Sodom Road storage permit gets OK

NORTH CANAAN — A special permit for a bulk material storage site on Sodom Road was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 12. The months-long debate over allowed uses there, status of continuing nonconforming uses and complaints by neighbors culminated amid more confusion. Property owner Martin Kozlak has patiently and politely acquiesced to the process. He produced documents as requested and maintained the site for safety and screening. Noise and truck traffic issues were determined to be related to other businesses. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection inspected the operation and found only one minor issue. The town has not produced a comprehensive report on prior permitting actions related to the property.Kozlak insisted on the matter being resolved that night, after a public hearing that began with a site inspection at 27-33 Sodom Road. Kozlak says he plans to do no more than store, and once or twice a year process and truck out, materials recycled from jobs previously done by his Progressive Paving Company. No equipment is left on-site. Much of the four acres is pasture land.The use requires a special permit because it is nonconforming. The industrial operation is allowed as a pre-existing use of the property that has seen more intensive uses through the years. At the May meeting, there was confusion over Zoning Enforcement Officer Ruth Mulcahy’s demand that Kozlak bring part of the property into zoning conformity. P&Z previously agreed to maintain the nonconforming status there no matter what the decision on the permit application. Mulcahy stated she did not have a motion prepared for that evening.The commission decided to move forward, and with one abstention, voted to approve the application with conditions that include maintenance of the property as presented at the site inspection, the installation of full cutoff lighting, no mining or retail sales and adherance to operating hours of Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.