About one year after the plan emerged, the installation of a pet store in a long-vacant commercial space in New Canaan appears to be moving forward, according to documents filed with the town.
Rendering of proposed signage in front of a planned new pet store at Elm and Grove Streets. https://cms3.revize.com/revize/canaan/Departments/Land%20Use/Pending%20P&Z%20Commission%20Applications/272%20Elm_Exterior%20PZ.pdf?t=202512031114480&t=202512031114480
After approving changes to the New Canaan Zoning Regulations about one year ago to allow for the businessat Elm and Grove Streets, the Planning & Zoning Commission in April issued a Special Permit for a pet store with grooming services. At the time, it wasn’t clear what company was planning to come in. (Pet Pantry Warehouse is located on the same block, at 21 Grove St.)
According to a new filing with P&Z and Connecticut Secretary of the State records, the company behind the store is “Paws and Provisions Inc.” and its managing principal is a New Norwalk Road resident. (A pet store company by the same name is located in San Francisco, according to its website.)
P&Z is scheduled to take up a request for sign and site plan approval, as well as some changes to the brick building’s facade, during its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Most of the new construction at the site is interior, according to a project narrative filed on behalf of Paws and Provisions Inc. by Westport-based architecture firm Cole Harris Associates.
“The primary use will involve the retail sale of pet products, including food, toys, bedding, leashes and other related items,” it said. “The interior volume of the building will be enlarged by enclosing the existing, roofed, drive-thru bank teller area. This new space will be used for pet grooming services.”
The 2007-built glass-and-brick exterior building at 272 Elm St. has been vacant since TD Bank closed its branch there early five years ago. The property’s owner, V.M.I. Inc. managing principal Frank Vuoso, in 2023 proposed installing a high-end car dealership there but that plan didn’t materialize.
According to the project narrative, the building’s Grove Street entrance “will be reconfigured to serve as the entry to the grooming center.”
“The existing door will be replaced with a glass door and a paneled partial façade will be added around the door,” it said. “Signage and lighting will be added to this façade and a new sidewalk and accessible ramp will be constructed leading to this door from the sidewalk on Grove Street. No other significant exterior alterations are planned.”
Town Planner Sarah Carey in her memo to P&Z ahead of the meeting said the applicant is seeking to “modify the entry doors along the Elm Street façade, repaint the entry, and add new lighting.”
“Along the Grove Street façade, they propose a new entryway and door, a new awning, and signage for the groomer,” Carey said in the memo. “The sign requires site plan approval because it includes three lines of text, where only two are typically allowed.”
At nearly 14 feet, the combined height of the sign text would exceed what is allowed under the zoning regulations.
“The applicant has provided an alternative signage plan that fully complies with the regulations should approval not be granted,” Carey said. She also instructed P&Z to review New Canaan’s “Village District Design Guidelines” to ensure the proposed changes are consistent with them.
According to the project narrative, the new use of the commercial building will “generate comparable traffic flow to the bank, with the traffic distributed evenly throughout the day.”
“Existing parking facilities are sufficient to accommodate the anticipated demand, as the property previously handled customer and employee vehicles during peak banking hours,” it said.
Out of curiosity, why do we need another pet store that will literally be in Pet Pantry’s backyard? It seems a bit shortsighted – between market saturation and Pet Pantry already having a strong customer base, they’ll need a very strong customer value proposition.
Well said; I have long wondered the same thing about nail salons, but we can’t regulate competition. Our free market means businesses can compete and gain customers, or fail, but knowing how much Pet Pantry does for the community, I hope the new store is similarly civic-minded.
If it was being turned into a Pet Hotel I would understand. I will remain loyal to Pet Pantry. They do so much for the community.