Bethany P&Z Again Denies Developer's Townhouse Application

Written by Fran Doba

By a unanimous decision Wednesday night, the Bethany Planning and Zoning Commission voted to deny the application submitted by James Sakonchik, a developer from Cheshire, to build a 4-unit townhouse at 4 Peck Road under the Affordable Housing ordinance, 8-30g.

Sakonchik’s first application back in 2014 was denied by this commission citing his refusal to accommodate their requests for expert testimony, studies and formal plans required for them to make a decision. After that denial in 2014, Sakonchik sued the Town of Bethany resulting in a ruling by the judge for both sides to go back and try to work out a solution.

In January, Sakonchik filed a new application for the development and during public hearings held in May and June, he again refused to accept most of the commission’s requests and conditions they said they needed before they could render a decision.

Among those conditions was an agreement to retain a third-party manager to oversee the annual affordability process, a decision by Sakonchik as to whether the units would be rented or sold and a more comprehensive traffic study that takes into consideration the proximity of Bethany Community School and the school bus traffic that stops near and passes by the corner of Amity and Peck Roads.

Attorney Peter S. Olson, retained by Planning and Zoning specifically for complex Land Use applications, said the next step is to inform the judge that a decision has been made and to forward the commission’s findings to her. The Judge has no deadline by which to respond. Sakonchik was not in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting to hear the decision.

Photo: Bethany Town Hall