Colony Road Residents Oppose Bowling Alley's Plans for Outdoor Uses

Colony Road residents are spinning over a proposal by Revolutions Bowling & Lounge to expand its operations to host outdoor activities; open an outdoor bar and patio; and have music and dancing.

Indeed, 25 residents of the dead-end road located just off Route 5 have signed a petition objecting to the expansion plans, which is currently under review by the planning and zoning commission.

While it is not a direct neighbor of Revolutions, Colony Road abuts Nomads Adventure Quest, a popular entertainment venue that has, among other things, video games, laser tag and a gymnasium. Red’s Tavern is also attached to the Nomads building.

Nomads and Revolutions, which is located near Nomads on Bidwell Road, are owned and operated by South Windsor Entertainment LLC.

Several Colony Road residents say that Nomads has not been a good neighbor for years and that allowing for an expansion of Revolutions, without changes in how noise issues are addressed, will only make a bad situation worse.

Suzanne Griffin, of 61 Colony Road, said that while she has no problem with the business itself, the noise from the Nomads parking lot and patrons while they are outside has been difficult to deal with.

Nomads took down trees that were originally planted with the intention of blocking the noise coming from the entertainment center, Griffin said.

In addition, the lights that are emitted from the entertainment center give her home “a permanent night light,” she said.

“It has not worked out at all,” Griffin said. “The people are outside after hours, loitering.”

During the winter months, Griffin said she has to run fans to block out the noise from music blaring from cars, as well as alarms that go off in the parking lot.

The proposal for Revolutions, even though it does not directly abut Colony Road, would still create more traffic, more noise and more headaches for the Colony Road neighborhood, she said.

“It’s the whole complex,” said Griffin, adding that she did not have any issue with Revolutions’ primary business. “It’s a bowling alley. But expanding it to an outdoor business that revolves around alcohol, I see no good in that.”

Griffin, who has young children at home, said that Colony Road is “a great neighborhood,” but for the noise that’s generated.

“You just hear too much,” she said.

Carol Heffler, of 81 Colony Road, agreed, adding that the problem has existed ever since Nomads was build in the mid-2000s.

Heffler said that residents were invited to discuss potential noise issues with Nomads representatives before construction.

“We have a history with them, and they did not keep their promises,” she said. Heffler said that the noise from music and loud patrons in the parking lot is so bad, she has to keep her windows closed in the summer.

“I keep Nomads phone number on my counter along with the police department’s,” she said. “What goes on in that parking lot is atrocious. … There’s swearing and bottles flying. It’s just horrible.”

And when Colony Road residents were told that a noise study was done for the Revolutions proposal, neighbors balked.

“We said, ‘Wait a minute,’” Heffler said. “We heard those promises with Nomads, and they were not kept. That led to the petition.”

Griffin and Heffler said that attempts to speak with Doug Nation, one of the principals of South Windsor Entertainment LLC, and other Nomads representatives have been met with reactions ranging from disinterest to hostility.

“It’s hard to believe anything that [Nation] says,” Griffin said.

As it stands, the PZC had a public hearing on Tuesday, at which eight Colony Road residents spoke. The hearing was left open until the commission’s June 25 meeting so that an independent sound study could be done.

In addition, Heffler said that Nation claimed he was unaware of the problems created at Nomads and that more of an effort would be made to mitigate any issues.

“Hopefully there has been a meeting of the minds,” she said. “I viewed it as a positive meeting and hopefully things will go forward.”

Peter DeMallie, president and principal of Design Professionals, consultants who filed the application on behalf of Revolutions, agreed that there is a communications issues between Nomads staff and the residents on Colony Road.

DeMallie said that concerns raised by neighbors in the past may have gotten lost among lower-level Nomads employees.

Further, DeMallie said that regardless of whether it was Nomads or some other commercial enterprise, some traffic and noise would be generated at that site. With that said, DeMallie also agreed that the lines of communication between senior management and the Colony Road neighborhood needed to be open, and concerns need to be addressed promptly.

“The frequency [of the issues raised by neighbors] is not that great,” DeMallie said. “When there is an issue, it needs to be addressed immediately. We have to make sure it is. It’s a matter of trust.”.

Revolutions is proposing the outdoor uses because its core business - bowling - tends to fall off in the summertime, when people want to be outside, DeMallie said.

DeMallie said that the neighbors concerns was with Nomads, not Revolutions, as the upscale bowling alley's parking lot is too far away to cause any concerns.

Regardless, Heffler said she is looking for a resolution to Revolutions.