Developer Explores Site’s Industrial Potential

By Andrew Gorosko

An engineer/architect is exploring the industrial development potential of a 33-acre site at 90 Mt Pleasant Road, which has M-2A industrial zoning.

Peder Scott on February 7 discussed with Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members the types of land uses that would be allowed at the site, which lies on the east side of Mt Pleasant Road, across Mt Pleasant Road from Tory Lane.

Last year, P&Z members were considering a conceptual proposal from Mr Scott to construct a controversial major indoor/outdoor private recreational sports complex there, known as Newtown Sports Center. No construction application for that project, however, has been submitted.

At the P&Z session, Mr Scott illustrated the potential development of the site with a sketch that depicted the construction of four industrial buildings containing a total of 305,000 square feet of space.

Mr Scott said that the sketch was conceptual, describing the potential maximum development of the site.

Mr Scott said he would be interested in developing the site with a private road. Industrial uses at the site would be contained in spaces ranging from 15,000 to 40,00 square feet in area, he said. Such uses are known as “flex spaces,” which could be put to various industrial uses.

The developer suggested that some space at the site be used by a box company, which would use the space for the storage and distribution of cardboard containers.

Elizabeth Stocker, the director of planning and community development, said that when the M-2A zone was created by the P&Z, such a warehousing use for the site was not planned. Warehousing is allowed in other industrial zones, she said.

Mr Scott also suggested the use of the site by a firm that refurbishes industrial cranes.

Industrial uses of the site would generate less traffic than would a sports center, Mr Scott said.

The developer said he foresees a maximum of 20 potential businesses at such a site. A traffic study would be performed to estimate the amount of traffic that would be generated by industrial uses, he said.

Stressing that his conversation on potential uses of the site was an informal one, Mr Scott said he would submit a formal application to the P&Z regarding the site’s future development, if desired.

In response to a question from Mr Scott, P&Z Chairman Lilla Dean said that outdoor storage is not permitted in the M-2A zone.

The types of land uses that are allowed in the town’s sole M-2A zone are more limited than in other industrial zones because of the M-2A zone’s location, she said. The M-2A zone is located near residential properties.

Resident Patrick Napolitano of 13 Whippoorwill Hill Road questioned the practicality of locating an industrial crane refurbishment business at the site, noting the complexity of moving objects as large as cranes on roadways and the difficulty of making turns on roads with cranes.

Mr Napolitano was among of group of area residents who mounted opposition to the proposed Newtown Sports Center last year.