P & Z Denies Application for Landscaping Business on King St.

The Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission considered two controversial applications at its May 19, 2011 meeting. They voted to defeat one and approve another by the slimmest of margins.

In a public hearing continued from the previous meeting on May 5, 2011, the commission heard testimony concerning the application of Steve Bescume of Connecticut Valley Landscaping, Inc. and the proposed industrial use of 1675 King St. The application sought a special permit for use of the property as a Contractor's Yard for a landscaping business. The property is owned by Tri-State Rental LLC.

Bescume provided a new site plan incorporating some of the recommendations of the commission from the previous meeting. Several neighbors spoke against the project on the grounds that construction equipment and the landscaping operation would create too much noise in the mostly residential neighborhood. Bescume explained that the site would be for the most part a parking lot for equipment and could not commit to a set hours of operation schedule. The nature of the business is dependent on the weather both in the lawn season with delays possible due to rain, and in the winter with the unpredictability of snowstroms.

“We generally like to work from 8 to 5, but there are occasions with rain where we have to work on Saturdays. We are not the kind of business where we can give that kind of commitment [to set hours],” Bescume said.

While several commissioners commended Bescume for the revisions to his site plain and general willingness to accommodate the recommendations of the commission, the application was rejected by a 4-3 vote. Commissioner Lori Longhi spoke against the proposed plan citing concern for the possible adverse impact on the neighborhood.

“The nature of the business is too intensive for that neighborhood,” Longhi said.

On the application of Vikramadithya Routha for a special use permit for a class 3 license for a liquor store, the commission voted in the affirmative by a 4-3 vote. The liquor store is proposed for the Galaxy Plaza located at 247 Hazard Ave.

Several owners of liquor stores also located on Hazard Ave. spoke against the application siting a saturation of liquor vendors in the general vicinity. Three stores are already located within a mile of the proposed location.

In addition to concerns over increased competition, the objectors sited traffic patterns and potential increase in motor vehicle accidents due to the presence of the liquor store. The commissioners agreed that the application met the requirements of the regulations including the required distances from parks, schools, and other locations.

The commission unanimously declined the application to transform 68 Elm St into a rooming house. Commissioners noted that no other rooming house permits have been issued by the Town of Enfield, and the property's record of police incidents made the permit unacceptable. 31 incidents between June 2007 and May 2011 were associated with the property. A rooming house permit could have allowed up to 14 legal residents to be housed within the 2400 square foot home.

The continuation of the public hearing for the proposed text change to allow a Highway Services Zone in Enfield will occur at the next scheduled meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission on June 2, 2011. The text change would allow the possible construction of a truck stop. The applicant for the text change is Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores, Inc., an Oklahoma based company which owns and operates rest stops throughout the country.