Board hears preliminary plan for Farmington Avenue gas station; legal buffer, safety and traffic to be examined at public hearing

The Zoning Board of Appeals held a preliminary discussion about a proposed modernization of the gasoline station at 1462 Farmington Ave and whether to modify a 60-foot buffer imposed in 1966 that is recorded on the land records.

Attorney Amy Suchins, representing the property owner, said the legislative changes over the years have created confusion about which approvals are required and described the situation bluntly: "The best description of what the legislature did is probably a mess," she told the board, explaining that gasoline stations remain subject to a separate location-approval process under C.G.S. §14-321 even after other repair and auto uses moved to administrative sign-offs.

Suchins said the owner (Atlantis/AMG) wants to modernize the site — moving and expanding the building slightly, shifting some pavement, and potentially adding a small drive-through/coffee operation behind the canopy — but must resolve whether the historic 60-foot buffer remains applicable or whether the standard 25-foot setback governs. Town counsel and the city planner reviewed the statutory history and noted the ZBA retained discretionary authority to determine suitability for gasoline-station locations even where statutes were changed for other uses.

Board members raised safety and traffic concerns about the busy Farmington Avenue intersection and requested traffic and site studies to inform the upcoming public hearing. The board did not take action; staff and the applicant said they will return for a noticed public hearing next month with preliminary plans and additional information, including potential traffic analysis and septic relocation work.