Torrington commission continues fence change request at 117 Water Street pending written fire department approval

The Torrington Planning and Zoning Commission on April 16 continued consideration of a site plan modification at 117 Water Street after the applicant and staff said they need written approval from the fire department and a city authorization to place a portion of the fence on fire department property.

Applicant Matthew Tack told the commission the approved site plan called for a six‑foot fence but that vehicle access to a burn trailer on the adjacent fire department property prevents installation of a six‑foot fence at the proposed location. "The site plan called our 6 foot fence. That's impossible to do based on the burn trailer," Tack said. He proposed a four‑foot chain‑link fence to separate brewery patrons from fire department parking and said the shorter fence would "satisfy the needs of the site plan, eliminate any kind of cross traffic between fire department personnel going through the brewery and brewery customers going through the fire department parking lot."

City staff requested written confirmation from the fire department and a maintenance/agreement document before the commission acts. The City Planner indicated the application appears to require a document that allows the applicant to construct on city property and assigns maintenance responsibility; staff has not yet received the fire department's written response. The commission continued the matter pending submission of the fire department's written approval and the city document permitting construction on and maintenance of the portion of the fence sited on city property.

No formal vote to approve the fence change was taken; the item was continued to allow staff to collect the requested written approvals and an agreement for the record.