Town OKs Resurrection Of Vacant Southington Parcel

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Following recent action by the town's zoning board, a vacant eyesore in town will be resurrected as a new place to get gas and buy coffee.

The Southington Planning and Zoning Commission last week unanimously approved the site plan for a new Queen Street property development.

The applicant, Ahmed Choundry, will build a brand new 4,000-square-foot gas station/convenience store at 1177 Queen St., which is similar to the use it served years ago.

That location is vacant and is a long-abandoned gas station, with only remnants of the prior gas station visible.

The new development would feature a store, gas pumps, and a gas pump canopy over the pump island.

Earlier this year, the application was approved by the Southington Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands Watercourses Agency.

As the lone item of business on a light agenda last week, the PZC on April 16 voted 6-0 in favor of the application, paving the way for work to begin. The meeting only lasted about 15 minutes.

Representatives of the applicant spoke before the PZC, discussing mostly technical aspects of the project, such as on-site wells, necessary property easements, and other aspects.

The application was finalized with assistance from town staff, as the applicant and local officials worked together to present the proposal to the PZC.

The applicant had hoped to have the necessary approvals done at the April 2 meeting, but zoning board members had several technical questions associated with the application.

Those issues were addressed and PZC members were satisfied with what was submitted compared to earlier in the month.

"I'd like to thank you for making it more complete. You've done everything in my mind that needed to happen," said Southington PZC Vice Chairman Steve Walowski to attorney Dorian Famiglietti, who represented the applicant.

"There were just too many gray areas left open. I like to see a finished plan. Your last one wasn't. This one is."

For the minutes of the April 16 Southington Planning and Zoning Commission, click on this link.

For all documents related to the application, click on this link.

From Feb. 8: 'Vacant Southington Parcel To Become New Gas Station/Store'