This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/14/2017 02:30 PMThe last year has seen an intense debate take place in Clinton over a proposal to put a CVS on a parcel composed of five lots on the corner of Route One and Hull Street. After hearing widespread public opposition to the plan, including suggestions that politics were at play, the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) denied the most recent proposal on Feb. 20. The owner of one of the five lots believes the PZC—and the public—made the wrong decision based on the wrong information.
Selectman John Giannotti is the owner of one of five lots on the land where developer Douglas Benoit wanted to build a CVS. However, and much to the Giannotti’s chagrin, he is often singled out (including in this paper) as the only named owner of the land.
“It really bothers me that I’m the only guy they ever name. There’s a guy that’s selling more land than me and he’s never named,” Giannotti said.
According to the 2016 application for a zone change, there are five lots—three owned by Richard Mazzella, one by Fred Hassan, and one by Giannotti.
Giannotti believes that by constantly referencing his position as a selectman, the press and residents are implying that he is behaving in a corrupt or improper manner, a charge he vehemently denies.
“The developers were the ones that came to me, I wasn’t seeking them out,” Giannotti said.
Giannotti said he bought the land in question in 1996, and has purchased and sold many other properties in Clinton for the past 28 years.
“I never had an issue, then all of a sudden it’s like because I’m a selectman people assume something is going on,” Giannotti said. “Like me or dislike me, I’ve never been dishonest in business.”
Giannotti said that, before every transaction he checks with his brother, Attorney Peter Gianotti, to discuss the purchase of the property in an effort to make sure he is not violating any laws. Besides the issues with CVS, John Giannotti claims he has run into hardship while trying sell property he owns on Liberty Street in Clinton.
According to Giannotti, Clinton missed an opportunity by not approving the CVS.
“I don’t understand why people are against it,” Giannotti said, before adding, “The Town of Clinton needs to attract more businesses.”
Giannotti believes that the developer did everything the town asked it to do before ultimately seeing its application denied for “dubious” reasons. For example, Giannotti said the engineers and experts from the state had determined that traffic wouldn’t be an issue in the area. Yet, increased traffic and the dangers it created for pedestrians was often cited as a reason to deny the application by opponents of the CVS.
In its explanation for denying the application in February, the PZC commission noted that it found the traffic study conducted by VHB, Inc., to be noncredible due to its failure to account for future modifications to the train station near the property.
Many opponents of the plan also pointed to the destruction of the historic structures on the site as a reason to deny the plan. Giannotti questioned the historic value of most of the structures on site, but also noted that he offered to donate his building to the Clinton Historical Society, an offer he said was declined.
The biggest issue that’s preventing a business-like CVS coming to Clinton, according to Giannotti, is that people get “riled up” without listening to experts.
“It’s a hassle to do business here it and shouldn’t be,” Giannotti said. “I think people hear or read things from other people that aren’t necessarily true...People should be listening to professionals and engineers who know what they are talking about.”
While Giannotti has no knowledge of what the developer’s next plans are, he says he hopes it appeals the latest PZC decision, then negotiates to build a store that is visibly appealing and residents can be proud of.