The owner of an Elm Street commercial lot that soon will see a new two-story building go up—a structure that officials say will serve, in part, as a future location for Stewarts Spirits—is seeking some relief from a local parking requirement as a basement level now also is proposed.
Planned building at 215 Elm St. Specs by Frederick William Hoag Architect
Permits to construct the 3,011-square-foot building on the .28-acre lot at 215 Elm St.—located just east of Walter Stewart’s Market and Stewarts Spirits—already have been secured.
Now, the property’s owner, Melissa Engel, is seeking to create a 1,598-square-foot basement which, under the New Canaan Zoning Regulations (see page 109 here), triggers the need for six additional parking spaces. The parcel’s site plan, as it is, will fall three spaces short. Engel is seeking relief under Section 6.2.E.2 of the zoning regs (page 112 here).
The brick-and-concrete drive-thru structure at 215 Elm St. has been razed and a new, 2-story structure is planned. Its first floor will house Stewarts Spirits, officials say. Credit: Michael Dinan
The item is on the agenda for Tuesday’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, and Town Planner Steve Kleppin in his memo to the group said that Walter Stewart’s intends to use the first floor of the planned new building for liquor sales in order to free up more internal space at the iconic Elm Street market.
One argument in favor of granting the special permit is that the limited floor space at the new building—it will include 1,388 square feet on the first floor and 1,623 on the second floor, according to a building permit application filed in April—means more frequent deliveries if no additional storage room is available, Kleppin said. That would mean fewer deliveries needed, he said.
If granted, P&Z may consider imposing a condition that the new basement level be used for storage only, he said.
Asked about Stewarts Spirits’ plans, Alex and Doug Stewart said in an email: “By moving Stewart’s Wine & Spirits next door to 215 Elm Street we will offer an expanded selection of wine, craft beer and liquor, convenient parking and an easier shopping experience, as well as a wine-tasting station.” The brothers said additional details will be made available in the coming weeks.
Asked about her plans for the building, Melissa Engel noted that the second floor is available to rent and said that she and husband John are “thrilled that 215 Elm will be the beautiful new home of Stewarts Spirits.”
“The Stewart family has been wonderful to work with and we look forward to all the exciting changes that will be taking place at Walter Stewart’s,” she said.