The Planning and Zoning Commission recently approved a new used-car dealership for downtown Shelton.
The dealership, at a small parcel at 61 Center St., will have no more than 10 cars at a time, under the conditions of the approval.
Owner Salvatore Barone had initially requested approval for 13, because he does not plan to repair cars at the site like the previous owner was doing.
Under the previous agreement, the city allowed eight cars for sale to be housed at the site.
Barone was asking for five extra and said he would park them inside where repairs used to take place.
Commissioners said the use isn’t what they are looking for downtown, but — because it’s a pre-existing use — they approved it.
“This is not what we want to see downtown,” said chairman Ruth Parkins, asking if Barone planned to put up big signs and large banners.
“It won’t be like that,” Barone said, indicating he planned to sell high end vehicles.
Gun Shop Owner Recovers From Fire
The commission also allowed Shelton resident Brian Griffith temporarily register an office in order to legally “transfer” remaining firearms that survived a fierce fire at his shop in Monroe last month.
Arms and Munitions, Fairfield County Indoor Shooting Range was destroyed, along with a skating rink and apartment, in a fire on Nov. 3. The fire was determined to have started in the apartment’s bathroom ceiling.
Griffith asked the Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission to allow him to change his federal gun sale permit address in order to legally transfer the merchandise that survived the fire.
Griffith said the permit requires an address, and, after the fire, he had no business address.
He said he’s looking for a new business location.
Gym Withdraws Application
The commission also accepted the withdrawal of a proposed fitness center on Bridgeport Avenue.
Planet Fitness had proposed a new 20,000 square foot center at 466 Bridgeport Ave., but this month withdrew the application saying they could not secure the space.
Doing business as “Bridgeport Ave. Fitness LLC,” Charles Esposito said in the letter the group is still looking for other locations.