The Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission approved two zone changes Tuesday that pave the way for a new six-story office building and two new retail buildings on River Road (Route 110).
The zone changes were proposed by Howard Saffan, who owns the Sports Center of Connecticut.
Saffan wants to build two new projects across the street from each other on Route 110.
He was not at the Planning and Zoning meeting Tuesday.
The projects are:
- 762 River Road : This parcel sits on the Housatonic River and currently has one industrial building on it. Saffan wants to convert that industrial building into a retail building. He also wants to build a new six-story office building overlooking the river. The building will have five stories visible from the street level, and six stories visible from the river. The land was zoned for light industrial.
- 781 – 785 River Road: Across the street, Saffan wants to blast into rock ledge and carve out a spot to build a retail building that could accommodate three shops, one of which is a drive-through. The land was zoned for residential.
The zone change is the first step in a longer process to developing the properties.
Saffan will now have to present more specific site plans to the Planning and Zoning Commission before moving forward.
Both properties were converted to Planned Development Districts, which gives the Planning and Zoning Commission a lot of discretion on what types of uses it wants to allow there.
The Vote
The board voted 4 – 1 in favor of both zone changes.
The lone dissenter each time was Joan Flannery.
Flannery opposed the reflective windows slated for the office building, and said River Road was the wrong place for the new development.
“I think the office building is better suited for Bridgeport Avenue,” Flannery said.
“I think you’re ruining the character of River Road,” she said.
But the other commissioners disagreed.
“I think it’s an upgrade to that area,” said Commissioner Virginia Harger.
