Cromwell Planning Board Approves Two Special Permits at January Special Meeting

Planning and Zoning · Meeting of January 20, 2026

Cromwell Planning and Zoning approved two special permits and withdrew its own zoning regulation overhaul at a January 20 special meeting. The commission unanimously approved a three-car classic car storage garage for Anita and Andres Mezilek at 5 Winthrop Boulevard, then voted 6-1 to approve a 2,400-square-foot self-storage facility at 6 Piney Ridge Road for DFC of Cromwell LLC, presented by engineer Jim Cassidy of Halsey Pearson Cassidy. Town Planner Andrew Armstrong pulled the town's own amendment package, application 25-25, saying it came "too much too quickly," and pledged to resubmit in targeted segments — with cafe and restaurant distance-requirement fixes first, after a commissioner warned a prospective applicant may leave Cromwell if the current 1,500-foot cafe separation rule is not resolved promptly.

A crushing-operations application by Galito Construction LLC at 150 Sibethy Drive was continued to February 17, when the commission will also convene its first Aquifer Protection Agency meeting at 6:30 p.m.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,144 words

Source: the Planning and Zoning meeting of January 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

CROMWELL — January 20, 2026 — The Cromwell Planning and Zoning Commission approved two special permits at a Tuesday evening special meeting, while also beginning discussions about the town's response to Connecticut's new housing legislation and the reactivation of a dormant aquifer protection agency.

The commission approved a three-car garage for classic car storage at 5 Winthrop Boulevard and a self-storage facility at 6 Piney Ridge Road. A third application, for crushing operations at 150 Sibethy Drive, was opened and immediately continued. The town's own application to amend its zoning regulations was withdrawn and will be resubmitted in a more targeted form.

The Full Story

Commission Chair Alice Kelly presided over the meeting, which included members Mike Cannata, Andrew Holt, Ann Grasso, Nick Dimitriadis, Dr. Kalinowski, and alternate John Comtois. Comtois was seated at the start of the meeting by unanimous vote. Zone Enforcement Officer Bruce Driska, Town Planner Andrew Armstrong, and Clerk Linda Emmy were also present. The Mayor attended as an observer.

The first special permit, application 25-33, was granted to Anita and Andres Mezilek for a three-car garage at 5 Winthrop Boulevard to store classic cars. Armstrong told the commission there were no staff concerns and recommended approval, noting that the town engineer and Driska had previously requested drainage improvements that the applicants had since provided. The applicants told the commission the structure would match the main house in siding and roofing and would be used only infrequently for storage, not as a working garage. No members of the public came forward. The commission approved the application unanimously.

The second special permit, application 25-29, concerned a 2,400-square-foot self-storage facility at 6 Piney Ridge Road, sought by DFC of Cromwell LLC. Jim Cassidy, a professional engineer and principal with the firm of Halsey Pearson Cassidy, 630 Main Street in Cromwell, presented on behalf of the applicant. He told the commission the only substantive change since the prior meeting was a revision to the building's roofline, brought to 19 feet at the eave to comply with the 20-foot threshold, and a repositioning of dormers at Commissioner Grasso's earlier request. Armstrong clarified for the commission that the Commercial Billboard District where the property sits is a distinct zone, not an overlay, and that self-storage was added as a permitted use in the zone by amendment, likely in 2024.

"This regulation went into — or this zone went into effect in 2020. It was amended for the self storage and never was an overlay." [00:30:04] — Andrew Armstrong, Town Planner

One commissioner noted opposition to self-storage having been added to the zone, saying she would have voted against it at the time. The commission approved the application, with one member opposed.

Armstrong separately informed the commission that application 25-35, for crushing operations by Galito Construction LLC at 150 Sibethy Drive, would be continued to the February 17 meeting because the applicant's surveyor was on vacation and revised stamped plans were not ready. The public hearing was opened and the matter continued by unanimous vote.

The commission also withdrew application 25-25, the town's own proposed amendments to the zoning regulations, to allow Armstrong, who is new to the role, more time to evaluate and resubmit the changes in focused segments. Armstrong said some items are straightforward technical corrections — including a mislabeling of the Commercial Billboard District as an overlay — while others warrant more deliberation.

"In my mind, I believe that we have some of these that can be kind of extracted and they're Scrivener's errors. They're true errors that we could fix right up front." [00:34:08] — Andrew Armstrong, Town Planner

Armstrong also raised two standing items. First, he reminded commissioners that Connecticut requires four hours of training every two years, including one hour on fair housing and affordable housing, with a compliance letter due to the state in March. Second, he informed the commission that it also serves as the Aquifer Protection Agency for an overlay in the northeast corner of town, and that a first APA meeting is targeted for February 17 at 6:30 p.m., before the regular Planning and Zoning meeting, to address a pending registration from one entity operating within the protected zone.

Commissioner Dimitriadis reported that the River COG regional planning group is beginning to develop a strategy for complying with the state's new housing legislation, and called for the commission to establish a standing agenda item to track developments and eventually hold its own discussions on how Cromwell should respond.

"I just wanted to put on the record that we should probably talk about what our plans are and how to address that and next steps." [00:38:10] — Nick Dimitriadis, Commissioner

Armstrong confirmed he is attending multiple upcoming meetings on the housing bill, including an APA Connecticut statewide session being held in Cromwell and a Connecticut Conference of Municipalities session, and will report back to the commission as information develops.

Why It Matters

The approval of the self-storage facility at 6 Piney Ridge Road concludes a multi-month application process and moves forward development in the Commercial Billboard District, a zone that has generated discussion about what uses belong behind existing residential properties. Meanwhile, the withdrawal of the town's own zoning regulation amendments, application 25-25, means changes to definitions covering restaurants, cafes, and distance requirements remain unresolved. Armstrong and at least one commissioner indicated urgency around the cafe and restaurant definition question, noting that a prospective applicant is waiting on resolution and may choose another community if the process takes too long. The February 17 meeting will be a double-header, with an inaugural Aquifer Protection Agency session at 6:30 p.m. followed by the regular Planning and Zoning meeting, including the continued hearing on the Galito Construction crushing operations application.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Seating of alternate John Comtois Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approval of meeting agenda as presented Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Open public hearing for application 25-33 (Mezilek garage, 5 Winthrop Boulevard) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Close public hearing for application 25-33 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approve application 25-33 (special permit, garage over 1,000 square feet, 5 Winthrop Boulevard) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Open public hearing for application 25-35 (Galito Construction crushing operations, 150 Sibethy Drive) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Continue application 25-35 to February 17, 2026 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Open continued public hearing for application 25-29 (DFC of Cromwell LLC self-storage, 6 Piney Ridge Road) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Close public hearing for application 25-29 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approve application 25-29 (special permit, self-storage facility, 6 Piney Ridge Road) Tally: For: 6, Against: 1, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Approve December 16 minutes as presented Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Cromwell's community access TV: Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, January 20, 2026