Zoning commission approves amended special permit for auto repair and sales at 237 East Main Street

The Bristol Zoning Commission voted to approve an amendment to a special permit for an automotive repair and sales operation at 237 East Main Street.

The commission approved special permit application 2546 with six stipulations, including that all outstanding staff review comments must be satisfactorily addressed before the permit becomes effective and that the permit authorizes motor vehicle repair/service and sales with up to 22 vehicles displayed for sale and eight spaces for customers and employees. The commission also required that the special permit and its conditions remain with the property and that the commission will conduct a review within one year of approval. Noncompliance may result in rescission following a duly advertised hearing.

Staff had read the application into the record and noted the matter had been continued from the December meeting. The applicant’s attorney explained that previous zoning enforcement issues had been addressed, described planned restriping, reinstallation of curbing and limited landscaping (boxwoods) to create separation between parking, landscape and wetland/floodplain areas, and said remaining site‑plan comments would be resolved before issuance.

The commission conducted a roll call vote after a motion and second. The vote passed unanimously (yes cast by all commissioners present). The special permit will not become effective until the applicant submits revised plans addressing staff comments and files the permit in the city land records as required by the Connecticut General Statutes.

Next steps: the applicant must submit final materials responding to staff comments; the commission will schedule a compliance review within one year.