PROSPECT — The Planning and Zoning Commission last week narrowly approved a controversial zone change for a residential property on Clark Hill Road.
By a 3-2 vote, the commission OK’d an application to change the zone of 114 Clark Hill Road to a business zone.
The 0.64 property is owned by Linda Ploski, who lives there with her husband, Gregory Ploski. Gregory Ploski is an alternate on the Planning and Zoning Commission and has recused himself from the matter.
The property is in the town’s gateway overlay zone, which allows for a mix of retail, industrial and residential uses. The property also exceeds the minimum lot size required in a business zone, which is 20,000 square feet, by 7,878 square feet.
The commission implemented the gateway overlay zone in 2014 as part of the town’s plan of conservation and development. The intent is to guide and promote development in the zone and to have more control over the look of any new commercial development in it. The zone stretches along Route 68 from the Naugatuck border to the center of town and along Route 69 from the center of town to the Waterbury line. Ploski’s property abuts Route 68, even though the address is listed on Clark Hill Road.
Residents, including many people who live near 114 Clark Hill Road, raised concerns about changing the zone of the property during public hearings on the application. They argued if a business is built on the land it would increase traffic in the area, take away from the residential character of the neighborhood, and start a domino effect that would lead to more people seeking zone changes and more commercial development in the area.
Linda Ploski previously said she and her husband have no plans for the land at this time.
Last week, commission Chair Gil Graveline said the commission has to consider the plan of conservation and development when ruling on the application. Graveline, who approved the change along with commissioners Jack Crumb and Sean Duffany, said the plan guides that if there’s any commercial development it would be along the town’s main thoroughfares.
Vice Chair Alan Havican and commissioner Kenneth Kemp voted against the application.
Graveline said he respects everyone’s opinion, but he feels the property is small and wouldn’t generate a lot of traffic if a business were to be built there in the future.
“I feel this wouldn’t be too intrusive to the neighborhood, truly,” he said.
Graveline was the only commissioner to speak before last week’s vote. The commission previously discussed the issue at its May 2 meeting.
According to unapproved minutes of the meeting, Crumb said the zone change falls within the town’s regulations and he didn’t think that the commission could deny the application.
Havican said the change would open a Pandora ’s box for the neighbors and it wouldn’t fit with the town, according to the meeting minutes. He felt the commission had leverage to deny it, the minutes state.
Kemp felt the area isn’t good for business due to the safety concerns, the minutes state.
