“Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.” ~ Louis D. Brandeis
Prst. Std. U.S. Postage Paid Naugatuck, CT #27
FR EE
Bee Intelligencer AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown
www.bee-news.com
Volume XI, No. 8
July 2015
P&Z approves proposed Shell station By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on June 4 approved construction of a smaller version of a new gas station intended to replace the current Shell station at 520 Middlebury Road in Middlebury. The approved station will have three double-sided pumps that will serve a total of six cars at a time compared to the five double-sided pumps serving 10 cars at a time that the property owner initially applied for in February. This was the third public hearing on the proposal, which elicited strong opposition from some 40 residents even after the applicant, Wesson Energy, offered to lower the number of double-sided pumps to four from five, reduce the width of the canopy to 112 feet from 140, and reduce the number of parking spaces to 27 from 34. After taking public comments for an hour and a half, the commission voted 4 to 1 to approve the project with one further modification, a reduction to three in the number of double-sided pumps. Chairman Terry Smith said the modification was made part of the approval to make the project conform better to the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). The proposed sign for the new station, which town engineer John Calabrese said wasn’t consistent with zoning regulations, will be addressed separately. Chairman Terry Smith and members Erika Carrington, Bill Stowell and Paul Babarik voted for approval while the commission’s newest member, Joe Drauss, voted against it. Commissioner Matthew Robison was absent. Attorney Michael McVerry, representing property owner Wesson Energy, had opened his remarks by asking for Robison’s recusal from any vote because of critical remarks made by Robison’s wife, Nancy, at the May 7 public hearing. McVerry said her position might “color his (Robison’s) ability to evaluate issues.” Before the vote was cast, McVerry recapped plans to demolish the Shell Station at 520 Middlebury Road and construct a larger station on that site and the adjacent lots formerly occupied by Vinnie’s Pizza and Johnny’s Dairy Bar. He said the improved and enlarged station was harmonious with other businesses in the area, citing the history of neighboring gas stations going back to the 1940s. He argued that some residents might wish something different on the site, but saying the station wasn’t harmonious “flies in the face of the facts.” He said the station conformed to all the pertinent zoning regulations with every concern addressed and the visual appearance of the station would improve the rundown area.
He said he didn’t understand comments Cathy Smith made May 7 about the size and contents of the kitchen area and said those comments mentioned items not shown on the plans. Michael A. Galante of Frederick P. Clark Associates reviewed portions of the traffic access and impact study and disagreed with comments the station would draw traffic from I-84. In written comments, a letter from Michael Jacobi questioned the metrics used to compute the number of pumps needed to service customers and a letter from Frank Perrella said the project was “a monstrosity not in the best interests of Middlebury residents.” He asked commissioners to scale it back. Cathy Smith refuted McVerry’s comments about the kitchen equipment. “I went through the plans. Every single piece of equipment, model number, chapter and verse, serial number – I took pictures and can print you out a copy. I didn’t get that out of the air.” She said the new plans had even more equipment “… a high-speed fatless fryer. I’m not making this stuff up. It’s on your plans.” “Show me,” responded McVerry. “I have the plans and I’ll be happy to go through them with you,” she responded. She also said the numbers on Galante’s traffic study did not match those in the POCD. She said the POCD listed 22,000 cars per day on Route 64, not 13,000. She said there was a lot of “smoke and mirrors.” She agreed a gas station was a good thing and needed, but not a mega-station. Also opposing the station for various matters of size, scale, lighting, noise, children’s safety and traffic were Jane Conners, Jean Peterson, Mary Larkin, Maureen Voghel, Peter Vaccarelli, Richard Molleca, Robert Rafford, Kris Jacobi and Scott Peterson. Five residents supported the project. Ingrid Manning said a gas station was needed in town. She complimented Wesson Energy on listening and offering a tremendous improvement on what is there. Paul Anderson said he expects the other gas stations will go away and complimented the design of this station. George Frantzis said the town needed a nice gas station and it wasn’t reasonable to expect a boutique store to locate in that spot. David Theroux said the proposal was very responsible and had wonderful architecture that would open up the area in front of Village Square. John Cookson reminded everyone that Sylvia’s Deli (Nutmeg Pantry) was long known for breakfasts and sandwiches it sold from the Shell Station a few decades ago. The next regular P&Z meeting will be Thursday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Shepardson Community Center.
