Busy Southington Golf Course's Parking Lot Expansion Put On Hold

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Plans to expand the parking lot at the busy Southington Country Club are on hold following last week's zoning board meeting.

The Southington Plan and Zoning Commission, on March 17 voted to delay a decision on a proposal to add a 94-space parking lot for the Southington Country Club, keeping a public hearing open as engineers revise plans to address neighborhood concerns.

The application, filed by Calvanese and Kastner LLC, seeks a special permit to expand parking at 248 Savage St., a 12-acre property in a residential zone that currently includes a church, rectory, and existing parking.

Steve Giudice of Cole Civil and Survey, representing the applicant, said the project would construct a new lot at the corner of Savage Street and Chapel Hill Road.

The design includes stormwater controls, pedestrian crossings, landscaping buffers, and updated lighting.

Giudice said the plan incorporates “low impact development strategies,” including a new infiltration basin to manage runoff from the proposed lot, which would connect to an existing detention basin maintained by the town.

He said the system would meet state and local drainage requirements and “there will be no significant impact on downstream properties.”

Commissioners focused on drainage, traffic safety, and pedestrian access.

Southington Assistant Town Engineer Connor Oakes said the proposed stormwater system would tie into the existing Chapel Hill drainage infrastructure.

PZC member Caleb Cowles asked whether the new basin would serve only the parking lot; Giudice confirmed it would be a separate system connected to the existing basin.

Commissioner Robert Britton asked about sidewalk connections. Giudice said the plan adds new walkways linking the lot to existing sidewalks along Chapel Hill and Savage Street, as well as crosswalks with flashing safety signals activated by pedestrians.

The proposal reduces existing curb cuts, consolidating access to a single driveway on Savage Street.

Community concerns

Residents raised concerns about traffic, visibility, and neighborhood impacts.

Resident Arthur Smedberg of Chapel Hill said relocating one of two planned crosswalks farther from the road would improve safety and reduce disruption.

“This is more preferable to the residents because it is a little bit farther away from the road and allows more room,” he said.

Smedberg also called for expanded screening and fencing to block views of the parking lot and headlights, and questioned whether nearby spaces could be repositioned.

“If the nine spots can be flipped to the other end of the parking lot, then we don’t have to worry about reflections that would go into our front windows,” he said.

He also raised concerns about potential on-street parking along Chapel Hill, which he described as narrow.

Commission Chairman Steve Walowski said officials would seek to prevent overflow parking on the street.

Giudice said the team is considering relocating crossings, increasing buffering, and possibly reconfiguring parking spaces.

He added that additional signage and “no parking” restrictions could be requested, though that would also apply to residents.

Southington Acting Planning and Community Development Director David Lavallee said the expansion of a recreational use in a residential zone is permitted by special permit under town regulations.

Ultimately, the commission voted unanimously to table the application.

Giudice said revised plans will be developed following a meeting with town staff and presented at a future commission meeting.

For the minutes of the March 17 Southington Plan and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.