Torrington planning commission approves 2‑lot resubdivision at 53 McDermott Avenue with conditions

The Torrington Planning and Zoning Commission on April 16 approved a two‑lot resubdivision of property at 53 McDermott Avenue, splitting a 2.41‑acre parcel into a 0.675‑acre lot that contains an adult‑use retail cannabis facility and a 1.73‑acre lot that includes a former office building and gravel parking area. The approval carried with conditions including demolition or bonded demolition of the existing building on Lot 2, a required fee in lieu of open space, and traffic approvals from the city engineer and police traffic division.

The commission granted waivers of immediate submission of a construction plan, a sediment and erosion control plan and a stormwater management plan, finding the lots are suitable for future commercial development. The commission required that the applicant either place a lien on each resulting parcel for $7,750 to be paid at time of sale or submit the full fee‑in‑lieu amount of $15,500 at the time of filing approved subdivision maps, consistent with section 5.5.3 of the city's subdivision regulations.

Why it matters: the split separates an existing adult‑use cannabis retail operation from an adjoining parcel that will be available for future commercial development; conditions attached to approval address public‑safety access and record‑keeping steps the commission said must be completed before map filing.

Key details from staff review and the commission's conditions follow. The city planner, Jeremy Leifer, reported that proposed Lot 1 and Lot 2 meet minimum lot widths (81.34 feet and 80.14 feet) and minimum lot sizes (31,028 square feet and 74,136 square feet). Leifer recommended several conditions, including that the existing building adjacent to McDermott Avenue that would fall inside proposed Lot 2 not meet the front yard setback be demolished prior to any development and that the demolition be bonded before filing subdivision maps and deeds.

The plan proposes that the northern property entrance for proposed Lot 1 be a two‑way entrance with a right‑turn‑only exit, a change from the previously approved site plan (No. 1441). The commission required the applicant to obtain approval from the city engineer and the police traffic division for any two‑way entrance/exit configuration; if the two‑way configuration is not approved, the applicant must show an easement allowing customers on proposed Lot 1 to exit across proposed Lot 2 to the previously approved exit. The city engineer also recommended a center median on McDermott Avenue by the northern entrance; the engineer said the median would be installed at the property owner's expense if turning movements require it.

The application included an appraisal (Bennett Franklin Real Estate Services, March 27, 2025) placing the land value used to calculate the 10% fee at $155,000, producing a 10% fee of $15,500. Leifer recommended the commission accept a fee in lieu of open‑space set‑asides because of the property's characteristics and provided two acceptable methods to satisfy the fee: record a lien of $7,750 on each lot payable at sale/transfer, or submit the full $15,500 at the time of map filing.

Staff reviewers supplied related comments that the commission incorporated into conditions. The Inland Wetlands Commission issued permit WP‑24‑49 on Feb. 4, 2025; the Torrington Area Health District returned positive comments without comment. The city engineer and police traffic sergeant advised on traffic control and median placement; WPCA staff noted that a new sanitary lateral would be required if a new connection is needed. The commission required that new property pins be set or bonded prior to the chairman's signature and filing of the re‑subdivision map, and that final paper and mylar copies of the approved plans (bearing an engineer's seal and chairman's signature box) be submitted and filed with the city clerk within 90 days of signature.

Judy Schuler, a professional engineer representing the applicant, said she was "here tonight on behalf of East West, to represent the application and really address any questions you might have." No members of the public spoke in favor or in opposition during the public hearing portion.

Next steps: the applicant must meet the listed conditions — including securing written approvals from the city engineer and police traffic division, completing demolition or posting a demolition bond for the building on Lot 2, setting or bonding property pins, and completing filing requirements — before the chairman signs and the subdivision map is filed.