Latest Craze In Frozen Yogurt Coming to East Lyme

There's no shortage of ice cream stores in East Lyme but for people who love frozen yogurt, the closest place to get it was at the Crystal Mall in Waterford. That could change this summer.

On Thursday, East Lyme Zoning Commission gave the thumbs up to Bill Wild to open Wild-FroYo, doing business as Peachwave Frozen Yogurt, at Midway Plaza (170 Flanders Road) in East Lyme.

Niantic resident Bill Wild told the East Lyme Zoning Commission that Peachwave Frozen Yogurt FroYo outlets are to frozen yogurt franchises what Starbucks is to coffeeshops. You could say it's the creme de la creme—but it's a healthy, low fat or no fat alternative to ice cream.

"FroYo is a fast-moving concept," said Wild. "It's really sweeping the country." 

Under current zoning regulations, his store falls into the category of "fast food." But though this self-service style, eat in or take out establishment promises a fast turnaround, it has little in common with traditional fast food restaurants. All it serves is frozen yogurt and drinks from a cooler.

Wild was before the Commission to ask for an exception to the usual parking requirements that the town's zoning regulations demand for traditional fast food restaurants. These are based on square footage of the restaurant and, in this instance, his 2,200 square foot space would have necessitated that Wild have more than 40 designated parking spaces rather than the eight he believes he would actually need. 

The Commission agreed that this really was a special case and, besides, there's ample parking generally available at Midway Plaza, particularly in the evening hours when Wild-FroYo anticipates being open for business.

The request prompted Commissioners to decide that it might be time to update the regulations for similar establishments in the future.