Madison Discusses Commercial Development Potential

MADISON, CT — The Madison Planning and Zoning commission met earlier this month to review areas of commercial development potential in town.

According to meeting minutes, Director of Planning and Economic Development David Anderson summarized the activities of both subcommittees. Regarding housing diversity, the subcommittee is in favor of pursuing the following: encourage development of rental apartments and units; encourage construction of smaller, more affordable houses; encourage development that would be age focused, with accessibility options built in, thus allowing people to age in place.

Commercial Development Potential in Madison

Regarding commercial development potential, the subcommittee focused on four areas: the General’s Residence, at Boston Post Road and East Wharf, which is in foreclosure and in need of repair; 59 Boston Post Road, which is in a commercial district; property between Academy School and Route 79, which is zoned residential but only has one residential home; and the Route 80 circle shopping plaza, wherein across the street is a former daycare facility, which is now vacant.

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Mr. Anderson stated that with regards to those properties, it is the subcommittee’s goal to develop a rational way of looking at them for future development, such as whether they require zone changes. Alex Province of 917 Boston Post Road was invited to share his concerns about the General’s Residence, since his house is across the street from the structure.

Mr. Province stated that he is concerned about future development of the parcel, as he would not want it to be made commercial; he would like to see the General’s Residence preserved and renovated as a historic structure, and he would hate to see it demolished.

If too many of these older homes and structures are replaced or torn down, then Madison isn’t Madison anymore, Mr. Province stated. Chairman Clark and Vice Chairman Larson stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission cannot control the process, once someone buys a piece of property.

Mr. Anderson stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission does have options available to it; for instance, an overlay zone could be created, and that zone could be specific to preservation of historically significant properties; a regulation could be crafted that would state that in order to develop on the site, the developer has to try to preserve the house. The General’s Residence has 1.4 acres, Mr. Anderson stated.