Torrington wetlands hearing continued after debate over industrial expansion and mitigation

The City of Torrington Inland Wetlands Commission on Aug. 5 continued a public hearing on an application by Alan Borghese to expand an industrial building and construct a parking lot at 3651 Touringford Street, citing the need for a revised plan showing planting and low-impact design details.

The application covers a roughly 4-acre parcel zoned for industrial use adjacent to an existing 93,000-square-foot building owned in part by Borghese. Borghese told the commission his tenant has about 130 employees and that the lot could allow an addition only if compensatory mitigation around wetlands could be accommodated; he said if the required mitigation reduced the developable area too much he might not proceed with purchasing the property.

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the proposal raises the usual tradeoffs for inland-wetlands review — protecting wetland functions while allowing industrial development that could preserve local jobs. The hearing drew technical testimony about soils and hydrology and at least one resident raised groundwater concerns.

Tom Stansfield, a professional soil scientist with Stansfield…