News Roundup for the week of April 14, 2025
KENT, Conn.—The Planning and Zoning Commission has tabled until its May meeting action on a modified parking plan for Motoriot, a business that sells refurbished classic cars.
Co-owner Charles Narwold did not attend the Thursday, April 10, PZC meeting as expected, leaving Zoning Enforcement Officer Tai Kern to explain the plan as best she could. Several commission members said that they were confused by the map submitted.
Member Darrell Cherniske ventured that it looked like the plan called for moving tenant parking to the rear of the lot, “which actually seems like a good idea.”
There has been contention over parking on the property ever since Narwold and his partner, Jason Doornik, applied for their zoning permit several months after opening their doors in February 2024. The site was then home to several businesses, including a woodworker, Iron Horse, a motorcycle business, and Motoriot.
Issues with parking on the lot have centered on the number of spaces Motoriot uses for outdoor display of its vehicles, the number of spaces allotted for each business, customer parking and handicap parking.
“They (Doornik and Narwold) have asked to absorb the Iron Horse spaces because they now are the property owners,” Kern told the commissioners. “Guy Mauri [the previous owner] is out of there and the entire building will be occupied by [Motoriot].”
Commissioners said they would like to see a site plan drawn up by a professional planner. “I see there are three spaces for customers in the front and those shouldn’t be used [for other reasons,]” said Cherniske. “That should eliminate problems with them parking on the sidewalk.”
But Kern said enforcement of who parks where on the lot is “a nightmare for a zoning enforcement officer. You don’t know for sure who the vehicles belong to—customers, tenants, employees or for display. I did issue a notice of violation, but they move them and then the next day you don’t know who is where. It’s like wrangling hamsters trying to manage that kind of detail on a parking lot.”
Member Chris Harrigan asked if it could be verified that Iron Horse has moved away from the location. Also questioned was whether the woodworking business was still at the location.
Kern said that Mauri contended that the woodworking shop was not a business but had been used by a friend who was making cabinets. “The fire marshal had some issues with it in this space and it was never approved for that use,” she reported.
There are two apartments above the retail businesses, one of which has a certificate of occupancy and the other which does not.
ARB gives thumbs up to Palumbo plan
KENT, Conn.—In a quick meeting April 14, the Architectural Review Board moved Anthony Palumbo one step closer to realizing his plans for a former residential building at 26 South Maine St.
Palumbo, an attorney, is converting the location to an office with a residence above.
The renovation will include repairs to porches, windows, doors, siding and trim and the removal of chimneys. This month he discussed the appearance of gutters over the porch and trim.
“The existing trim is in bad shape,” he told the board members, adding that he would like to use molding to “add character” to the appearance of the building. In discussing trim around the windows, he said he wants to keep the historical nature of the building.
ARB Chairman Joanne Wasti said he should not worry about recreating the exact detail of the house. She encouraged him to keep the town’s character in mind, but said, “It’s okay to simplify and modernize.”
In other business, the ARB tabled consideration of an application from the Suko Lugito and Tony Robestelli for signage for Kent Kitchen, which will be located at the site of the former Gifford’s Market. Robestelli had technical problems and could not participate in the zoom meeting.
Zoning Enforcement Officer Tai Kern said the discussion was to focus on the materials proposed for the sign. Board members asked for other places where these materials might have been used so they could “can get a feel for how it would look on the street.”
Owner misses brownsfield grant deadline
KENT, Conn.—First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer reported at the last Selectmen’s meeting that the March 7 deadline for a $200,000 Brownfields Assessment grant was missed by the owner of former Berkshire Transformer building at 3 Segar Mtn. Road.
There is a second opportunity to apply for the grant in October.
Lindenmayer is advocating for rehabilitation of the site with the idea of attracting a clean, modern industry to town.
State Trooper’s March incident report
KENT, Conn.—Resident Trooper Vicki Donohoe has issued her report for Feb. 25-March 27.
During the month, there were 35 patrol checks, eight traffic services; four sessions of enhanced school security, 14 assists for citizens, one response to a fire; one domestic disturbance, five suspicious incidents; two community trooper liaison activities, 15 alarms; two medical assists; four assists for other agencies; three traffic accidents; 13 traffic stops; one active disturbance and once instance of fraud.
There were no assaults, burglaries or criminal mischief.
