Cromwell Planning and Zoning Schedules Five Applications for March Public Hearings
Planning and Zoning · Meeting of February 3, 2026
Cromwell Planning and Zoning Commission schedules five new applications for March and releases a $33,490 subdivision bond. The commission accepted Applications 26-02 through 26-06 at its February 3 meeting, setting four — including a temporary event permit for the PGA Travelers Championship at 100 Golf Club Road and three permits for the Alpine Residential LLC mixed-use development at 100 Berlin Road — for the March 3 public hearing, with a fifth accepted for regular business. Director of Planning and Development Andrew Armstrong recommended that sign applications be reviewed administratively going forward, calling it "standard practice to have the zoning enforcement officer approve signs at an administrative level," and the commission directed staff to draft a text amendment to the zoning regulations to formalize that change.
The board also voted to authorize its vice chair to call the town manager about an unresolved code-enforcement case at 101 South Street, where thousands of dollars in fines have gone unpaid and the matter has sat with the town attorney since mid-2025 with no reported action. Armstrong flagged that Connecticut House Bill 8002 will require the town to revise parking and zoning regulations for developments of 16 units or fewer and to produce a housing growth plan in coordination with the River COG.
In the full story:
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Source: the Planning and Zoning meeting of February 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
The Full Article
CROMWELL — February 3, 2026 — The Cromwell Planning and Zoning Commission accepted five new applications and released a subdivision performance bond at its regular February 3 meeting, while also directing staff to begin drafting a text amendment that would allow routine sign approvals to be handled administratively rather than by the full commission.
The commission moved briskly through its agenda, scheduling four of the five incoming applications for the March 3 public hearing and accepting a fifth for regular business at the same meeting. The board also authorized its vice chair to contact Town Manager to press for an update on a longstanding code-enforcement dispute at 101 South Street.
The Full Story
Commission Chair Alice Kelly called the meeting to order with members Mike Cannata, Richard Nordman, Ann Grosso, and Dick Demetriatis present, along with alternate John Comtois, who was seated by vote. Andrew Armstrong, Director of Planning and Development, served as the commission's town planner for the evening.
The first substantive item under new business was Application 26-01, a site plan approval for new lighted signage at 80 Shunpike Road. Jerrion Williams, a permit expediter for Hartford Sign and Design LLC, presented on behalf of applicant Darren Senna and owner Quantum Office of Cromwell LLC. Williams described the proposed facade-mounted, face-lit channel letters for a tenant identified as Ori, to be installed on the upper portion of the building's facade and visible from both directions on Shunpike Road. The commission flagged a potential address discrepancy — whether the subject building was numbered 70 or 80 — and conditioned approval on the applicant confirming the correct street number before fabrication. A brief check on Google Maps during the meeting suggested the older building carries the number 80 and the newer adjacent medical building carries 70, consistent with the application. The motion to approve Application 26-01 passed unanimously.
Following that vote, Armstrong recommended that going forward, standard wall-sign applications be reviewed and approved at the staff level rather than coming before the full commission.
"I really feel like it's a standard practice to have the zoning enforcement officer approve signs at an administrative level." [00:17:08] — Andrew Armstrong, Director of Planning and Development
The commission agreed and asked staff to prepare a formal text amendment to the zoning regulations to authorize administrative sign review. Armstrong said a public hearing on the amendment could realistically be set within about a month.
The board then accepted and scheduled five applications tied to two separate projects. Applications 26-02 through 26-06 were all accepted. Application 26-02, a temporary event permit for the PGA Travelers Championship Golf Tournament at 100 Golf Club Road — filed by applicant Greater Hartford Community Foundation, with owner Tournament Players Club of Connecticut Incorporated — was set for the March 3 public hearing. Applications 26-03, 26-04, and 26-06, all connected to a mixed-use development at 100 Berlin Road and 15R Christian Hill Road by applicant Alpine Residential LLC (owner M360 Berlin Land Holdings LLC), were similarly set for the March 3 public hearing. Application 26-05, a site plan modification for the same Berlin Road development, was accepted for regular business rather than a public hearing at that same meeting.
