Clinton Zoners Approve Shopping Center Plan, Continue Landfill Closure Review

CLINTON, CT — The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a special exception and coastal site plan for a proposed shopping center on July 13, clearing the way for redevelopment of the former commercial property while continuing its review of a proposal to cap and permanently close the town landfill.

The commission voted 8-0 to approve the shopping center special exception and a related coastal site plan after a lengthy public hearing that focused on architectural design, traffic, lighting and future development of the site. Commissioners also voted unanimously to continue the public hearing on the landfill closure project until Aug. 17 so additional questions could be addressed by the Town Council and other town officials.

The meeting began at 7 p.m. and adjourned at 10:25 p.m. at Town Hall.

Shopping center approved after public hearing

The commission held a public hearing on an application by H&H Engineering Associates for a shopping center at 224 E. Main St. that includes a proposed 20,664-square-foot Aldi grocery store, 95 parking spaces and a future 6,000-square-foot commercial building. The proposal also includes modifications to the Route 1 entrance to allow eastbound-only access, stormwater improvements and new landscaping.

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Engineer Seamus Moran told commissioners the project already had received approvals from the Connecticut River Area Health District for its septic system, the Inland Wetlands Commission and the town's Design Review Board. Traffic engineer Guleid Mohamood said a traffic analysis found the existing roadway network could accommodate projected traffic when the development is expected to open in 2028.

Commission members questioned the applicant about the future commercial building, lighting levels and architectural requirements. Vice Chair Walter "Beau" Clark argued that, because the application was for a shopping center rather than a single retail building, the commission should receive architectural drawings for the future building unless it granted a waiver permitted under the zoning regulations.

Residents also raised concerns during the hearing.

Matt Williams of Ironworks Road urged commissioners not to approve future buildings without reviewing their architectural designs and questioned whether the proposed exterior materials reflected Clinton's character. Wesley Kavanaugh asked whether the traffic study reflected summer traffic volumes and expressed concern about parking lot lighting.

Project architect Clint Battista said the building had undergone two rounds of review by the Design Review Board and was revised in response to the board's comments while remaining consistent with Aldi's prototype design. Moran said the Design Review Board supported the materials and landscaping.

Before acting on the application, commissioners rejected Clark's motion to deny a requested waiver of architectural drawings by a 7-1 vote, then approved the waiver by a 7-1 vote, with Clark casting the lone dissenting vote on the approval.

The commission then unanimously approved the shopping center special exception with 11 conditions, including revised lighting to meet zoning standards, future architectural review of the second commercial building, limits on truck idling and trash collection hours, and landscaping maintenance requirements. Commissioners also unanimously approved the associated coastal site plan.

Landfill closure hearing continued

Commissioners also heard several hours of testimony on a proposal by Loureiro Engineering Associates to cap and permanently close the former Clinton landfill on Old Nod Road under a Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection closure plan.

Loureiro representatives said the project would satisfy a long-standing DEEP consent order by installing a new cap, improving drainage, upgrading stormwater infrastructure and importing approximately 115,000 cubic yards of fill over an estimated two-year construction period. The project would generate an average of about 50 truck trips per day, according to project engineers.

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Much of the discussion centered on oversight of imported fill material and long-term monitoring of the site.

Commissioner Cinzia Lettieri repeatedly advocated for the town to retain an independent licensed environmental professional to verify incoming material, while Chair Michael Rossi said decisions involving additional testing or funding would rest with the Town Council rather than the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Matthew Kennedy, chairman of the Water Pollution Control Commission and a licensed environmental professional, supported the landfill closure but encouraged the town to establish independent testing and documentation review in addition to Loureiro's procedures. He said the town, as property owner, could adopt requirements beyond those required by the state.

Following public comment, commissioners unanimously voted to continue the hearing until Aug. 17 and forward questions to the Town Council regarding long-term monitoring, independent testing, future maintenance costs and responsibility for the site after construction is complete.

In other business, commissioners noted that a commission-sponsored zoning amendment related to parking requirements had been withdrawn before the meeting, approved the June 8 meeting minutes by a 7-0-1 vote, and tabled discussion of Plan of Conservation and Development implementation until Aug. 17.