Politics & Government
Rocky Hill Planning & Zoning Hears River's Edge Proposal
After lengthy presentation more neighbors speak in favor than against project at the former site of the Connecticut Foundry.
Rocky Hill attorney Michael Romano along with a team of architects and designers gave a lengthy presentation for their vision of the River's Edge Project at the site of the former Connecticut Foundry Wednesday night to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The public hearing was continued because of the glut of information presented as well as a number of questions presented to the P&Z by residents who were in attendance.
Romano outlined the project, starting with a history lesson on the foundry site.
"I'm proud to be before you, this has been a long time coming," Romano said. "We will have five buildings in the project. The first is retail and residential, the middle buildings are residential while building five is about 8,000 square feet of commercial space."
Romano and Jim Cassidy then outlined some of the highlights of the project.
- A riverwalk that could extend past the project at the southern most part
- The parking structures will be below the residential buildings
- There will be additional parking in a lot along the street and up Glastonbury Road
- There will be extensive sidewalks and landscaping installed
- All utilities will go from above ground to below ground
- There will be bio-retention centers to filter water before it returns to the Connecticut River
- There will be a amphitheater in the Tulisano Park
- There will be a water feature in the Tulisano Park
- Retail will feature a terrace for outdoor dining or gathering on the northern most side of building one
Bob Inderbitzen said he is also agreeable to the project.
"I am a neighbor and I am excited to see what could be at the riverfront," he said. "I would like to see the Town bring its streetscape lighting to the River's Edge Development. I am skeptical about the amount of traffic but I have an idea how to ease it. I would like to see two of the roads be made one-way streets and make the other lane pedestrian-only for joggers, bikers, walkers etc."
Two residents spoke against the project and they have worked together to do a lot of research into how the project came before the P&Z and how it would impact the area.
"I think this whole proposal and the demolition of the foundry may have been illegal," said Jim Zagroba "I think this proposal was pre-determined to go forward as town officials worked with the developer and skipped the processes that they needed to go through. It is not clear who will be in charge of the riverwalk because it will have no lights. Who will shovel that riverwalk?"
Christa Mariner lived in New Orleans so she cautioned the P&Z to be careful about projects like this in a flood zone.
"There are liens on all six of the parcels the owner has in town and an additional $36,000 in back taxes so how did they get a permit to demolish the foundry?" she said. "There is no police department approval and there have been multiple steps disregarded in the application process."
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