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Planning commission approves duplex at 5 Harris Street over parking and safety objections
Summary
After lengthy debate over a tight driveway layout and whether a parked car would sit one foot from living space, the Enfield Planning & Zoning Commission approved a special permit allowing Jose F. Cabrera to convert 5 Harris Street to a duplex, 4–3, while urging applicant to notify neighbors before any fence moves.
The Enfield Planning & Zoning Commission on May 14 approved a special use permit to allow a duplex at 5 Harris Street, despite sustained concerns from commissioners and a neighbor over parking configuration and safety.
The applicant, Jose F. Cabrera, presented revised plans and said the driveway and parking layout had been adjusted to fit four vehicles and that he would install a containment wall if needed. Staff reported the site’s survey and architectural plans and said the application met zoning requirements for lot coverage and side-yard setbacks. Staff also read a letter from the adjacent neighbor, Sigfredo Irizarry, questioning the survey methodology; the surveyor’s written response—submitted the same day—described use of a Carlson robotic total station and Class A-2 plan standards.
Commissioners debated whether the proposed off-street parking was truly functional, with multiple members describing the proposed 7.5-foot drive aisle as tight and questioning how cars would maneuver. Commissioner John Petronella (voice recorded in roll call) raised parking-dimension concerns, saying a typical drive aisle is about 12 feet. Commissioner Linda DeGray said she was troubled by “a car parked a foot from a living area,” calling it a safety issue. One commissioner noted that a recently passed state law (Public Act 25-1, special session) will limit the town’s ability to deny some small residential applications on parking grounds after July 1, but said that applied to future filings rather than today’s decision.
Neighbor Siegfriedo Irizarry told the commission he was concerned the applicant might move a shared fence and asked to be notified if any fence relocation would occur so he could hire a surveyor. Cabrera told the commission the new survey indicates he likely will need to move the fence and agreed to notify the neighbor and allow time for any independent review.
After debate, the commission called the roll. The recorded vote on the motion to approve was 4 in favor and 3 opposed. The commission approved the duplex special permit with the condition that applicants follow staff conditions listed in the record.
The applicant was congratulated and told to coordinate fence work and notification with the neighbor and staff. The commission’s action is a final local land-use approval; any associated building permits and civil property matters (such as fence location) remain subject to separate processes and private resolution.
