Stonington Borough building owner appeals approval for new restaurant
Stonington — The owner of a borough building that houses an antique shop has appealed the borough Planning and Zoning Commission’s decision to approve plans for a restaurant next door to him at 147 Water St.
Olympian LLC, which lists its principal as Glenn Randall of 145 Water St., has appealed the commission’s Jan. 10 decision to approve a site plan and change of use for the second floor of 147 Water St. from residential to retail. The owner of 147 Water St. is Gerritt Nicholas of 551 North Main St.
The appeal states that the original submission by 147 Water St. LLC was not filed within the required time period before the Dec. 13, 2016, hearing and failed to list required information about the project architect and engineer. It also called for a 24-seat restaurant — 12 indoor and 12 outdoor — which is four more than allowed by zoning regulations.
At the Dec. 13 hearing, the appeal states that Olympian’s attorney, Tom Collier, objected to the plans to exceed the 20-seat limit as well as a request for outdoor dining and a privacy fence in the right of way between the two buildings. Olympian argued the fence and outdoor seating would affect Randall’s property value and impact deliveries to his antique business through doors adjacent to the right of way.
Faced with these questions, the commission continued the hearing to Jan. 10. Revised plans that eliminated the outdoor seating and fence and reduced the seating to less than 20 were then submitted but after the required 15 days before the continuation of the hearing on Jan. 10. The commission approved the application by a 6-1 vote during the hearing.
The appeal states that at that hearing, a representative for 147 Water St. said it intended to return to the commission at a later date to seek approval for outdoor seating.
Olympian requested the commission to deny 147 Water St.’s application due to the late submission of materials, being incomplete and for beginning work before receiving site plan approval. Olympian has now requested a Superior Court judge reverse the commission’s approval of the project.
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