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Town Fair Tire move to 665 West Main gets subcommittee referral after neighborhood concerns and ZBA conditions
Summary
Town Fair Tire’s certificate‑of‑location for 665 West Main was referred to the full council with a neutral recommendation after the company described operations (tire sales, installation, balancing, wheel alignment only), proposed hours, and conditioned site features (screened tire shed, closed garage doors); a nearby resident had raised noise, traffic, drainage and health concerns.
The Zoning Subcommittee voted to refer item 37,202 — Town Fair Tire Centers of Connecticut’s certificate‑of‑location application for 665 West Main — to the full City Council with a neutral recommendation.
Jim Rotondo, a professional engineer with Pereira Engineering representing Town Fair Tire, and John Wipichowski, director of real estate and development for Town Fair, told the subcommittee the location is a lateral move within the same plaza and the store’s scope will be limited to tire retail and related services (installation, balancing and wheel alignments). Rotondo said there will be no oil changes, auto‑body work or overnight vehicle storage and that tire displays will be kept inside the store. He added the operation will screen a rear tire enclosure with a double row of arborvitae and construct the enclosure as concrete block with a pitched roof, per prior ZBA conditions.
A nearby resident who identified himself as Chad (46 Westerly Street) urged the subcommittee to deny or scrutinize the application, citing concerns about pneumatic tools, revving engines, customer traffic and possible stormwater drainage onto adjoining properties. "This isn't a case of 'not in my backyard' in the abstract — this is literally our backyard," he said. Applicants and staff responded that the ZBA imposed conditions to mitigate noise (closed garage doors while vehicles are worked on; screening) and that the application must complete site‑location approval with the council.
Aldermen asked technical questions about drainage, chemicals used for tire repair, and tire disposal; Town Fair representatives said no fluids are stored or used in the operation, repairs use household‑quantity adhesives and soap‑and‑water for puncture checks, and old tires will be stored in an enclosed shed and removed weekly. After discussion the subcommittee referred the item to council (recorded as 9 yeses, 1 nay).
What happens next: the item will go before the full City Council for site‑location approval and any council‑level conditions; residents were advised they can bring additional testimony to the council meeting if concerns persist.
