P&Z Approves Office Building

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has approved a local developer’s plans to build a third office building on Berkshire Road in Sandy Hook, near Newtown High School.

P&Z members June 7 approved James and Kathryn Maguire’s proposal for a change of zone from Professional (P-1) to Business (B-3) for 13 Berkshire Road. The P&Z also approved a special exception to the zoning regulations to construct a 7,500-square-foot office building for general use there.

The zone change is consistent with the adjacent land use, which is an office building, said P&Z Chairman Daniel Fogliano. The Maguires have built two similar office buildings there during the past several years.

In approving plans for office building construction, P&Z members decided the project would not adversely affect the Pootatuck Aquifer. The site is in the town’s Aquifer Protection District (APD).

The zoning for the site allows up to five offices to be located in such an office building. Allowed uses include accountants, architects, lawyers, engineers, surveyors, real estate, insurance, banks, and financial firms. Zoning prohibits medical offices, dental offices, and medical labs there.

The Maguires modified their development plans for the project following a review of the design by town staff members. Thirty-two parking spaces will be provided.

The B-3 zoning approved for the site would allow a wider range of uses for the property than P-1 zoning allows.