Inside this Issue Adopt a Rescue Pet.....8 Obituaries...................5 Classifieds...................7 Parks & Recreation......4 Community Calendar...2 Puzzles.......................7 Diversified Tax Tidbits...5 School Daze................3 Here’s a tip.................7 Veterans Post..............5 Library Lines................2 Winning Ways.............6
Editorial Office: Email: mbisubmit@gmail.com Phone: 203-577-6800 Mail: P.O. Box 10, Middlebury, CT 06762 Advertising Sales: Email: mbiadvertising@gmail.com
Quassy Amusement Park President Eric Anderson announces the park’s five-year, $6 million plan for improvements that include eight new slides (shown on the wall behind Anderson) at Splash Away Bay, Quassy’s lakefront waterpark. (Marjorie Needham photo)
Quassy announces expansion Quassy Amusement and Waterpark President Eric Anderson told the media Saturday the park will more than double the number of water slides at Splash Away Bay over the next several seasons, and other park improvements will include a two-story candy shop featuring an antique taffy-pulling machine. The eight new slides will be a group of five smaller slides for younger children and three giant slides with a combined length of more than 1,000 feet for older children. “We’re excited about further expanding the waterpark as it has become a venerable part of the guest experience here at Quassy,” Anderson said of the project. In addition to the candy shop, Quassy will build a beach snack building and will replace some of the amusement area rides. An estimated $6 million will be reinvested into the historic lakeside park over the next five years.
The first phase of the expansion is targeted to open in 2016 when Slide City, the group of five slides, will open adjacent to the Saturation Station. Four of the slides will end in shallow troughs while a fifth will send riders gently along the wall of a circularshaped landing prior to exiting. The larger slides, which will open in 2017, will be in an area now occupied by picnic tables on the north side of the property. The existing popcorn concession near the Grand Carousel will be razed to make way for a new candy shop featuring a taffy manufacturing operation from yesteryear. “We have purchased a taffy puller (machine) and wrapping machine that will not only provide great candy, but are also entertaining to watch,” said George Frantzis II, a park owner. “The wrapping machine dates back to around 1915 and has been
completely restored by an industry expert.” “This will be the same type of operation you see at many boardwalk locations that have produced taffy for years,” he added. “Guests will be able to mix flavors into a take-home package, and we are also planning to do online sales.” The new lakefront structure, Splash Away Bay Café and Deck, will provide a place for guests at Quassy Beach and the waterpark to purchase food and beverages without leaving the waterpark. The café will feature rooftop seating on a deck overlooking Lake Quassapaug. Andrew Peklo III of Woodbury, Conn., who already created a new ticket booth and group sales/season pass building at the park in a style reminiscent of Quassy’s “trolley park” heritage, also designed the candy shop and lakefront café.
Officer Demers, Jay graduate The Middlebury Police Department proudly announced that Officer Edward Demers and his K9, Jay, graduated from the 173rd State Police K9 Training Troop on May 28, 2015, in a ceremony at the Police Officer Standards and Training Council Academy in Meriden, Conn. Officer Demers, along with 11 other officers and their K9s, participated in a grueling 14-week training session that began the second week of February and concluded the last week in May. The course, which is physically and mentally demanding, prepares the officers and their K9s for the rigors of patrol duty and includes tracking, apprehensions, obedience and other facets of their daily duties. Officer Demers, who has had two previous K9s, is extremely experienced and respected in the field of K9 training and handling. When his most recent K9, a yellow Labrador retriever named J.J., retired, the department purchased Jay, a German shepherd. During the graduation ceremony hosted by the Connecticut State Police, Officer
Demers was honored for having the highest academic grade average in the class. Middlebury Police Chief James Viadero said, “We are extremely proud and excited to have Officer Demers back to work with his K9. Additionally, both Officer Demers and K9 Jay will be an asset to the department and the town, providing years of dedicated and professional police service to the Middlebury community. Officer Demers made a great sacrifice accepting the assignment and will most certainly excel in his future endeavors.” Viadero said the Middlebury Police Department also thanked members of the community who generously donated to the acquisition of K9 Jay and the cost of the K9 program. Without their donations the program would not have been possible. A special thank-you also goes to Fidelco Guide Dog Services in Bloomfield, Conn. Jay was acquired from Fidelco, a group that provides and trains guide dogs for Middlebury Police Officer Edward Demers and his police dog, the blind but also vigorously Jay, are shown at their graduation from the State Police K9 supports police K9 programs. Training Troop. (Submitted photo)
Look for the August issue of the Bee-Intelligencer on July 31. Meantime, visit our website, www.bee-news.com. Published by The Middlebury Bee Intelligencer Society, LLC - 2030 Straits Turnpike, Middlebury, CT 06762 - Copyright 2015
MRTC awards scholarships
Page 3
Send mail to
P.O. Box 10, Middlebury CT 06762
203-577-6800
Visit us at 2030 Straits Turnpike, Suite 1