Restaurant Proposal At Madison Winter Club Site Still Pending

MADISON, CT — A restaurateur agreed to come back to the Madison Planning and Zoning Commission again in an attempt to get a restaurant approved at the former Madison Winter Club property.

Frasher Lulaj, who owns La Foresta Restaurant and Wine Bar in Killingworth, has come before the board several times in an effort to get approval.

The initial special permit application to the commission in May was specific to the Winter Club property, but it was denied, Lulaj’s attorney, Jeffrey Beatty said, according to meeting minutes. The new application was made in an attempt to not single out a property.

The new proposed amendment would allow additional properties to be considered by the commission for a development district, but they wouldn’t be automatically approved, Beatty said.

The club closed down in 2021 due to financial issues, and the property was put up for sale. Lulaj offered to buy the property for $1.185 million, but the deal is contingent on him getting a zoning change that would allow for a restaurant at the property, according to the Shoreline Times.

Planned Development Districts need to be at least two acres, and have minimum frontage of 200 feet from a town or state road. Lulaj and Beatty proposed expanding the rules so that property within 400 feet of a commercial district could potentially qualify.

Members of the public who spoke at the meeting were generally supportive of a restaurant at the site, but were concerned that the amendment could lead to broad changes across town.

Commissioners Elliot Hitchcock and Janet Peckinpaugh voiced support for narrowing the scope of the proposal so that it would limit the number of properties that could qualify.

The next public hearing for the application is Feb. 16.