Zoning commission approves Leah Holdings' plan to keep seasonal farm stand and convert small retail to office

The Old Saybrook Zoning Commission voted 5–0 on July 20 to approve Leah Holdings LLC’s application to convert a 778‑square‑foot retail space at 1057 Boston Post Road into office use while maintaining an existing seasonal farm stand.

Chair Mark Calarella said the commission found the applicant had addressed key inspection points and conditions recommended by staff and the town planner. The commission’s approval is contingent on an updated site plan and compliance with the planner’s comments within a reasonable time frame (the chair suggested about 30 days).

Applicant Steve Jeske told the commission he had removed an existing wooden storage structure and revised his statement of use to clarify the farm stand will be a seasonal, wheeled stand and not a year‑round outdoor storage use. Jeske said, “One of the biggest changes I made was regarding the office use and the farm stand use…this is more like just small work areas that could be rolled in, rolled out.”

Commissioners focused on parking and accessibility. The applicant said he would provide a single ADA pull‑in van parking space with 8‑foot van dimensions and that curb stops and bollard locations would be addressed in the updated site plan. The commission asked that bollard and curb‑stop specifications conform with land‑use staff recommendations; the applicant agreed.

The commission’s motion to approve included conditions to (a) submit an updated site plan showing the relocated/clarified parking and any setback changes, (b) implement curb‑stop set back distances and bollards as required by staff, and (c) maintain the farm‑stand use as seasonal and accessory to the office use. The motion passed 5–0–0.