Southington Neighbors Win Rezone Fight Before Zoning Board

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A controversial plan to rezone residential land to industrial land didn't go over well with neighbors.

And it didn't go over well with the Southington Planning and Zoning Commission, either, who voted 7-0 at its last meeting to deny a business owner's proposal to rezone property he owns at 322 Lazy Lane.

Businessman Kurt Holyst, whose family owns a landscaping business and a dumpster/recycling company, was looking to move the border between residential and industrial zoning at his property to better facilitate future commercial development there.

But neighbors cried foul, expressing outrage at a proposal they said would harm their quality of life and, possibly, their property values.

Those sentiments were clear at a public hearing on Sept. 19, which was followed by the PZC's vote to deny the plan.

The hearing was opened at the Sept. 5 PZC meeting and continued to Sept. 19 after zoning board members told Holyst to reach out to neighbors about the proposal.

Speaking before the commission prior to denial, Holyst said neighbors shouldn't worry because the redrawn zoning district line would not abut anyone's land.

Plus, he said, there were currently no plans to develop that site anyway and this effort was just to increase development flexibility at the location in the future.

Holyst told town officials future, tax-revenue-generating industrial development could go there or, perhaps, less lucrative housing and/or subsidized housing could be built if zoning remained the same.

There were even two hearing speakers supporting the zone change.

Steve Giudice, of Plantsville-based Harry Cole and Sons, an engineering/surveying company, said he supported the zone change.

Giudice pointed out there is a 50-foot buffer mandate for the type of zoning being pitched by Holyst, which is technically called "I-2."

He also said Southington could use the tax benefits of more industry in town, a sentiment echoed by the other speaker in favor, Regina Coviello, of Southington.

However, the two supporters were outnumbered by several folks unhappy with the proposal.

Stan Slipski, of Southington, said he feared industrial development would negatively impact life for nearby residents.

He said, "The commission’s responsibility is to protect the town and the safety and well-being of the residents, not to protect businesses."

"If the intent is to protect businesses, then make all property I-2 and force people to move out of Southington," Slipski said.

Carmella Sniglio, a Lazy Lane resident, said potential future development could harm the lifetime investments of people living there.

"It is unfortunate for the residents on Lazy Lane who have made investments in their homes and hoping to retire there," she said. "We want businesses to grow without impacting the people. It will be disheartening if this is approved."

Ultimately, PZC members agreed with the opponents, especially since there were no specific plans for the site.

Southington PZC member Jennifer Clock said the opposition was an example of folks "coming together to protect their neighborhood," adding this type of activism is needed in the community.

Southington PZC Chairman Robert Hammersley encouraged Holyst to get involved with town efforts to update its plan of conservation and development when the current one expires in 2026.

He said he is "against making any neighborhood unattractive."

For the minutes of the Sept. 18 Southington Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.