nothin Megastore Clears A Zoning Hurdle | New Haven Independent

Megastore Clears A Zoning Hurdle

Gilad Edelman photo

Armed with community support and a more detailed proposal, the aspiring builders of a Jordan’s Furniture megastore on Long Wharf got one step closer to approval at a Board of Zoning Appeals hearing Tuesday night.

After a brief presentation and no opposition, the board closed the public hearing and referred the proposal to the City Plan Commission, which will issue an advisory regarding the proposed parking and signage, then send the matter back to the zoning board. The board will most likely issue a final ruling at next month’s meeting.

At a zoning hearing last month, the proposal to bring the store into the New Haven Register building at 40 Sargent Dr. didn’t fare as well. (The Register plans to leave the building and move its newsroom downtown.) The proposal faced skepticism and tough questioning from the board, which was wary of the vagueness of the requested permissions; and from neighbors, who were concerned with the request for a license to serve liquor until 2 a.m. After that meeting, the board voted to keep the public hearing open to give company president Eliot Tatelman a chance to work those issues out with the community.

He seemed to have done just that, as two neighbors spoke in favor of the plan Tuesday night and no one spoke in opposition. One of the supporters was Paul Larrivee (pictured above at center), who argued that the store would bring needed jobs and economic development to the neighborhood.

Tatelman (at left in photo) said he had been able to assuage the concerns of community members at a meeting held after last month’s hearing.

I think it was a total misunderstanding,” he said, referring to concerns about him opening a nightclub or encouraging late-night drunken misbehavior. That’s not what we’re about. I met with the neighborhood and explained in more detail, and I think they understood.”

The revised special exception request, which attorney Anthony Avallone (at far right in photo) distributed at the hearing, changes the proposed closing time for liquor sales to 11 p.m. It also gives more specificity as to the extent and kinds of entertainment the owners envision, including maximum square footage for the restaurant and entertainment center.

The original proposal called for permission for an assembly hall … dance hall, game rooms, trampoline center, fairs and carnivals,” a wish list that perplexed some board members and neighbors. The new request gives more specific examples of what might end up in the store’s indoor amusement center,” such as a bowling alley, a rock climbing wall, a skating rink, or a motion simulator ride. Tatelman said he still doesn’t know exactly what kind of entertainment will go into the store, and the application keeps his options open by using including, but not limited to” language. But neighbors and the board seemed satisfied by the more detailed list of possibilities.

What a difference a month makes,” said Avallone.

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