Demolition Permit Application For Foundry Property Has Not Been Approved

The owners of the former Foundry property are expected to bring certified letters from Connecticut Light and Power and Metropolitan District Commission to the town today.

Snowstorm Alfred is believed to be the cause of the delay for CL&P and downed computer systems may have created a delay with the MDC.

The state Department of Public Health has already done a walk-through of the property.

The permit application, which was , has to be approved by the town's building official before demolition can begin. As of Tuesday afternoon, the permit had not been approved.

Resident Speaks Up At Council Meeting

"Everyone is waiting for the Foundry to be demolished," activist and resident said at last week's Town Council meeting.

Chiucarello, who is a member of the , asked the council what roads would be used during the demolition of the Foundry and even requested that the permit application be heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission because of this issue.

Town Manager Barbara Gilbert said at the meeting the developer has agreed there will be no demolition traffic on Riverview Road and Pratt Street. Trucks will only travel on Glastonbury Avenue, which is a state road.

He also asked the council if "condemnation would provide for an expedited approval process." However, the owner plans to reuse some of the building's bricks and thus the Foundry could not be condemned, Gilbert informed the council at the meeting. If the building were condemned, all the materials would have to be disposed and could not be repurposed.

The Friendly Auto Body at 125 Meadow Rd. and the concrete towers at 154 Meadow Rd. need to be properly secured because they are unsafe, according to Chiucarello. He felt the owners of the property should "properly secure these unsafe dangerous structures, by placing plywood over the broken glass windows and doors, locking the silo doors, tearing the steps off at street level and picking up the glass and garbage on the street."

"Can the property on Glastonbury Avenue be used for purposes of open space and impervious coverage," Chiucarello asked the council.

He also requested the demolition permit application for the former Foundry property be heard at an Inland Wetlands Commission due to the Virginia snail population in the area. However, the permit application is not expected to be heard by the Inland Wetlands Commission.

Both the Republican and Democratic caucuses are expected to review the requests made by Chiucarello and answer his requests in the near future.

“I am trying to come forward in a positive way," he told the council. "I only want the best thing for the town."

For more information about Rocky Hill Riverfront Preservation Society, visit their website.