Planning and Zoning Approves First Package Store Permit

The Prohibition Era in Wilton has ended.

Okay, that's a little dramatic. But the town did make history last night as the Planning and Zoning Commission approved its first special permit for the sale of alcohol. The application was submitted by Mitch Ancona, owner of Ancona's Wines and Liquors just over the Wilton border in Ridgefield. who plans to open a store in Wilton Center at 5 River Road.

Ancona has not had an easy ride to get to this moment. He purchased his proposed store location in Wilton in 2008, assuming that with a petition already circulating to bring an ordinance change before town voters and legalize package stores, it would not be long before the town moved from damp to wet.

The petition was scrapped at the last minute, leaving Ancona with a mortgage for a building he couldn't really use. But instead of throwing in the proverbial bar towel, he spearheaded a new petition himself and was ultimately and largely responsible for getting the issue onto 2009's ballot, where it was approved 2363 to 1801.

Since then, Ancona has been navigating the various bureaucratic and legal hurdles on the municipal and state levels necessary to get final approval to open his store. Following a smooth Jan. 25 public hearing and last night's unanimous approval of his special permit application from Planning and Zoning, Ancona now has only to hear from the state.

A few weeks ago, he said his case had been assigned to a state agent and that it would likely be processed in the fairly near future. Wilton Town Planner Bob Nerney said following last night's meeting that the state's application actually has a section that requires the town zoning enforcement officer's signature, which he can now willingly provide because of P and Z's approval.

Ancona still has a lot of work to do renovating his 2,153-square-foot store. But if the recent proceedings in Wilton are any indication, state approval shouldn't be far behind. He said previously he expects the store will be able to open sometime in the middle of March.

Competition, meanwhile, is not far behind, either. Two other special permit applications are before the commission at present, with package stores proposed at 203 Danbury Road (the old Texaco station) and 142 Old Ridgefield Road (next to Luca's Ristorante). Both expect to be higher-end fine wine stores, though they will carry a full range of products, including beer and spirits.