Commission approves ARCH-zone for 310 Buckland Street over neighbor objections

The Southington Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve a zone change and preliminary conceptual site plan for an age-restricted community at 310 Buckland Street (ZZ587), despite extensive public opposition.

At a July 21 public hearing, Kratzer Jones planner Seth Bovino described the 3.39-acre site and the applicant's proposal to rezone the parcel to an ARCH Z (an age-restricted floating zone). "The subject property is located at 310 Buckland Street...The land area is 3.39 acres," Bovino told the commission, and he said the proposal provides 20% green space, less than 50% impervious coverage and frontage in excess of the minimum requirement. The developer proposes ranch-style duplexes and one single-family unit, with 10% of the units dedicated to workforce housing.

Neighbors who spoke at the hearing said the change would harm the neighborhood's character and raised health and safety concerns. Tommy Angelo Lowe, who said his family has historical ties to the area, warned that "to propose building a property on contaminated land is ridiculous," and Melinda Santana, whose family has lived adjacent to the parcel for decades, said the lack of sidewalks and added traffic would threaten safety. John Bosse, a nearby resident, expressed support: "For the reasons that the developer stated, I think this is a good use of this piece of land."

Developer Mark Lovely said the applicant would perform a Phase I environmental assessment before purchase and emphasized buffers and conservation easement options to protect existing trees. "We will do a Phase I because we always do one anyway before we do the site plan approval...we just won't buy anything until we do," he told the commission. Lovely also said the plan retains about 29% open space in related filings and that the ARCH zone prevents school-age children from living in the units.

Commissioners debated competing priorities: some members said the ARCH zone would reduce impacts on schools and yield higher tax revenues without adding students, while neighbors urged protection of open space and wildlife corridors. Chair Steve Wolowski noted the commission's limited ability to prevent development on privately owned land.

In the business meeting that followed the public hearings, Vice Chair Chablinski moved to approve ZZ587. The roll-call vote was: Commissioner McGuire: No; Commissioner Locks: Yes; Commissioner Coles: Yes; Commissioner Boujee: Yes; Commissioner Foti: Yes; Vice Chair Chablinski: Yes; Chair Wolowski: Yes. Motion carries, 6-1. The developer was reminded that a subsequent special-permit and final site-plan review (with neighbor notification) is required before building permits could be issued.