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Neighbors press planners over East Main gas station and automated car wash; hearing continued
Summary
A proposed gas station, convenience store and automated drive‑through car wash on East Main Street drew concerns about traffic, stormwater and safety. Applicant said key studies are pending; the Planning & Zoning Commission continued the public hearing to June 10 to allow submission of the traffic, wetlands and containment reports.
A proposal for a gas station with a convenience store, drive‑through and automated drive‑through car wash at 472–486 East Main Street and an adjoining portion of 19 Hillside Avenue drew sharp local concern and a continuation of the public hearing at the Torrington Planning & Zoning Commission meeting on May 20. The hearing was continued to June 10 to allow the applicant to submit outstanding technical reports.
Applicant representative Natim Khaled told the commission he and the property owners are working to provide items the city requested and expected a traffic engineer’s final report “by next week,” including turning‑movement and stacking analyses for the car wash. Khaled also said the team will submit architectural materials for the Architectural Review Committee and environmental containment reports related to underground tanks and washwater.
Neighbors packed the public‑comment portion and warned the commission the intersection is already congested. “This is going to be a traffic nightmare,” said Rebecca Connors, who lives on Hillside Avenue. She urged the commission to consider how vehicles might cut through adjacent parking lots and hotel driveways to access East Main, and raised concerns about snow and stormwater runoff: “Is it going to be running into East Main or into Hillside Avenue…with God only knows what kind of chemicals they’re using in the car wash?”
An adjacent property representative, identified as Rosha of Days in Torrington Tria LLC, said a gas station next door raises insurance and fire‑risk concerns and asked for screening or retaining walls to prevent encroachment on hotel parking and guest operations. Resident Larry McCone said the site “just seems like a bad idea” and noted nearby fast‑moving traffic from the Route 8 exit and existing drivethroughs that have previously caused queuing on East Main.
Commissioners and staff repeatedly pressed the applicant for technical details the commission needs to judge impacts. Planner Jeremy Lifer said the commission requires a written culvert evaluation to determine whether wetlands jurisdiction applies, a full traffic impact study and reviewed turning diagrams that include larger vehicles and car‑wash queuing, clarification of hours of operation (the applicant indicated operations would be 5 a.m. to midnight), and photometric and containment details for the pumps and washwater. Lifer also reminded the applicant that city engineering comments, anti‑tracking measures, and architectural elevations must be on the record before the commission can conclude its review.
After public comment and staff discussion, the applicant requested a 35‑day extension to the statutory hearing period; the commission approved the extension and formally continued the public hearing to June 10, 2026. No final vote on the special exception or site plan was taken at the May 20 meeting.
What happens next: The commission will consider the applicant’s supplemental materials at or before its June 10 meeting; staff recommended the traffic study, wetlands/culvert analysis, photometric plan, containment/enclosure reports and architectural elevations be in the file prior to final action.
