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Neighbors raise wetlands, traffic and safety concerns at 39 McBride Road shop proposal
Summary
At a Planning & Zoning Commission hearing, owner D. Lorusso proposed moving a drainage business onto a 17.5‑acre home lot with new barn and shed; eight neighbors voiced objections over wetlands impact, noise, traffic and safety. The commission requested vehicle lists/photos and an Inland Wetlands comment and continued the application to April 20.
The Litchfield Planning & Zoning Commission opened a public hearing April 6 for a special exception to permit shop and storage at 39 McBride Road, a 17.5‑acre residence owned by D. Lorusso. The applicant seeks to relocate an existing drainage business from Thomaston, build a gambrel barn (40' x 72') and a 14' x 36' shed, expand the driveway with a new north‑side egress and operate Monday–Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Lorusso was present with an assisting representative, Greg Wilson. The minutes record that the business currently has one employee and that the additional building area beyond the maximum allowed is proposed for personal storage. Commissioners said a 30% elevation change will make the barn appear as a single story from McBride Road and noted the proposed siting at 133 feet from the front setback and 86 feet from the side.
Eight neighbors—K. Walser (47 McBride), B. Famigletti (48 McBride), K. Odonnell (57 McBride), E. McGregor (21 McBride), M. Dunn (18 McBride), R. Cook (69 McBride), J. Hill (57 McBride) and F. Stack (31 and 58 McBride)—expressed concerns about impacts on two ponds/wetlands on the property, the barn’s scale relative to the house, increased traffic from a circular driveway and additional ingress/egress, safety for neighborhood children, noise from commercial hours, commercial deliveries, the number of seasonal employees, and how future expansion of shop/storage would be controlled.
The commission requested a detailed list and photographs of personal and commercial vehicles with gross vehicle weights and estimated daily trip counts, and said it would seek a comment from the Inland Wetlands Commission before the next meeting. TAHD approval for the application is still pending. The hearing was continued to the April 20 meeting.
