Planning and Zoning Commission Approves Town Center West

A more than 142,000-square-foot is one step closer to becoming a reality in Rocky Hill after the planning and zoning commission approved the project Wednesday night.

Applicant Richard W. Vicino is proposing to build 142,380 square foot retail shopping center called Town Center West, which will be similar to Blue Back Square in West Hartford, at the southeast corner of West Street and Cromwell Avenue. The plans include a bank, pharmacy with a drive through, a sit-down restaurant and two retail shops.

On Wednesday night, the commission unanimously approved the special permit and site plan application for the project. The project must now go in front of the state traffic commission.

"I am very pleased," Vicino said about the commission's decision Wednesday night.

The project should be "helped" because the Capital Region Council of Governments is , he added. 

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"Nothing will be a surprise," Vicino said following the meeting.

The design of the project is to have a "good flow of traffic that would not impede retailers coming to our shops," Vicino said.

"As you well know, retailers love traffic, but they hate congestion," he said. "Our goal here is to have traffic that flows safely through the intersection that improves so retailers enjoy that traffic."

If the project receives approval from state traffic commission, Vicino said construction on the project could begin in 2013.

The 40-minute public hearing focused on the traffic study performed by James G. Bubaris of Bubaris Traffic Associates and information from the . According to Bubaris, the eight interesections surrounding the site including the new one, which will be created on Route 3, will all have a service level of excellent to average over the next few years at the peak hours of travel (7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.).

However, one intersection the intersection on West Street near Corporate Place will raise up to the level below average over the next few years. To prevent queuing, the timing of the light will have to be adjusted. Also, a westbound left turn lane will be added to the intersection so drivers can better access the site. 

"That is the only one (intersection) where there has to be phasing changes," Bubaris said.

The Open Space and Conservation Commission, ,  for the project at its meeting on June 13.

The commission added that the developer must perform a water quality report after the project is built to determine if the watercourse and wetlands are being "adversely affected," Rocky Hill Engineering Technician Robert Alvarado previously said.

The elevated boardwalk was also removed from the project after a request by the inland wetlands commission. To accommodate pedestrian traffic, the developer has agreed to fill in the missing sidewalks on the west side of Cromwell Avenue.

"I think it was very helpful to everyone," Vicino said about the change in the design of the project.

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