Noank Zoning Public Hearing re: Ford’s Lobsters 11/18/14

A public hearing was held at the Noank Fire District meeting hall downstairs from 7:00 PM until being recessed at approximately 11:50 PM Tuesday night. Site Plan material was presented by representatives of Kristian Nyman d/b/a Ford’s Lobsters, after other zoning business had been conducted. There were approximately 60 or more people present for the hearing.

The Ford’s Lobsters business had previously been granted permission by Noank Zoning for a non-conforming use involving seating for serving food to 34 customers in an outdoor setting. Problems arose with what was reported to be a summer expansion to approximately 68 seats, plus additional seating for a customer waiting area and further additional use of a modified building as an indoor restaurant. This expansion had caused parking, traffic and safety problems for local residents and had resulted in complaints to the Zoning officials followed by a cease & desist order by the zoning enforcement officer to cut the seating back to just the authorized 34 seats.

Mr. Nyman’s representatives included an attorney, an engineer and an historian. They proposed a plan for increased seating, increased parking spaces and actual approval of an indoor restaurant with nearby patio dining. Essentially, as was noted later, their plan was essentially to receive zoning approval for items that had actually already been put in place during the summer without appropriate zoning approval. Mr. Nyman’s attorney also presented a petition with “500 signatures” in favor of the application. Later rebuttal comments by others basically indicated that this process was not a “popularity contest.”

Following the presentation, approximately 5 or 6 people spoke in favor of the expansion, mentioning the excellent food and service provided by Ford’s Lobsters and that it was important to support local business in Groton. Another person spoke as a local business owner who felt that it was important to draw more customers into the area, which would in turn have a positive effect on his own business,

There were approximately 20 people, primarily local residents, who spoke strongly against the proposed expansion. Some of these residents were represented by an attorney who also summarized problems with what had transpired up to this point. The primary objections expressed by this group centered around an abuse of the legal process by Mr. Nyman himself, who is currently also a member of the Noank Zoning Commission.

Specific additional complaints included parking, traffic and fire safety issues during peak business activity periods, along with noisy delivery activities by large trucks very early in the morning. One speaker warned that other businesses in the Noank area would be watching this proceeding with great interest to see how it might affect their own operations in the future. Another expressed concern with possible underground fuel lines, with depth not known, from a large underground fuel tank, that apparently were not visible on the site plan; these could possibly be negatively affected by vehicles driving or parking over them.

As mentioned, with the late hour, the public hearing recessed before rebuttal comments could be presented by Mr. Nyman’s attorney and his other representatives. The Zoning Commission advised that they would be continuing the public hearing later on and/or at a later date to be announced. They also indicated that they had received letters from residents who had been unable to attend the hearing, and that those letters needed to also be read into the public record.