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Could Hold the Key

CVS is once again seeking a permit to relocate its box store a short distance from its present Main Street location. The controversial move would place the store on the northwest corner of Hull and Main streets, right in front of the soon-to-be-renovated Clinton train station.

Clinton’s new town plan recognizes the critical value of the property, which connects the train station to Main Street and the town center. With careful and creative planning, this strategic corner lot could hold the key to transforming Clinton from a congested thoroughfare to a welcoming stop for tourists from all along the Shoreline East corridor. The site’s quaint, historic barn could provide visitors with a first glimpse of Clinton’s rich, historic character. Alternately, visitors could be greeted by the back of a CVS box store and parking lot, pretty much ensuring that no one other than Clinton residents would be enticed to disembark at the Clinton station.

Why would Clinton’s Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) allow this move in the heart of the transit-oriented center? It turns out that PZC has not yet updated its zoning regulations to comply with the new town plan, so if the revised CVS proposal meets current regulations it cannot legally be denied.

Because the fate of our town’s future is so inextricably tied to the fate of this CVS application, we have a battle Clinton cannot afford to lose. We may not be able to stop this ill-conceived move using outdated zoning regulations, but we can pressure CVS to reconsider its plans, using our clout as consumers who can take our business elsewhere.

I encourage your readers to consider whether they want Clinton to continue on a path of increasing congestion and blight, or whether they envision a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly future for our town, and then take appropriate action.

Debbie Lundgren

Clinton