The commission also voted to release a performance bond for the Shoe Farm subdivision. According to a memo from Town Engineer John Harriman included in the commission's packet, all conditions have been met. The original bond amount was $334,121.63; the remaining balance to be released, with interest, is $33,489.99.
On enforcement matters, a member raised the ongoing condition of 101 South Street, described as resembling a dump site with discarded appliances, motor vehicle parts, and an apparent egg-sale operation. The zoning enforcement officer noted the property has accumulated thousands of dollars in unpaid fines assessed by a hearing officer, and the matter was referred to the town attorney in mid-to-late summer of 2025, with no update received since.
"I have not heard from the town attorney at all on it." [00:05:49] — Armstrong, on the status of the 101 South Street enforcement case
The commission voted to authorize its vice chair to call the town manager to inquire about the status of both the enforcement action and the lack of communication from the town attorney.
The board also briefly discussed State of Connecticut House Bill 8002, the housing and growth plan legislation, which Armstrong described as an ongoing and evolving matter. He said Cromwell will face required zoning regulation changes — including allowing mixed-use development as of right in commercial areas and adjusting parking requirements for developments of 16 units or fewer — and must eventually produce a housing growth plan in coordination with the River COG. Armstrong noted consultants are being interviewed to assist COG member towns with the housing growth plan.
"So we're going to have to go through our regulations line by line to make sure that we're compliant with these various rules." [00:34:03] — Armstrong, on HB 8002 compliance
Public hearing Application 25-35, a special permit for crushing operations at 150 Sibethy Drive by applicant Galito Construction LLC (owner Rhonda LLC), was continued to the February 17 public hearing as plans remain under staff review, consistent with action already taken at the prior meeting.
Why It Matters
The scheduling of five applications — four tied to the PGA Travelers Championship and a large mixed-use development on Berlin Road — sets up the March 3 meeting as a substantively heavy session for the commission. The Berlin Road project by Alpine Residential LLC involves a flood hazard overlay permit, a master plan modification, a site plan modification, and a filling permit, signaling a project of significant scope. Separately, the direction to draft a text amendment streamlining sign approvals will reduce administrative burden on applicants and the commission alike, though it requires a public hearing before taking effect. The commission's next regular meeting is March 3, 2026, with a special public hearing session also scheduled for February 17.
Key Motions & Votes
- Vote: Seat alternate John Comtois Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Accept agenda as amended Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Authorize vice chair to contact town manager regarding 101 South Street enforcement status Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Approve Application 26-01, site plan approval for new sign at 80 Shunpike Road (Hartford Sign and Design LLC / Quantum Office of Cromwell LLC), subject to address number confirmation Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Accept and schedule Application 26-02, temporary event permit, PGA Travelers Championship at 100 Golf Club Road, for March 3 public hearing Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Accept and schedule Application 26-03, special permit for special flood hazard overlay district, Alpine Residential LLC at 100 Berlin Road and 15R Christian Hill Road, for March 3 public hearing Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Accept and schedule Application 26-04, special permit to modify and approve master plan, Alpine Residential LLC at 100 Berlin Road and 15R Christian Hill Road, for March 3 public hearing Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Accept and schedule Application 26-05, site plan modification, Alpine Residential LLC at 100 Berlin Road and 15R Christian Hill Road, for regular business on March 3 Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Accept and schedule Application 26-06, special permit for filling, Alpine Residential LLC at 100 Berlin Road and 15R Christian Hill Road, for March 3 public hearing Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Release of performance bond for Shoe Farm subdivision, remaining balance $33,489.99 with interest Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Approve minutes as presented Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Adjourn Tally: Approved unanimously
Source
Cromwell's community access TV: Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, February 3, 2026