This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
01/15/2017 11:00 PMIf you’re one of the many residents who crowded into the Green Room at Clinton’s Town Hall earlier this month to speak about the revised proposal for a new CVS building, you’re probably eager to hear whether the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) approved the application—but you’ll have to wait a little longer. At its Jan. 9 meeting, PZC first held an executive session, removing itself from the presence of public and press. Upon reconvening, the commission announced its decision to table the issue until its next meeting on Monday, Feb. 13.
Eric Knapp, the town’s zoning and wetlands enforcement officer, admits that the exclusive executive session created frustration for those closely following the application’s status.
“We have pending litigation on the prior application,” said Knapp. “The commission wanted to discuss the status of the litigation and the best way to do this was through executive session.”
The prior application from developer Douglas Benoit included a provisional “floating zone” that would allow for the smaller setbacks from the road necessary for CVS to construct a drive-through. The most recent application does not include plans for a drive-through—although one could be added later through special exemption.
Owned by Selectman John Giannotti, the property is located on the corner of Hull Street and Boston Post Road in downtown Clinton. Complaints against the development include the simple aesthetics of having a chain drugstore on a prominent downtown corner, environmental concerns—a nearby underpass that serves as a hurricane evacuation route already routinely floods, and concerns about traffic and the demolition of three historic structures on the site. A series of public hearings have revealed impassioned public resistance to the proposal, with those speaking in favor of it few and far between.
No member of the public—not even supporters—spoke in favor of the new design revealed at the Jan. 4 public hearing. Described by Phil Sengle as an “abomination” and “prison-like” and by Knapp as “boxy and drab,” the design has few windows and presents its back to both main roads on which it is sited.
Although PZC has delayed its decision to February, it cannot table the issue again.
“The commission has up to 65 days to act on the application,” said Knapp. “Action will have to be taken at the February meeting, absent any consent from the applicant to delay things further.”
PZC did not provide a reason for the delay.
“On this one, the action will have to speak for itself and the commission will take up the matter at its regular meeting in February,” Knapp said.