SEYMOUR – A proposal to redevelop a Main Street property destroyed by a fire in 2022 met with favorable reviews Aug. 13 from neighbors and area property owners.

The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on a proposal that calls for construction of a three-story building at 141 Main St., the former Rogol’s building.

The building, which housed two antiques shops, a spa and a barber shop, was gutted by a fire in April 2022.

Property owner Lon Syla wants to build 14 apartments on the site. A new, three-story building would be constructed, with about 2,700 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor and one-bedroom apartments on floors two and three.

The application does not include parking. Syla’s lawyer, Dominick Thomas, said a new state law no longer requires off-street parking for projects with less than 16 residential units if there is public parking nearby and access to train and bus lines. The proposed building is across the street from the Metro North train station and a public bus line.

Last year town engineer Bryan Nesteriak said there are 598 parking spaces downtown, including 306 public spaces.

There’s no word on what rent might be for the apartments.

The commission kept the hearing open so technical questions from Nesteriak, including whether the existing foundation would be used, could be answered. 

The hearing was continued to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Seymour Town Hall.

“Everyone wants to see this property developed, it just has to be done the right way,” Nesteriak said. “I’m willing to work with the team to get that done.”

Thomas agreed.

“We are willing to work with the town to iron out any issues or concerns,” Thomas said.

Four people, including First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis, voiced support for the project during the Aug. 13 hearing.

“All I hear from residents is what are we going to do about that hole in the ground?” Drugonis said. “We have to start developing our downtown. We have to do it smartly and we have to do it correctly. Our downtown needs to continue to be walkable. Let’s all work together to get this done and make economic development happen downtown.”

Mario Trepca, who owns the building at 143 Main St., said the town should do whatever it can to encourage economic development downtown.

“This (project) will put a vacant property back on the tax rolls and contribute to the future economic growth of Seymour,” Trepca said. “We should encourage development that improves our community while respecting the character of the area. You need to allow 141 Main Street to become an asset to Seymour once again.”

Lynne Mazzoli, who lives right next door at 12 Main St., also wants to see the property come back to life.

“I’m tired of looking at the hole and I think it will be great to have businesses back in the community,” Mazzoli said.

Syla previously pitched a plan to the commission in 2023 to build 15 apartments there, with first floor retail and 15 parking spaces. The town’s zoning regulations, however, required more parking spaces than Syla had proposed. As a result, Syla withdrew that application.