated on a set of plans titled “Mark & Ryan Broderick, Reverie Brewing Co., 57B Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT” dated 10/19/20 and documents submitted to the Land Use Agency 10/20/20 is hereby found consistent with the plan of conservation and development and the comprehensive plan, and shall be approved.”

The approval will become effective November 28.

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