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Renditions of the proposed housing and stores from the Information Packet in the Library.

I just returned from the Planning and Zoning Commission where by a 7-2 vote, the petition by W/S Development of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts for a map change from the Interchange Zone in the North End of Town to a Special Development District was approved.

Now W/S can go ahead and submit their site plan. As you know, things became quite heated over the past few weeks, with the “leaked” draft findings document, which to me, were not really a draft at all, because I did not hear any diversion from the so called draft Monday night.

In fact, things were not really discussed in detail at all. The Commissioners all gave speeches basically stating their feelings about the project, but nothing in detail. The biggest project in town, and little discussion. Thank God I had that “draft.”

I will be running the “letter” I received that came with the draft SOON!! Stay Tuned!!

So, we had Andre Maye and Leslie Marinaro, voting against the petition, and Woody Dawson, Sean Strollo, Earl Kurtz Jr. Patty Flynn-Harris, Marty Coburn, John Kardaris and Louis Todisco voting in favor.

The biggest reason for allowing the zone change was basically because it “was in the best interest of the town.” And, that the applicant had a right to develop his property.

“Oh, and the property has already been compromised throughout the years by ATV use, dumping and partying.” Ok, since year one, the minute man set foot on the earth it was trashed!!

I remember years ago there was a local radio celebrity in Bridgeport, Tiny Markle. He broad casted on WNAB. He always made the analogy, why bother making your bed, you are just going to mess it up again at night to sleep in it or whatever; or why bother washing the dishes, you are just going to eat off them again!! RIGHT!!

I did agree with an statement made by Marty Coburn about Rt. 10. I stated several posts ago, that Cheshire had many years ago, a chance to widen Rt. 10 or create alternate routes in conjunction with other towns but never did so. He is right. The Republicans who were in power all these years in Cheshire along with a Republican Governor that we still have, could have easily gotten this done. The reason–”oh we don’t want our town to turn into Queen Street. Well what happened? Why the change in heart with this project!!

It is true, 20 years ago the town had under consideration an application for Apple Valley Mall, but as Patty Flynn Harris stated, the developer did not have all his financial ducks in line, so it fell through. I know this developer was going to build something in Bridgeport so that was a wise move at the time on the part of Cheshire, BUT, I believe it would have been better to have had the mall 20 to 25 years ago when there was no Meriden Square or Brass Mill Center. Cheshire would have been at the forefront. But whatever.

I used to say when I first moved here, why doesn’t this town have any commercial development? Now I see it differently. Cheshire for years did not really want a lot of people coming to its town. If this Lifestyle Center is to succeed, Cheshire needs to have a SERIOUS CHANGE OF HEART AND ATTITUDE. I still hear it. I heard it Monday from one of the Commissioners stating he would rather his kids go to the north end development in Cheshire instead of Meriden or Waterbury because it will be safer.

COME ON!!

All of the Commissioners did say they were concerned about traffic. Ms. Marinaro made a good point stating quite emphatically that “what good is it to have shopping in town if a resident can’t back out of their driveway.”

All of the Commissioners stated that they weighed all the material presented and the comments made with the utmost seriousness. Remember the public hearing that really wasn’t. I don’t believe making people wait until midnight or 1 or 2 a.m. was right, I really don’t. As I stated before, how many times did we have to hear the same rhetoric from W/S and Westfield.

There were the old regulars in attendance for the pro people and the anti people. However, one of the anti W/S people told me after the meeting that the housing part of the zone text change was supposed to require a need for the housing, which based on all the “For Sale” signs I see around town makes one wonder.

Oh and before the “decision” The Council of Governments gave a presentation and guess what they said. From 2000 to 2006, Cheshire had the SLOWEST growth in the region.

So this is such a great time to have MORE retail and more housing, when the housing market is practically dead in the water!!

Now if you read my last post, you read about the proposed Renaissance Place in Naugatuck that will have shopping and housing–in fact 1,800 condo’s. BUT the difference is this project will be placed in the downtown area which needs revitalization, just as our West Main Street area does. That is the purpose of a lifestyle center to revitalize a depressed area like our West Main Street which will become even more depressed I believe. But we will have to wait and see.

Now I did receive an e-mail from an old time resident. This is supposedly an answer to the “draft” by an anonymous person. I usually do not run anonymous but I know the source. I mean it is sort of a moot point now but what the hell!!

Answer to the W/S Finding Draft