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Planning Commission approves athletic upgrades, accessory unit and Seven Brew drive‑thru; pavilion modification to be administratively reviewed
Summary
At its June 16 meeting the Norwich Planning Commission approved a site plan for Fontaine Field upgrades, a special permit for an accessory apartment, and a Seven Brew drive‑thru with staff conditions; it also delegated administrative approval for a pavilion at the waterfront redevelopment.
The Norwich Planning Commission on June 16 disposed of several land‑use matters after lengthy public testimony on an unrelated shelter application.
Fontaine Field (STP 1062) — approved: Gale Associates presented planned athletic upgrades at Fontaine Field (8 Mahan Drive) including conversion to a six‑lane urethane running track, synthetic turf inside the track, a permanent 146‑seat grandstand, temporary bleachers, a modular restroom and a storage building, plus ADA pathways to the senior center. The commission approved the site plan unanimously with standard engineering and planning conditions; the project team estimated total cost, including an alternate for additional parking, at about $5 million and plans to seek bids later this year with possible construction starting March 2027.
Accessory apartment/garage — approved with conditions: A homeowner sought a special permit to build a garage with an accessory unit. Staff recommended, and the commission required, staking of the garage location before foundation work, an as‑built plan, and a deed restriction to ensure any rental meets the accessory‑unit rules and owner occupancy requirements. The motion to approve included those conditions and passed.
Seven Brew drive‑thru (New London Turnpike) — approved with staff stipulations: Stonefield Engineering presented a two‑lot redevelopment for a 510‑sq‑ft Seven Brew drive‑thru with two order lanes, a bypass/through lane, employee parking and subsurface stormwater infiltration. The applicant submitted a traffic analysis and worked with DOT on access concerns. Planning staff asked that the applicant extend the sidewalk to the nearby bus stop, revise the monument sign to comply with zoning, confirm bike‑rack design, and use native, non‑invasive planting. The commission approved the project subject to those conditions and a queuing management plan for the opening period.
Waterfront pavilion (SP 26‑04) — administrative approval authorized: The zoning enforcement officer asked the commission to delegate administrative authority to the city engineer and zoning officer to review and approve final design and location for a roughly 23‑by‑70‑foot pavilion accessory to an approved waterfront food‑service building (SP 26‑04). The commission granted the delegation, provided all building, fire, health and floodplain requirements are satisfied.
What’s next: Each approval was subject to the standard requirement that applicants return final revised plans addressing city engineer and other staff comments. The Fontaine Field applicant must complete engineering responses and coordinate CIF funding review; the Seven Brew applicant must submit the revised sign, sidewalk and landscaping plans; the accessory‑unit owner must file required land‑record restrictions and as‑built documentation.
Quoted by staff: Planning staff recommended a sidewalk extension to improve pedestrian access to the Seven Brew site and flagged monument‑sign non‑compliance as a required revision.
Ending note: The commission handled these items after a prolonged special‑permit hearing on 248 Broadway; that shelter hearing was continued to July 25.
