Lawrence Avenue resident says lack of notice left neighbors blindsided by West Main development; PZC considers stronger abutter notice

Rita Coffey, a Lawrence Avenue resident, told the Avon Planning and Zoning Commission that her family was excluded from the review of nearby construction at 182 and 186 West Main because they received no advance notice, which she said cost them "a lot of time stress and money."

"We were not given a chance to attend the public hearing for this development because no notification was received ahead of time because zoning was not regulated for us as property owners at that time, which has caused us a lot of time stress and money," Coffey said during public comment. She also raised concerns about the safety of trees on nearby 192 West Main and the risk that fences or trees might be damaged during construction.

Chair Lisa Levin told Coffey the draft Regulations will be revised to require applicants to provide the Town proof that letters/notices were sent to abutting landowners via registered mail and that a sign be posted on the subject property. Commissioner Christine Graesser suggested that even site-plan applications on commercially zoned parcels that propose major alterations should trigger direct notification of abutters. Planning Director Hiram Peck confirmed that no public hearing was required for the 182/186 site plan because the parcel was already zoned commercial, which contributed to the feeling among abutters that they had been shut out.

The commission did not take a final vote on new notice language at the meeting; Mr. Peck recommended consulting the Town Attorney on the legal mechanism and the public hearing on the overall revised Zoning Regulations (App. #5063) was continued to a future meeting.