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Shelton hearing on Great River Water Club PDD modification focuses on indoor sports, parking and waterfront amenities
Summary
Applicant for PDD No. 66 proposed replacing a planned medical office at 704–726 River Road with a recreation‑focused club featuring indoor padel and pickleball courts, a boathouse and restaurant; the public hearing closed and the commission will consider the modification at a future meeting.
The Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 8 heard a public presentation on application 25‑19, a proposed modification to Plan Development District No. 66 that would replace a planned medical office building at 704–726 River Road with a recreational facility anchored by indoor padel and pickleball courts, a boathouse with rowing facilities and a riverfront restaurant.
Attorney Dominic Thomas, representing Recar LLC and associated applicants, said the amendment removes “professional business and medical office” from the statement of uses and substitutes “indoor sports and club‑based sports activities.” He told the commission the change also shifts parking requirements, proposing one parking space per 300 square feet of sporting activity area to reflect the new use.
Applicant Rick Kroll described the operation as a membership club that will remain open to the public: “It’s going to be our sister club…It’ll be open to the public, but a membership kind of program,” Kroll said, adding the facility will include six padel courts, five indoor pickleball courts, restaurant seating and marina‑related amenities including dock access and boat storage.
Project consultants reviewed site changes: building footprints were adjusted to move the recreation space into the former medical office footprint, roofing and elevation changes were shown, and the team noted remediation and clean‑closure work completed on the former auto‑suds/brownfield portion of the property. Andrew Kuzmich, the project civil engineer, said sidewalks along Route 110/River Road will include a 3–4 foot grass buffer consistent with DOT guidance.
In public comment, Nick Watson of the Sports Center of Connecticut, which operates on River Road, urged caution about market saturation for paddle and pickleball facilities and said competing nearby businesses could be affected. Kroll answered that the club’s membership model and limited walk‑in retail would be complementary and invited cooperation between operators.
The commission closed the public hearing by unanimous vote but did not take a final vote on the modification at this meeting; the application will be placed on a future agenda for further discussion and potential action.
