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

Wake Robin developers reapply with P&Z
Wake Robin Inn is located on Sharon Road in Lakeville.
Photo by John Coston

LAKEVILLE — ARADEV LLC, the developer behind the proposed redesign of Wake Robin Inn, returned before Salisbury’s Planning and Zoning Commission at its May 5 regular meeting with a 644-page plan that it says scales back the project.

ARADEV withdrew its previous application last December after a six-round public hearing in which neighbors along Wells Hill Road and Sharon Road rallied against the proposal as detrimental to the neighborhood.

Keep ReadingShow less
Housatonic lax wins 18-6 versus Lakeview
Chloe Hill, left, scored once in the game against Lakeview High School Tuesday, May 7.
Photo by Riley Klein

FALLS VILLAGE — Housatonic Valley Regional High School girls lacrosse kept rolling Tuesday, May 6, with a decisive 18-6 win over Lakeview High School.

Eight different players scored for Housatonic in the Northwest Corner rivalry matchup. Sophomore Georgie Clayton led the team with five goals.

Keep ReadingShow less
Troutbeck Symposium 2025: the latest chapter in continuing a vital legacy

Participating students and teachers gathered for the traditional photo at the 2025 Troutbeck Symposium on Thursday, May 1.

Leila Hawken

Students and educators from throughout the region converged at Troutbeck in Amenia for a three-day conference to present historical research projects undertaken collaboratively by students with a common focus on original research into their chosen topics. Area independent schools and public schools participated in the conference that extended from Wednesday, April 30 to Friday, May 2.

The symposium continues the Troutbeck legacy as a decades-old gathering place for pioneers in social justice and reform. Today it is a destination luxury country inn, but Troutbeck remains conscious of its significant place in history.

Keep ReadingShow less
Third graders enjoy classical treat at Music Mountain

A string quartet opened the Bard Conservatory of Music program for Region One third grade students at Music Mountain.

Patrick L. Sullivan

Region One third grade students attended a chamber music concert by Bard Conservatory of Music students at Music Mountain Tuesday, April 29.

After expending spare energy racing around the Music Mountain lawn, the children trooped into the concert hall and took their seats.

Keep ReadingShow less