Public hearing set in North Canaan for new Dunkin’

NORTH CANAAN — The Planning and Zoning Commission received an application for a new Dunkin’ location at 14 East Main Street across from the Stop & Shop plaza.

A public hearing for the special permit application was set for July 14 at 7 p.m.

Allan Borghesi of Borghesi Building and Engineering Company in Torrington presented the plan to P&Z at its regular meeting June 9.

He described a roughly 1,800-square-foot building with a drive thru lane and parking lot. The design is largely the same as an application that was approved by P&Z more than 10 years ago, with the addition of a rain garden, he said.

The Inland Wetlands and Conservation Commissionapproved the updated plan in April 2025.

If approved by P&Z, the new building will replace the existing Dunkin’ located in the gas station across the street.

Mining at odd hours

A second public hearing July 14 will take place to discuss a proposed text change to mining regulations.

The text change would add email as a viable communication option for miners requesting permission to mine outside of the permitted times of Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

George Martin, zoning enforcement officer, drafted the text change.

“The present regulations calls for a fax to be sent to the ZEO,” said P&Z Chairman Mike O’Connor. “George proposed a text change to add email to the accepted forms of communication.”

Mining operators are permitted up to 200 hours per year, with approval, to mine outside of typical hours for “emergencies” including weather, equipment breakdown or seasonal demands.

Martin noted there is no specified time requirement to request approval, and there have been instances where permission was requested after the fact.

“They’re notifying me either the day of or the day after. I’m asking them to adhere to this and be a day ahead, if at all possible, but if they have emergency breakdowns in the middle of something they might not be able to get ahold of me,” said Martin.

Adding a time requirement was not included in Martin’s proposed text change.

Martin said he has received noise complaints related to mining on Allyndale Road and Sodom Road recently.

Martin reported that he conducted a noise test using a decibel app on his phone and found the volume to be within reason.

“I got no reading above 65 decibels. I’m not a scientist. It’s not perfect. But it’s not up in the danger range,” said Martin.

The hearing on the text change will follow the hearing for Dunkin’.

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete. It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
Taking on Tanglewood

Aerial view of The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.

Provided

Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for symphonic music this summer at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights from the classical programming.

Saturday, July 5: Shed Opening Night at 8 p.m. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Daniil Trifonov plays piano in an All-Rachmaninoff program. The Piano Concerto No. 3 was completed in 1909 and was written specifically to be debuted in the composer’s American tour, at another time of unrest and upheaval in Russia. Trifonev is well-equipped to take on what is considered among the most technically difficult piano pieces. This program also includes Symphonic Dances, a work encapsulating many ideas and much nostalgia.

Keep ReadingShow less
James H. Fox

SHARON — James H. Fox, resident of Sharon, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital.

Born in New York, New York, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, where he developed a deep connection to the community.

Keep ReadingShow less