P&ZC Approves Plaza Makeover

The Planning & Zoning Commission approved an application to renovate the exterior of the shopping plaza located at 62-68 Merrow Road at its Monday meeting.

According to the meeting agenda, the shopping center owners began placing a stone facade on the exterior of the Route 195 shopping center that houses and  earlier this summer.

However, the town requested that the renovation be stopped since modifications to a building exterior require P&ZC and Design Advisory Board approval, according to the agenda. 

Town Planner Linda Farmer said that the Design Advisory Board recommended that the owners use the stone facade for the lower half of the building, as opposed to the entirety of the surface, and then transition to clap boards for the upper half. The recommendations fit in with the Tolland Village Area design guidelines.

The DAB also suggested that the wall facing the Mobil Station could be entirely covered with the stone facade.

The P&ZC also heard a presentation on a potential condominium development on Route 30 near the Vernon line. A representative from Gardner and Peterson presented the project, which proposes constructing 42 units on 10.5 acres at 95 Hartford Turnpike. Richard Lee owns the property.

The proposal includes a walking trail through the open space located at the back of the parcel. Of the 42 units, 39 would be two-bedroom, and three would be one-bedroom.

The property has access to municipal water, according to the presentation, and Lee would extend the town sewer line 1,400 feet to service the units.

The commission suggested that the condo units be staggered to provide some privacy for decks. No formal application has been made.

Check out diagrams of the condominum development plan in the PZC meeting packet.

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