Package Stores By the Playground?

Plans to bring package stores to Wilton continued to progress at last week's Planning and Zoning Committee meeting, as the town nears the Dec. 7 public hearing date on the issue.

Committee members are still ironing out the details and verbiage of the necessary zoning regulation amendments and had requested that SWRPA officials review the proposal.

"At our last hearing, we were awaiting comment form SWRPA," said Chairwoman Sally Poundstone, noting that they had not yet received a response. "The deadline passed today so I think we can safely feel that they're not terribly concerned with this action that we may or may not take."

Currently at issue is what kind of restrictions should be placed on package stores' proximity to educational institutions, particularly residential educational facilities. Committee member Dona Pratt mentioned the two ABC housing facilities in Wilton as an example, stating that she still supports a mandate that would prevent liquor sales from taking place within 50 feet of such institutions.

"It's really for the same reason that we're considering having a distance from a church building or school building...it's a sign of respect," she said. "If I understand how ABC works...they are competing for students to come to Wilton instead of elsewhere...so we have to be cognizant of ABC's ability to recruit scholars to their program."

A few of the other committee members also expressed concerns that without such a regulation, schools' images and enrollments could suffer. Some members and residents, alike, believe that even a 50-foot provision would not be enough. Further complicating matters is the fact that under Wilton's current definitions, nursery schools are not considered educational institutions and, therefore, would not be included in the mandate.

A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Town Hall Annex.