Neighbors' Safety, Traffic Concerns Not Enough as Wonx Spring Proposal Passes

The former Allied Metals factory site that has remain unused for 25 years will soon be vacant no longer – and neighbors in the Wonx Spring Road area are none to happy about it.

The Southington Planning and Zoning Commission this week approved a proposal to subdivide the property into nine lots for light industrial use and despite restrictions that will prevent 18-wheelers from accessing the property and requiring a 50 foot buffer to assure activity does not adversely affect the neighborhood, neighbors are protesting the decision.

“What just happened to us on Wonx Spring is the worst thing this town could do to a neighborhood,” said Kathy Laforest. “No respect for us at all. This is not over.”

The 32.9-acre property has remained vacant for more than a quarter century after being left vacant by Allied Metals before the recent proposal. The property, owned by Wonx Road Partnership LLC, is now eligible for a subdivision of nine lots.

A new road, Progress Drive, will be built and each of the nine lots would need to come back before the commission for individual building approval said Stephen Giudice, principal of Harry E. Cole & Sons and consultant to Wonx Road Partnerships, with each supporting only light industry and needing separate site plan approval.

Southington Economic Development Director Louis Perillo III supported the proposal, saying it is the best use for a property that formerly served as the home of a metal factory.

“There is already industrial activity in the area,” Perillo said. “We’ve had people call in for storage of materials, but that is not an appropriate use. Excavation would have added to the tax base, but not good for area.

The proposal passed 6-1, with Jim Sinclair opposed, after recently receiving approval from the Conservation Commission after a study of the wetlands and whether work on the property could spread potential contamination.

With state and federal agencies overseeing remediation and approval from the Conservation Commission, however, Planning and Zoning Chairman Michael DelSanto said such concerns have been addressed and are outside the purview of PZC members.

“We heard concerns and di our best to address it through the stipulations,” he said.

But neighbors remain steadfast that this is not the right use of the property, requesting road improvements and further studies into potential contaminants.

“We are appealing the wetlands decision and have hired an environmentalist. Developing this property would disturb active toxic fumes and put the river and ecology at undue risk,” said Wonx Spring Road resident Frank Punzo. “This is going to have drastic effects on residents and presents a variety of safety hazards.”

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