New Essex Waterfront Restaurant Approved
A new restaurant is coming to Essex Village. The Carlson Landing project received final approval by the Zoning Commission at the Aug. 21 meeting at Town Hall. When complete, a 7,000-square-foot, two-story marina, office building, and restaurant will stand at the foot of Main Street, with 55-seat indoor and outdoor occupancy.
The approval process has taken most of the summer; the first presentation of the plans for the restaurant took place at the May 15 Zoning Commission meeting where hundreds of citizens turned out to voice their opinions on the project. While many in attendance were in support of the new restaurant, citing the opportunity to revitalize Main Street and draw more people to the town, there were also those in attendance to second resolvable concerns raised by the Connecticut River Museum (CRM), which owns the adjacent properties. These concerns included access to a donated staircase that had allowed visitors to the CRM to access the Samuel Lay house at 57 Main Street by crossing the driveway owned by Essex Boat Works, which bifurcates the CRM campus.
Revisions to the initial proposal were made throughout the approval process: the restaurant was initially planned to include 59 seatings, which was cut back to the approved 55. Additionally, a sign on the Main Street driveway was moved back from its original planned position, temporary sheet piling (an interlocking steel wall) will be put along the property line and removed after septic system installation, a three-foot-wide paver strip was added to delineate a defined space in the driveway, and the driveway on the eastern side of the building was widened and a row of hedges added.
At the July 17 Zoning Commission meeting, it was determined that the stairway would be a matter to be handled by the two parties; the museum has the right to ask for a permanent easement but Essex Boat Works is not obligated to grant it. The application was closed, but the record was left open at the July 17 meeting, pending the approval of the Harbor Management Commission. The Harbor Management Commission voted to approve the proposal without conditions on July 27.
On Aug. 21, the Zoning Commission approved three applications: Application No. 17-7, an application for a special exception to construct a new building for a marina and accessory restaurant along with accessory site work; Application No. 17-8, an application for Coastal Area Management site plan review for vacant property know as Assessor’s Map 47, Lot 21-1; and, Application No. 17-9, an application for a special exception to allow a restaurant as an accessory use at a marina located at a lot known as Assessor’s Map 47, Lot 21-1. Applications No. 17-7 and 17-8 were approved with conditions, and Application No. 17-9 was approved outright.
Essex Boat Works has contracted local construction company A.J. Shea Construction to complete the project. While they are waiting for final written approval and permits, it is expected that ground will be broken on the Carlson Landing project in the coming month.
“We are grateful for all of the support that we have received from our community and look forward to sharing our new waterfront marina and restaurant with our local residents and visitors from out of town,” said Essex Boat Works Controller Diana Gregory.
The full record of the approval proceedings and record of the vote can be found in the minutes listed at www.essexct.gov/zoning-commission.