Zone Change Approved for Laurel Road Property

The Economic Development Commission unanimously approved a zone change for the property at 45 Laurel Road from waterfront to business park at its Tuesday meeting.

Economic Development Director Ray Carpentino told the commission that a business, which he could not identify, wanted to move into the space, but zoning did not allow any type of warehousing or manufacturing.

“Without the zone change, the company can’t relocate here,” Carpentino said. Waterfront zoning only allows small retail and business development, he said.

“They want to redevelop the site, but can’t do it because of the waterfront zoning,” Carpentino said. “The zone change is essential in getting the business to relocate to Rocky Hill.”

The business was identical to other businesses in the area, but on a larger scale, Carpentino said. He added that the business is looking to purchase the property at 25 Laurel Road, which is already zoned business park.

Carpentino said that even if the deal with this business fell through, the zone change would make the property easier to market to another potential buyer.

A public hearing about the zone change will be held in August.

It is unclear why the property is zoned waterfront since it has no access to water. A person would have to cross railroad tracks and two other properties to get to water from this property, Carpentino said.

Commission member Sharon Mounds asked how much traffic the business would bring to the area, but Carpentino said it was unclear until the zone change was approved.