Zone Change Sought for Bristol Industrial Park

A public hearing will be held at the next Bristol Town Council meeting on the request for a zone change from the owners of the Bristol Industrial Park.

The owner, Mosaico Business and Community Development Corporation, wants to “market to a different mix” of potential tenants, said Community Development Director Diane Williamson.

The industrial park is zoned only for manufacturing right now. Mosaico wants to change the zoning to “rehab land development project” – Rehab LDP, said Williamson. 

The industrial park would remain predominantly manufacturing, Williams said. But there are potential tenants that don’t fit under that umbrella. 

For instance, Williamson said, a fitness company and a restaurant have expressed interest in moving into the industrial park.

The would share the 14 acres that was once the Kaiser Mill with Franklin Court assisted living, boat builders, a sign maker, furniture and window restorers, a welding shop, and a variety of other manufacturers, including the I.Shalom Company and Tri-Mack Plastics.

But those types of businesses cannot operate in a manufacturing zone, she said. They could be developed as part of a Rehab LDP zone. 

The request for a zone change still must be heard by the Planning Board to make sure it fits within Bristol’s comprehensive plan, said Williamson. It will be on the agenda for the board's next meeting. 

Setting up a public hearing now expedites the process of a zone change, Williamson said. The Town Council has the final say on a zone change.