There won’t be a McDonald’s.
Or a coffee shop.
Or a restaurant, if Howard Saffan can help it.
Saffan, a developer looking to build two retail strips on River Road, ruled out the items at a public hearing Wednesday, in response to concerns about traffic and restaurant “fumes” at his proposed sites.
“Under no circumstances whatsoever. I’ll go on the record, it’s not going to be a McDonald’s,” Saffan said. “The ultimate tenant is not visualized as a restaurant.”
Saffan was referring to a parcel at 781 – 785 River Road, across the street from the Sports Center of Connecticut, which he also owns and developed.
He is looking to get a zone change on the land at 781 – 785 River Road, and about 4 acres across the street at 762 River Road, in order to develop two retail shops and an office building.
The Planning and Zoning Commission held two separate public hearings on the zone change proposals Wednesday.
Saffan presented his conceptual plans with the zone change, but would need a separate approval before moving forward with any building.
Click here to read a previous story on the plans.
River Front Property
Saffan’s larger proposal is along the Housatonic River, at 762 River Road.
Saffan wants to convert an industrial building into stores and build a five-story office building on the back portion of the lot.
The office building would have a glass exterior in parts, and would potentially house medical offices.The tallest part of the building would be 72-feet tall, the same height as the Sports Center.
“What we’re looking for is for the glass to reflect those trees so you’re not ruining the view scape for people on the river,” said James Swift, an architect working for the project.
The two buildings would share 262 parking spots.The office building would be set back 100 feet from the river, so there is potential to add a boardwalk or public access to the water.
The retail building at the front of the property would have a drive-through window.
Across the Street
The property across the street, at 781 – 785 River Road, calls for one 5,800 square foot retail building, with a drive-through window.
The shops would be one-story high, and would include about 29 parking spots.
As part of the development, Saffan plans to blast into ledge at the site, and nestle out an area to put the building. The resulting rock cliff would be about 45-feet high.
Swift said the 45-foot ledge will act as a buffer between the shops and the neighbors above. They plan to put thick trees and a safety fence at the top of the ledge to prevent anyone from falling down.
“What we have here, essentially, is that we’re going to be hidden from the adjoiners,” Swift said. “We plan to provide some pretty heavy buffer planting.”
Reaction
The single retail building at 781 – 785 River Road brought out the most concern during the public hearing Wednesday because it’s on land currently zoned residential.
The property is surrounded by homes.
Two homeowners on land next to the proposal opposed the plans Wednesday, saying they were concerned with property values and quality of life issues that could be caused by a potential restaurant.
Other members of the public had general concerns about traffic caused by the development.
“I think it should stay residential,” said homeowner Joseph Mozdzer. “I don’t want to smell a restaurant there. I don’t believe a bank is going to move in there. That’s the perfect place to put a restaurant.”
The neighbors were also concerned about a 45-foot drop between their properties and the retail building, and the blasting that would happen to create that cliff.
Saffan responded by saying he has a restaurant at the Sports Center, so he doesn’t want to put another one right across the street. And he promised neighbors he would be responsible about blasting. Click play on the video at the top of the story to hear his response.
William Purcell, the president of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce spoke in favor of the proposal, saying it was the first big office building proposed in the city in a while, and would bring jobs to the city. Click play on the video below to hear his comments.
The Planning and Zoning Commission closed the public hearing Wednesday and scheduled a discussion on the proposal for its next meeting on May 10.
