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Commission recommends against Bob's Discount Furniture variance for trailer storage at 80 Stonington Road
Summary
Norwich planning staff and commissioners told the commission that the proposed permanent use of 80 Stonington Road for tractor-trailer storage appears to be outdoor storage rather than incidental parking; the commission voted unanimously to send a non-favorable recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Norwich Commission on the City Plan voted Feb. 18 to issue a non-favorable referral to the Zoning Board of Appeals on a use-variance application for 80 Stonington Road, where Bob's Discount Furniture seeks to continue and expand tractor-trailer storage on the site.
Staff explained the history: a temporary administrative accommodation previously allowed limited trailer placement for up to six months while the applicant pursued an interior warehouse reconfiguration at a separate facility. That accommodation was extended once but staff determined subsequent requests to expand trailer placement go beyond incidental parking and function as outdoor storage/warehousing, which is not permitted in the General Commercial (GC) zoning district. The zoning-enforcement officer's earlier determination that the use is not permitted was included in the referral memo to the commission.
Commission discussion raised concerns about permanence, aesthetics, and the nuisance risk of long-term trailer storage. Several commissioners said trailers kept for extended periods tend to deteriorate and create eyesores. Commissioners noted reports of tractor trailers parked in other municipal lots (stadium/back parking) and suggested site visits might be warranted. Following discussion, a commissioner moved that the commission make an unfavorable recommendation to the ZBA; the motion passed unanimously.
The unfavorable referral will be transmitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals ahead of its public hearing on March 10, 2026; commissioners noted that a non-favorable recommendation does not bind the ZBA but becomes part of the public record for its decision.
