At the Wilton Planning Board meeting June 21, a case involving Willreign Properties LLC’s plan to convert the former Catholic Church situated at 47-49 Maple St. into apartment and office space was deferred to July 19.
Willreign Properties requested variances in 2017 and received approval, contingent upon construction starting within two years, but the project did not begin and board approval expired. Identical variances were approved again in October 2022. Representatives from Willreign Properties were slated to speak before the board about a stormwater concurrence but were not in attendance.
A proposal for an eight-lot housing development by Better Built Homes was deferred to July 19. The proposal requires peer review of a wetland crossing concern, but a glitch in communication has caused the signing of the contract for the project to be postponed. The cost of the contract has been estimated at $2,500.
Despite the postponement, Better Built Homes received two waivers, including a request to extend a road included in the lot from 600 feet to 690 feet and a request to have two roads in the development offset from one another for ease of access.
Stadium Graphics LLC proposed the construction of a storage garage on an existing foundation, located at 40 West Intervale Road in Wilton. The lot is situated in the Aquifer Protection District, the Wetland Protection District and the Industrial District. The proposal was continued to July 19 due to a stormwater concurrency.
Isaac Frye Property Holdings LLC gave a presentation regarding gravel excavation from the edge of the Route 101 entrance to the Isaac Frye Highway. The area is not included in Wilton’s gravel excavation district.
The issue has been controversial in the past, spanning back to a request in 2006 on the same lot, filed by K.M. Zahn and Sons, which was denied with “overwhelming opposition to the proposal.” The decision cited that the proposal was contrary to public interest and to the spirit of the Wilton zoning ordinance.
After a cease-and-desist order was issued to Isaac Frye Holdings for the removal of gravel on the same lot in 2021, another request was filed by the LLC. This proposal stated the project was “incidental to the construction of a single-family home.” This proposal was deemed too similar to prior applications but was appealed by Isaac Frye Holdings.
The proposal has been progressing since. The June 21 meeting concerned a stormwater concurrency and was unanimously carried to July 19 due to a pending peer review.
DJ Garcia of the Wilton House of Pizza was heard regarding a lot line adjustment. The request would expand the lot of Wilton House of Pizza by 17.47 feet of frontage and by 0.076 acres. The board cited concerns of changes being shown on the map presented by Garcia that had not been properly approved, including a propane tank installation that Garcia claimed had been installed in 2001. The presented plan also included an employee parking area that was not previously proposed.
“Improvements are shown on the plan that are separate and distinct from the Lot Line Adjustment,” co-Chair Alec MacMartin told Garcia. A unanimous, conditional approval was reached by the board. The LLA was approved with the caveat of referring all other issues noted by the Planning Board to the Select Board.
Anna Maria Hernandez is seeking approval for an occupational group child care facility in her residence. The lot is served by private septic and town water. Hernandez had sought approval by fire code for six children and another staffer, but has been cleared for nine. Addressing a board concern of necessary shift lengths and turnover if before and after school care were to be offered, Hernandez will solely be caring for preschool-aged children. The board requested elaboration in traffic pattern effects of the facility and will rehear the proposal on July 19.
Certified Safe Electric Inc., seeking to install a solar array at the residence of Noa Warren, was the final case of the night. The array, which will be ground-mounted across 900 feet of land, will be readdressed at a Planning Board meeting on July 5. The board cited concerns regarding stormwater runoff from the panels falling onto stony ground, causing the water to flow rather than sink into the ground.
Certified Safe Electric assured the board that the water will flow southwest toward a nearby orchard. Due to a lack of buffering between the array and a dwelling across the street, Certified Safe Electric and Noa Warren will need to plant vegetation behind the array by the next hearing.
Craig Hesser stated that he owns a 24-panel array and is happy his neighbors are embracing solar power.