North Main Project Makes It Half Way

The owner of a hilly property on North Main Street finally received approval from the Inland Wetlands Commission (IW) to create an access road to the 13-acre parcel.

However, the commission did not approve a second phase that would have eased the way for a possible developer. But they did so ​“without prejudice” which means the owner can apply again in the future.

Jeff Shapiro, whose family owns the land, said that permission to cross the wetlands and create an access road is extremely important. ​“It allows us to get in,” Shapiro told the Eagle after an IW public hearing Thursday.

“Phase I approval is extremely helpful,” said John Mancini, an engineer with B L Companies in Meriden. Mancini, who spoke with the Eagle at the conclusion of the IW meeting, said he plans to return to the commission with revised plans for Phase 2. ​“We can come back with that and we will,” he said. Mancini’s company is now in the process of detailing the proposed Costco plans for exit 56. . 

The North Main Street site was once mentioned as a possible location for the town’s new public works building. Costco, which is now hoping to build at Exit 56, had looked at the N. Main Street site more than 10 years ago. Jeff Shapiro told the commission at a previous session that Costco was interested in building at his site in 2003, but ​“walked away” because it would have required several zoning variances, and that site improvements were too expensive.

The property is located between Route 1 and I‑95. It is adjacent to the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home on one side, and United Tire Inc. and Greystone Manor condominiums on the other side. The Shapiro family, who operate the Cedar Island Marina in Clinton, have owned the property since 1997.

Shapiro has told the commission that the family has been trying to sell the property for more than 20 years. But he said prospective developers can’t see the possibilities because of the difficult access, rugged topography and wetlands. Shapiro said the entry road will allow people easier access to the property.

During last Thursday’s meeting, the IW commissioners expressed concerns about the Phase 2 portion of the project. Commissioner Richard Orson said that perhaps Phase 2 could be cut back by 10 percent to cause less impact to the wetlands. ​“Phase I is a really good start,” Orson said. ​“I have problems with Phase 2.”

The initial public hearing convened in May and several changes were made to the plans over the summer months. But the time limit ran out in August before all the revisions could be discussed. Click here to read about that.

A second hearing began in December and concluded Thursday night.

The owner said last month that the engineering team significantly scaled back the project from the initial proposal due to concerns by the IW commission about the impact to the wetlands.

Mancini told the commission in December that the only wetland impact in Phase I would be 1,442 square feet for the access road to cross the stream and wetlands that are near Route 1. The first plans last year called for filling in about 13,000 square feet of wetlands for the entire project. Members of the engineering team have said that any wetlands that are disturbed will be replaced at more than the 2 to 1 ratio required by I‑W. 

The proposed Phase 1 improvements include the access road and the creation of stormwater drainage basins. Mancini previously said Phase 2 would allow excavation to show prospective developers what a potential ​“development envelope” could be.

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