Simsbury Zoning Commission Public Hearing Silverman Group Development

Zoning Commission Public Hearing February 5, 2024

There is a song, “Know when to walk and know when to walk away.”

The Silverman Group is defending a plan, hearing after hearing, that is inconsistent with the contract they signed with the Town and The Hartford Financial Group that the land must be developed as a mixed use development.

Over the years, the financial climate has changes and Commercial buildings are not viable financially at the present time.

The present site plan submission appears to be a false hope that the applicant can persuade the Zoning Commission to understand their dilemma to develop the property under the present conditions.

The Zoning Commission is not a Social Service Organization that uses the economic development tool to enhance a failed project and allow the developer to maximize their profits at the expense of the residents.

This project, as presented does not meet the restrictions imposed on the Silverman Group and should be denied.

The Silverman Group has several options:

They can withdraw the site plan, sell the property for an industrial use or swap land with another developer that eliminates the original caveat of Mixed-Use and use the industrial designation on the land.

As a result of my questions posed to AI on what could be developed on 70 acres of Industrial land, one of the results was a Theme Park.

An indoor/outdoor Theme Park will increase the tax base without imposing an impact on the Town resources.

Denying the Silverman Group’s application has many positive options for future development. It is time to think out-of-box and come up with solutions that balance the need for economic development without negatively impacting the Town.

The application as presented tonight should be denied.