Date: Fri 04-Jul-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Garbage-truck-P&G

Full Text:

Plan For Garbage Truck Garage Withdrawn

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Due to various technical deficiencies in its plans, a sanitation firm has

withdrawn its request for Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) approval to

build a 13,500-square-foot garage for garbage truck repair and maintenance in

Hawleyville.

Peter Fusco of P&G Sanitation was seeking a special exception to the zoning

regulations to allow a garage to be built on Lot 7 on the north side of

Barnabas Road in an industrial zone.

The proposal had been scheduled for a P&Z public hearing Wednesday.

In his review of the application, Zoning Enforcement Officer William Nicholson

noted the application contained a host of deficiencies and was in apparent

violation of the zoning regulations.

A town health department review of the plans indicated that the septic system

planned for the property was not large enough for the proposed building. In

recommending against approving the project, the health department stated the

proposal doesn't meet state health codes.

A Conservation Commission review suggested certain stormwater management

features for the project. Conservation Commission members recently approved

certain wetlands construction work for the proposal.

Town Engineer Ronald Bolmer questioned aspects of the proposal concerning

drainage and paving.

Residents Jeanette and William Ferry of 58 Barnabas Road, who live near the

development site, wrote to the P&Z stating that having a garbage truck garage

in their area would pose environmental hazards. They added that the presence

of such a facility would not benefit Hawleyville.

Attorney Joseph Biraglia, representing P&G Sanitation, noted the applicant had

failed to notify nearby property of the planned public hearing in the normal

fashion, but had received waivers to that zoning requirement from the property

owners.

P&Z Chairman Stephen Koch said the application appears to violate many aspects

of the zoning regulations, such as proposing a 38-foot-tall building when the

building height limit is 35 feet.

Mr Biraglia explained the applicant was ready to present to P&Z members with

some required information that hadn't initially been submitted.

P&Z member Thomas Paisley noted the applicant's traffic study doesn't address

the expected presence of the Danbury Square Box Company on Barnabas Road, a

packaging firm which plans to build a factory near the site proposed for a

garbage truck garage.

At that point, Mr Koch suggested that the applicant withdraw the application

and resubmit a new application for the project.

Mr Biraglia agreed to do so.

Engineer Ralph Gallagher, representing the applicant, said that many of the

concerns mentioned by town staff members have been addressed verbally by the

applicant.

Mr Koch pointed out, however, that the magnitude and extent of the technical

deficiencies is the issue before the P&Z.

Mr Gallagher agreed to withdraw the application, but noted that many of the

concerns listed by town officials could have been addressed at the Wednesday

meeting.

About a dozen Hawleyville residents who attended the session at Newtown Middle

School and were poised to voice their concerns about the proposal, then left

without addressing the P&Z.

The applicant is expected to make a new submission.

Future industrial development in Hawleyville has been a controversial topic.

Hawleyville residents recently protested plans to create more industrial

zoning along Barnabas Road in response to a local man's zone change request.

That applicant had wanted to build a prefabricated industrial building for use

by industrial service firms.