The Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday approved plans for several new businesses in Shelton.
Among them — new shops downtown, a pharmaceutical research company and some new consulting businesses in Scinto Towers.
- Tarot Card Reader: Mark Nutolo got approval to put a tarot card reading shop at 444 Howe Avenue, in a strip of shops downtown. Nutolo still needs to get his signs approved by the commission before opening. He plans to call the business “Tarot Card Reader.”
- Dollar Bargains: Alfred Zakhour received approval to open a dollar store in the same building, at 450 Howe Avenue. He said the shop will be run by himself and his wife, and operate in 1,400 square feet.
- Innohaven LLC: The company received approval to open a pharmaceutical research and development firm on Controls Drive. The business will operate in 18,000 square feet, and employ 10 people to start. It will eventually have 25 employees. Innohaven’s chief scientific officer Dr. Randy Barton said the company does not deal with any materials that causes diseases and will not test on any animals at the site.
Opel Solar: Michael Mount, a director of sales for Opel Solar, received approval from the commission to install solar panels on land owned by Aquarion Water Company in Shelton. The property is in a clearing on Huntington Street. Mount said the solar panels will be used to market the products to potential customers. In addition, they will provide about 10 percent of Aquarion’s needed electricity at the Huntington Street water plant. The solar panels are different than normal roof mounted units. They include “trackers” that move the panels to face the sun as it moves through the sky — getting more sunlight than other panels. One of the units at the site will be 22 feet tall. The others will be about 8 feet tall, Mount said.
- Scinto Towers: R.D. Scinto Inc. received approval for five businesses in its office buildings on Corporate Drive and Trap Falls Road. Two were for Prudential Financial Services — the company is relocating. The commission also approved a consulting agency, a medical office and a staffing company in the buildings.
- Splash Car Wash: Jason Frank, of Splash LLC, presented plans for a new canopy at the Splash Car Wash on Bridgeport Avenue. The commission tabled a decision on the plans so members could visit other Splash sites and see other canopies that already exist.
- Office and Retail Development on River Road:
The Planning and Zoning Commission also delayed discussion on a proposed office building and retail buildings proposed by Bishop Development on River Road. Two commission members were not present at the meeting, after sitting through a public hearing on the proposal, so commission chairman Ruth Parkins tabled the discussion until the July meeting.
