Norwich ― The City Council acting as the zoning board on Tuesday night rejected a proposed Business Master Plan District designed to govern creation of a new business park in Occum.

The council voted along party lines, with the three council Democrats voting against the proposed Business Master Plan District and the three council Republicans voting in favor. A majority of councilors needed to vote in favor of the district for it to be approved.

The vote came after the same 3-3 vote killed proposed amendments by Republican Alderwoman Stacy Gould that would have placed stiffer restrictions on building heights and buffer zones in relation to neighboring residential properties.

The proposed business park on former farmland and woodland that runs north of Interstate 395 in Occum has been opposed by residents as plans were solidified over the past several months.

The Norwich Community Development Corp. purchased the 17 properties, located on Canterbury Turnpike, Scotland Road, Lawler Lane, School Avenue and Bromley Lane and Route 97 in late December for $3.55 million with a plan to create Business Park North. The parcels had been compiled by developers who had planned a golf course resort that never was built.

The land already is zoned for general commercial and business development with fewer restrictions than the proposed Business Master Plan District. City Planning Director Deanna Rhodes said the current regulations allow buildings up to seven stories high, with no overall height restriction and allow for buffer zones of 20 feet at the property borders.

The plan also included a dedicated access road off Exit 18 from I-395 to keep industrial traffic off the residential roads. A roundabout at the Canterbury Road intersection also would be designed to prevent trucks from exiting onto the local road.

NCDC President Kevin Brown and attorney Mark Block said they were disappointed with Tuesday’s vote and expressed frustration that the council-zoning board had more than a month to review the plan and proposed amendments to improve protections to surrounding neighborhoods but ended up just rejecting the submitted proposed plan without making changes.

“That was a little disappointing,” Brown said. “We spent six weeks, to include an extension of a couple of weeks, to allow for that zoning commission to take into account all facts presented and come up with what would be a more appropriate plan, and in response to a proposed more appropriate plan, the only response was ‘not good enough.’”

Brown said all the time, money and effort the city has invested in the properties still stands “as the foundation of what could be developed there.” Block added that the City Council-zoning board previously had approved allowing a master plan district to be proposed for that specific property.

Block called the vote to reject the plan, “absolutely incomprehensible.” He said over the years, he has watched developments go to other municipalities that offered more favorable development plans.

“This decision actually opens up more uses, larger structures and smaller buffers,” Brown said.

Neighbors packed previous lengthy public hearings on the Business Master Plan District proposal, and again filled council chambers Tuesday, complaining that the business park development would disrupt the rural character of Occum and expressing skepticism that the new access road would keep trucks and business park workers off the local roads.

Lawn signs appeared in bulk last weekend throughout the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed business park property, one urging the city to “Reject & Revise the Zoning Plan for Business Park North,” and another urging residents to attend Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Residents packed Council Chambers Tuesday, some carrying more signs, one urging the city to “oppose overdevelopment.”

Another sign read: “Positive Development Does Not Destroy Neighbors!”

Mayor Nystrom announced to attendees at the start of Tuesday’s meeting they could not discuss the pending zoning matter during public comment. Zoning regulations prohibit communication outside the public hearing process.

NCDC attorney Block also asked that the signs brought to the meeting not be held up or displayed, at the meeting.

Residents called out objections and questions from their seats, asking why they were asked to come to the meeting and shouting that none of the council members live in the area surrounding the proposed business park. Several ignored the mayor’s instructions and spoke during public comment to complain about the business park review process, truck traffic already on their roads and supporting alternative development, such as the redevelopment of the Ponemah Mill in Taftville.

c.bessette@theday.com