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Town sifting through options amid hospital move

Pomfret Town Supervisor Don Steger discusses a proposal before the town board to allow 19 different uses by special permit in a business highway, B2, district. Board members didn’t act the proposal during a recent meeting.

Pomfret town officials are still weighing options on possible zoning changes to bring more activity to business districts — and more notably to accommodate a pending move by Brooks Memorial Hospital to Route 20.

While no official action was taken Wednesday, public hearings were held at the town hall on two proposed local laws. One of those looks to add uses via special use permit within the town’s existing highway business, B2, district. Allowable uses via special permit span from a hospital and medical offices to micro-breweries and wood manufacturing.

The proposal was referred to the county Planning Board where members determined the action could significantly impact communities and the county. Planning board members recommended the town not include a variety of uses within a B2 district to alleviate concerns. They also recommended that use of property for auto sales, farm machinery, vehicle repair shops and gas stations go from use by right to use by special permit.

In consideration of the response, Town Supervisor Don Steger said uses within a B2 need to be modified to meet the town’s intent.

“The board will have to sit back and re-evaluate all definitions and what the proposed uses are that we’re interested (in),” he said.

A separate local law proposes the addition of a hospital and health care facility via special use permit within an agricultural, residential, AR1, district. Steger initially brought up the proposal last year to deal with the hospital’s planned development of a new hospital facility behind 3710-3724 East Main Road in the town.

The county Planning Board disapproved the town’s second proposed local law, stating that it could negatively impact the community character and community appearance. In addition, the county Planning Board said adding hospital and health care facilities to an AR1 would fail to protect and preserve agricultural uses and rural character.

Throughout both public hearings, town residents continued to express concern over the potential change of the Route 20 corridor from an AR1 district to a B2 district — and more importantly the hospital’s pending move near residential homes. A public hearing was held last month on the proposal to convert the Route 20 corridor to Christy Road to a B2 district. Town officials haven’t acted on it yet.

Al Pacos, Route 20 resident of 30-plus years, told the board that the neighborhood is a quiet one with farming and grape vineyards. But now there’s turmoil between the hospital’s move and the roundabout at the Route 20 and 60 intersection, among other things. Pacos also criticized hospital officials for not being transparent throughout the selection process.

“Everything they’ve done so far has been behind closed doors,” he said. “We’re here because we don’t want the hospital there.”

Chris Schaeffer, town board member, asked if a community meeting could be set so hospital officials could speak with the public about the pending move. Steger replied that it’s up to them to set it up.

“I think it’d be good if they had a chance to sit down and talk to each other,” Schaeffer said.

As for the proposed change from an AR1 to a B2 district on Route 20, Mark Twichell, Preservation of Agricultural Land Serenity member, acknowledged that it could impact agricultural ecosystems. Jill Casey, who spoke on behalf of her parents, said adopting accommodating zoning changes “certainly makes it appear that the town would support siting the hospital in its desired location.

Planning Board Chairman James Joy read a letter from the town board stating its agreement with the county Planning Board’s disapproval of changes to an AR1 zone to include a hospital. However, he said the planning board feels strongly that changing the proposed area on Route 20 from an AR1 to a B2 accurately reflects the recommendation for growth identified in the town’s Agricultural Comprehensive Plan.

“It also reflects recent property sales, variance applications, building permits and inquiries in those areas,” Joy said. “With no difference in workload, time or cost incurred, we firmly believe that changing the proposed areas from an AR1 to a B2 zone remains the best choice.”

Some board members say they are still weighing pros and cons to the proposals brought forth. Schaeffer was the only one to publicly announce his opposition of the proposed AR1-to-B2 conversion on Route 20.

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