Indeks
BRISTOL — The city’s Zoning Commission has reversed itself after last year rejecting a proposed drive-up window for a new Dunkin’ Donuts that a developer hopes to build downtown,
Following a lawsuit by developer George Carpenter, the panel agreed to drop its opposition to the North Main Street project, bringing the legal case to a close.
Carpenter is now seeking a green light from the commission for a site plan that includes the controversial drive-up window.
The new building would be erected on the site of an existing parking lot just south of DeLorenzo Towers. It is to be the subject of an April 10 public hearing.
The move doesn’t affect the yearlong moratorium on drive-up windows downtown that the zoning panel imposed in February. That only applies to new applications, not ones such as Carpenter’s that were turned in beforehand.
The reversal on Carpenter’s plan occurred in part because city lawyers who looked at the record said commissioners didn’t make a strong enough case against Carpenter’s request for them to defend the moratorium successfully in court. They urged the commission to back down and settle the case rather than fight against the odds.
Mayor Art Ward said he’s talked to the heads of all of the city’s land-use boards to emphasize the importance of making sure the panels lay out the rationales for all of the decisions they make. He said there are lots of legal technicalities they have to be aware of every time.
Ward said he’s also cleared the way for land-use commissioners who want to attend training sessions to learn about hose technicalities.
Once the new doughnut shop is finished, city officials expect the Ghio family that owns the franchise just down the road will move it to the new site. It’s not clear what will happen to the existing shop at the corner of Center Street.
Steve Collins can be reached at (860) 584-0501, ext. 7254, or at scollins@bristolpress.com.
Following a lawsuit by developer George Carpenter, the panel agreed to drop its opposition to the North Main Street project, bringing the legal case to a close.
Carpenter is now seeking a green light from the commission for a site plan that includes the controversial drive-up window.
The new building would be erected on the site of an existing parking lot just south of DeLorenzo Towers. It is to be the subject of an April 10 public hearing.
The move doesn’t affect the yearlong moratorium on drive-up windows downtown that the zoning panel imposed in February. That only applies to new applications, not ones such as Carpenter’s that were turned in beforehand.
The reversal on Carpenter’s plan occurred in part because city lawyers who looked at the record said commissioners didn’t make a strong enough case against Carpenter’s request for them to defend the moratorium successfully in court. They urged the commission to back down and settle the case rather than fight against the odds.
Mayor Art Ward said he’s talked to the heads of all of the city’s land-use boards to emphasize the importance of making sure the panels lay out the rationales for all of the decisions they make. He said there are lots of legal technicalities they have to be aware of every time.
Ward said he’s also cleared the way for land-use commissioners who want to attend training sessions to learn about hose technicalities.
Once the new doughnut shop is finished, city officials expect the Ghio family that owns the franchise just down the road will move it to the new site. It’s not clear what will happen to the existing shop at the corner of Center Street.
Steve Collins can be reached at (860) 584-0501, ext. 7254, or at scollins@bristolpress.com.
