MONROE, CT — Town officials are considering a request to discontinue a portion of Spring Hill Road and a cul-de-sac to allow a developer to redevelop a parcel at 255 Monroe Turnpike for a restaurant use, though it is early in the process.
The portion of the street that would be discontinued borders 365, 373 and 375 Spring Hill Road and 255 Monroe Turnpike. Lorraine Tartaglia, of Tartaglia Commercial Properties, made the request on behalf of Two Fifty Five Monroe Turnpike LLC.
If it is approved, Town Planner Rick Schultz said the discontinued portion of the road could be split between abutting property owners.
Following positive reports from Police Chief Keith White, Public Works Director Chris Nowacki and Schultz, First Selectman Ken Kellogg sent the proposal to the Planning and Zoning Commission for an 8-24 Referral.
On Thursday night, the commission agreed to recommend discontinuing the portion of the road on the condition that all affected property owners are notified and have a way out of their street. The proposal will now go before the Town Council for meetings and a final vote.
The Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation passed by a vote of 4 to 1 with Chairman Michael O’Reilly, Vice Chairman Bruno Maini, Robert Westlund and Ryan Condon in favor and Leon Ambrosey against.
“You have multiple property owners there and one wants to abandon the road,” Ambrosey said, while noting the property owner at 373 Spring Hill Road would lose all of the street frontage.
Commissioners were told a design for a private driveway will be proposed to allow access to all affected properties and that all of the owners will be notified of the request to discontinue the road and cul-de-sac, so they can make their voices heard before a final decision is made.
“This is something where the town would not participate in any cost,” Schultz said. “The private property owners have to say yay or nay to accept property.”
However, Ambrosey said he would have felt more comfortable approving an 8-24 Referral if all of that was done first and the commission knew exactly what was being proposed.
