New Haven Independent

Barry Cobden plans to use the former York Square Cinemas as a manufacturing location for his company, Campus Customs, which buys shirts, mugs and hats in bulk, then labels them through silkscreens and embroidery and sells branded products to colleges. He’ll also expand the retail area from the neighboring Campus Clothing Company store, occupying another storefront along Broadway. Click here for a previous story on his proposal, which was approved at a Board of Zoning Appeals voting session Tuesday night.

Over in the Hill section of town, neighbors reportedly came to terms with those seeking to bring a Dunkin’ Donuts into the area. Despite original concerns about parking, neighbors and the BZA agreed to allow a small, express Dunkin’ Donuts to operate inside the gas station convenience store at at 14-18 Kimberly Ave. Condition of approval: Post signs keeping illegal parkers away.

In Westville, a local woman’s plan to open a neighborhood coffeeshop called Deja Brew got approved with several conditions, including seating for 10 people and two parking spots. Carol Frawley plans to run the café inside the former West Rock Market, which has been vacant for four years. Click here for background.

In other zoning news, a plan to move a towing company to 10 Olive St. in Wooster Square met strong opposition from neighbors, Anstress Farwell and attorney Marjorie Shanksy. “Wooster Street is a historic neighborhood and a family neighborhood this kind of use is just not appropriate,” said nearby resident Kim Hafford. Attorney Anthony Avallone represented Crown Properties LLC, which seeks to move towing operations from Crown Street to Olive Street. Avallone argued the towing would not adversely affect the nearby school or residents, nor add much traffic.

And Amistad Academy elementary school Principal Tisha Markette (pictured at right in the photo at the top of this story) showed up at Tuesday night’s zoning meeting with Amistad mom Santia Bennet (pictured at left) to support plans to move the charter elementary school from Prince Street to a lot at 540-580 Ella T. Grasso Blvd. The site would be a temporary location until a new K-8 school is built. The proposal drew some concerns of safety, given the site’s proximity to the Columbus House emergency shelter. Markette assured the board the premises would be secured and guarded, and the children supervised. “There are no wandering children in our school,” she said