By Susan MacEachron

The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) held a public hearing at its meeting on March 21 regarding the establishment of a two-family dwelling at 105 Greenwoods Road East. The continuation of the public hearing on the proposed dog park was deferred until the April 11 meeting.

Brenda Lilly described the plan for the two-family home, stating that the downstairs unit would be owner occupied and the upstairs would be a rental unit. In response to a question regarding requirements for egress from the second floor, it was clarified that, for two-family homes, safety is the purview of the building inspector and not the fire marshal. Lilly said they plan to remove the kitchen in the apartment above the garage.

The application was approved subject to the condition that any plans for additional apartments, such as above the garage, would require a modification to the permit. Tom Fahsbender, P&Z chair, noted that the plan supports the town’s need for additional housing. 

P&Z accepted an application to create an accessory dwelling unit at 305 Mountain Road. An existing barn is being replaced with a garage and an apartment. P&Z requested additional information to be provided for the public hearing scheduled for April 11.

Michael Halloran, zoning enforcement officer, provided an update on the outstanding violation at 24 Greenwoods Road West. The building is in the Village District, where a special permit is required for any exterior construction or remodeling. Property owner Ben Shiff removed the windows without a permit. A fine of $150 per day has been accruing since the citation notice on Jan. 17. Shiff has not responded.

Halloran said that representatives from the Connecticut-Asia Cultural Center at 207 Westside Road had contacted him about their plan to install three air-conditioning condensers on the street side of their complex. One condition of their special permit requires any air-conditioning units be designed and screened to minimize noise. P&Z authorized Halloran to allow them to proceed subject to a year-round evergreen border planted in front of the units.