Avon plan commission approves Walmart development, adds traffic‑study requirement

The Avon Advisory Plan Commission voted to approve DPR 25‑18, a development plan review for a roughly 50,000‑square‑foot retail building with a drive‑through pharmacy on Avon Avenue, subject to staff conditions and an added traffic‑study condition.

Planning staff summarized the project and the six standard conditions — including construction of a roundabout at Avon Avenue and Governors Row, widening of Governors Row near the site, installation of speed humps in nearby neighborhoods, a right‑turn lane into the site, a photometric plan compliant with the town ordinance, and a revised site plan to address fencing that conflicts with the Unified Development Ordinance. Paul, the planning staff presenter, said the petitioner’s traffic study indicated westbound Governors Row would fall “from a level of service C today … to a level of service F,” a degradation staff described as unacceptable without mitigation. "Hence, the need for the improvements the staff has requested," Paul said.

Petitioner representatives told the commission Walmart had agreed to the staff conditions and removed the originally proposed direct Avon Avenue access after the commission denied that waiver earlier. During deliberations commissioners debated whether the conceptual roundabout and related improvements were sufficiently analyzed; several members pressed for additional study of school‑peak traffic and nearby intersections. The commission added a condition requiring a revised traffic study analyzing the proposed roundabout at Avon Avenue and Governors Row and showing results satisfactory to the planning administrator and the Department of Public Works before a building permit is issued.

Petitioner attorney Misha said the team "intends to comply in all respects with the ordinance" and confirmed that Walmart would submit the revised materials required by staff and the commission. The commission’s motion was moved and seconded; after a roll‑call vote the motion carried. The approved action remains subject to the staff report conditions and the newly adopted traffic‑study submission and DPW approval requirement.