WILTON – The town’s planning board found the preliminary subdivision application relating to the addition of apartments on the top floor of the Bass Wilson Building complete at Thursday evening’s meeting, an early step in the approval process for the project.
The Bass Wilson Building, a former mill, is located at 284 Main Street and currently consists of commercial space utilized by a number of businesses. The building’s owner, Randy Cousineau, is proposing the installation of 10 small apartments on the fourth floor, facing Main Street. He told the planning board he saw the studio-style apartments’ primarily aimed at professionals who needed relatively short-term lodging.
“We’re looking for traveling nurses and traveling doctors,” Cousineau said. “People looking for something a little more long term than a hotel.”
The town’s seven-member planning board spent the bulk of Thursday’s meeting reviewing a preliminary subdivision application filed by Bass Wilson Properties, LLC to ensure completeness. Many elements of the subdivision ordinance were either waived or declared not applicable by the board, due to the project only impacting internal elements of the building.
The apartments will be connected to town water and sewer, and the parking plan currently calls for approximately 15 spaces on the lake-side of the building. Some board members questioned whether the project required adjacent, designated parking or not; the common understanding of the ordinance has been 1.5 parking spots per unit, but one section pertaining to the Downtown Village zone, which the Bass Building is in, indicated that parking just needed to be within 1,000 feet.
The planning board did require two conditions relating to the application be met: that an engineer or architect’s stamp be attached to the final plan and that a map denoting information associated with the flood plain and 100-year-flood mark be included prior to final approval.
The project’s next step includes a public hearing, which the board scheduled for May 15 at 7 p.m. at the town office.
I have been inside this building, both as a visitor and a worker. What they have done so far is remarkable! I am sure if they make apts. it will be the best!
Good Luck!
It’s heartening to see a town committee trying to obey the law and encourage growth in the community.
I see nothing wrong about adding apartments on the fourth floor as long as safety precautions are used regarding a possible fire. The building is old, the exterior wood is old and would go fast during a blaze. As long as there are fire escapes and no one is relying only on elevators to safely let people flee,if necessary, then I think the apartments would be a good idea. If there was a fire, and only elevators were available to get to safety, what would happen if the power went out and the elevator didn’t work?
I’ve known Randy for many years. Wilton is blessed to have him there. He’ll put 100% into what he’s doing and do it by the book.
Lucille. Town committees have been following laws and encouraging growth all along.