Cornwall approves plan to rebuild burned down lumber yard

A concept design for the approved new construction of Northeast Building Supply’s facility in Cornwall Bridge, the site of the lumber yard that burned down in January 2015.

Rendering from Allee Architecture + Design

Cornwall approves plan to rebuild burned down lumber yard

Rising from the ashes

CORNWALL — Nearly 10 years after the lumber yard burned down in Cornwall Bridge, Northeast Building Supply has received approval to rebuild.

Jan Cohen, owner of NBS, and Rob Hiltbrand of R.R. Hiltbrand Engineer & Surveying presented building plans to the Planning and Zoning Commission Dec. 10.

“The fire almost put us out of business,” said Cohen, noting he spent more than $1 million in legal fees fighting the insurance company. “We’ve come a long way to get to this point. We’ve been operating in trailers now since 2015.”

The plans include rebuilding and reconfiguring the existing facility with new parking design and stormwater management systems. The new building will have a sprinkler system.

Hiltbrand stated there will be increased parking, but the impervious footprint on the property will be reduced compared to the existing design. By reworking the layout, he said, a natural buffer will be situated between the facility and the nearby wetlands.

The facility located at 44 Kent Rd., which was destroyed by fire in January of 2015, serves contractors throughout the region. The proposed building will house the hardware store that is currently located up the street at 26 Kent Rd.

At present most of NBS’s orders are shipped via trucks, but Cohen is hopeful that a new showroom will bring more people in.

“The new building will have a new area for displays and kitchen cabinets,” Cohen said. “It will be a great, great facility for the building industry.”

Prior to the P&Z meeting, Cornwall Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Agency reviewed and approved the plans at its Dec. 3 meeting. Hiltbrand noted that Torrington Area Health District has also signed off on the proposal and septic system.

Hiltbrand said the project will be built in phases and the business will remain open during construction.

Work will begin with the office area, the parking lot and the septic field, Hiltbrand said. “Once the building up front is completed and that’s all done then we’ll work our way into the storage building in the back.”

Land use consultant Janell Mullen noted that despite increased parking compared to the old design, the proposal is still 14 spaces shy of the minimum parking requirements per zoning regulations.

“The current plans are less non-conforming than the previous plans were and that’s something that’s important to us as a commission,” said P&Z Chair Anna Timmel.

Following review and discussion, Timmel moved to approve the application pending submission of average roof height calculations and impervious surface totals. The motion passed unanimously.

“You’ve done great work,” said Timmel.

Latest News

Dining with Biden at The Woodland

Former President Joe Biden and his family dined at The Woodland in Lakeville Thursday, May 22.

Photo provided

LAKEVILLE — A fleet of black SUVs maintained a watchful perimeter outside The Woodland Thursday, May 22, as a former president dined inside.

After attending his grandson’s graduation at Salisbury School, Joe Biden and his family shared a meal at the Lakeville eatery.

Keep ReadingShow less
Senator Murphy starts statewide walk in Northwest Corner

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy walks through Sharon on the first day of his annual statewide walk.

Photo by Ruth Epstein

Decked out in a blue T-shirt, khaki shorts and a UConn cap, the man walking along Route 41 in Sharon Wednesday morning looked like others who just enjoy getting out to commune with nature. But U. S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D) had some other thoughts on his mind.

For the ninth year, he was walking across Connecticut to connect with citizens of the state. This year’s route began May 28 in Salisbury and took him to Sharon and Kent for the day.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marion J. Pedersen

SHARON — Marion J. (Cookingham) Pedersen of Sharon, passed peacefully on May 20, 2025, at the age of 91.

Born in Pine Plains, New York, she lived a life of love and unwavering strength. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and wife known for her cooking skills.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eleanor Sternlof

LIME ROCK — Eleanor Anne Sternlof (née de Guise) of White Hollow Road passed away on April 25, 2025 at Geer Village in North Canaan, Connecticut. She was 94 and the loving wife of the late Paul William Sternlof, who died on August 12, 2005.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, May 31, from 11am to 1pm at The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon, CT.

Keep ReadingShow less