Norwich Plaza Proposal targets Area Near Backus

Killingly Group Seeks zone Change For Strip of Washington Street

By Claire Bessette    Published on 10/6/2007

Norwich — A Killingly development partnership submitted a controversial application to rezone seven Washington Street properties across from The William W. Backus Hospital to a neighborhood commercial zone.

The change would allow a planned 20,000-square-foot commercial retail plaza — a project neighbors have been fearing and fighting for several months.

“If they can introduce commercial development in our neighborhood, which neighborhood is next?” asked Marterese Ferrari, leader of the neighborhood opposition to the proposed zone change. “They've made it clear they'll be attempting this very thing all over this city.”

The plan by Carpionato-LaBossiere Properties LLC calls for a $9 million complex with retail outlets for a national pharmacy, a local bank and a national coffee shop designed as separate buildings. The project would start adjacent to Johnson's Flowers & Gifts — which would “remain essentially untouched as part of the redevelopment” — and would run along Washington Street to the Sam's Food Mart gasoline station and convenience store.

“This is an outstanding location for neighborhood commercial businesses,” partner Domenic Carpionato said in a written statement. “It is located between the existing gas station and florist businesses, which have served the community for generations. These new businesses on site will serve local shopping needs of the thousands of people who travel to Backus Hospital and the Norwich Free Academy each day, as well as visitors entering the city off of Route 2.”

The seven properties involved in the proposed zone change are 299, 301, 303, 305, 3051/2 and 307 Washington St., and 7 Julian Terrace. The modern ranch house at 299 Washington St. sits on the property that housed Benedict Arnold's birthplace and childhood home. The developers have offered to replace the small plaque that marks the spot with “a more distinctive monument to the controversial Revolutionary War figure, to be developed with input from local historical groups.”

The developers have proposed realigning Julian Street at the intersection of Washington and Lafayette streets with a traffic light.

The proposed project has been rumored for several months, as the developers were unsuccessful in summer with a proposed commercial overlay zone that would have allowed commercial development along state roads throughout the city. Neighbors said the developers continued to meet with residents, and even named the stores as a Webster Bank, Walgreens pharmacy and a Starbucks coffee shop, to try to win support for the project.

Several residents attended City Council meetings regularly anticipating that the development would be revived, and complaining about their efforts to secure support from the City Council, which serves as the zoning board in Norwich. On Sept. 4, they accused developers of misleading neighbors about the project, an accusation that angered project attorney Glenn Carberry. He responded that the remarks were inappropriate.

Three aldermen signed a proposed zone change ordinance submitted to the Norwich city clerk's office Friday along with the zone change application. Republican John Crooks and Democrats Jacqueline Caron and Larry Goldman signed a proposed zone change ordinance in late August.

“We are very disappointed that this spot zone is being introduced,” said Ferrari, leader of the neighborhood opposition, “especially on the eve of city elections. The timing effectively silences the entire Norwich citizenry on one of the few election issues being debated.”

Goldman said Friday that he was in favor of allowing the commercial zone there “from the beginning,” saying the Route 2 corridor has the traffic and associated businesses to attract development. Crooks said he is leaning toward approving the change, pointing out that the developers could sell their options to entities the city would not want in the existing residential zone — including nonprofit medical facilities or clinics that would pay no taxes.

“I'm convinced that development is a forgone conclusion in that space, and I think that no development should happen there that we wouldn't want,” Crooks said. “If the zone change is not approved, the City Council would be powerless to stop nonprofit development.”

Crooks said the developers have spent a lot of money securing options on the properties and likely would not just allow them to lapse.

Caron said she signed the zoning application to bring the matter forward but was noncommittal on whether she would vote in favor of the proposed neighborhood commercial zone.

“I think it's something that needs to be brought forward,” Caron said. “I sponsored it as an opportunity for it to come up and be heard. Every developer has the right to come forth. Just because you sign it doesn't mean you support it. I support it being heard.”