Norwich ― The proposed access road into the planned Occum Industrial Center received approval from the city inland wetlands commission Thursday night after a brief public hearing, and the planning commission will continue its review with a site walk of a portion of the 384-acre property Tuesday.

Norwich Community Development Corp. is seeking approval to build a 7,700-footlong access road from Route 97 into the planned industrial center and divide the property into 12 commercial development lots. NCDC purchased the land, zoned for commercial and planned development, for $3.55 million to create a second business park for the city.

The Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a modification to its previous approval for the access road. No one from the public addressed the commission.

Project engineer Jeff Bord told the commission the only change in the road plan was at the proposed road terminus at the Lawler Lane intersection and one new future proposed driveway into a development lot. The driveway would require a small wetland crossing that would come to the commission once a development is proposed for the lot.

The modified plan requires cutting of an additional 3,600 square feet of trees, almost all with diameters of less than 8 inches in an area with plentiful invasive species climbing and killing trees, Bord said. One previously proposed development lot on Lawler Lane that contained extensive wetlands now will not be developed and will be turned over to the city for open space, Bord said.

With the wetlands commission approval, the Commission on the City Plan will continue its review of the 12-lot commercial subdivision plan. The commission started the public hearing on Nov. 21 and will continue the hearing at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at City Hall.

The commission will conduct a site walk on the property beginning at noon Tuesday. The site walk is open to the public, but with no comments or questions by the public or commission members allowed. Participants are asked to wear appropriate clothes and shoes for an outdoor walk in wintry weather and meet at noon at the Occum Volunteer Fire Department, 44 Taftville-Occum Road. Participants will drive to the site from there.

c.bessette@theday.com