Norwich commission supports closing part of Lawler Lane to accommodate development

Norwich ― A plan to close a portion of Lawler Lane to allow for future development in the new Occum Industrial Center cleared its first hurdle Tuesday with support by the city planning commission.The land on both sides of the road is owned by the Norwich Community Development Corp. and is part of the Occum Industrial Center.The planning commission in January approved a 12-lot commercial subdivision for the industrial park.The City Council has scheduled a public hearing on Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. on a resolution to close that portion of the road and create two cul-de-sacs on the remaining open portions of the road. City and NCDC officials have said there is a developer interested in the Lawler Lane land but have not identified the party or the type of proposed development.Neighbors in the vicinity of the new 384-acre Occum Industrial Center off Interstate 395, Exit 18 have opposed the proposed development, calling it out of character with the rural residential area in Occum. NCDC purchased the land for $3.55 million from the previous owners, whose plan for a golf resort and condominium development fell through in the mid-2000s.NCDC has received an $11.3 million state grant to build an industrial park access road from Route 97 adjacent to the Exit 18 ramp to the lots located at the proposed discontinued Lawler Lane area. Industrial development would have no access to the residential portions of Lawler Lane on either side of the land.NCDC President Kevin Brown said construction on the industrial access road is slated to begin next spring.Several residents spoke during general public comment at Monday's council meeting, expressing concerns about public safety and longer travel times to schools and local businesses with the road closure.Susan Jacobson of 256 Lawler Lane, the closest resident, said her biggest concern was about how long it would take for emergency services to reach the homes at the disconnected far end of Lawler Lane and Scotland Road. She also said she uses Lawler Lane to go to Occum businesses and the Occum park almost every day.Without information about the planned development, she said she does not know how it might impact her property. She said she is concerned about water runoff and the type of proposed development.Frederick Browning of 671 Scotland Road, who represents a group of residents opposed to the Occum Industrial Center, said residents are concerned about emergency services access to Scotland Road, school bus routes and access to Taftville if Lawler Lane is closed.Browning said closing Lawler Lane at the industrial park property would address residents' desire to keep industrial traffic off Lawler Lane. But he repeated requests residents have made in the past to enact buffer zones of at least 150 feet between any development and residences and to restrict building height.Jeffrey Blayman of 216 Hamilton Ave. said he understands why Lawler Lane residents are concerned about the potential development. But he said the city needs to increase the tax base, and it is understandable how major proposed development might require movement of a road."I would say, the Lawler Lane thing, put it to bed. Build something new," Blayman said. "Create industry and let's have something else to benefit all of us and our taxes here in Norwich."During Tuesday's brief discussion by the Commission on the City Plan, Deanna Rhodes, director of planning and neighborhood services, said the proposed road closure has been reviewed by the police and fire departments. The planning office did not have reports from emergency services, but emergency services access would be addressed as part of any future review of a proposed development for the site.The site development plan would need to address how emergency vehicles would access the property and potentially how they could exit the industrial park directly to the residential areas via restricted gates.The planning commission cited the Plan of Conservation and Development's goal of encouraging economic development and its support of the Occum Industrial Center as reasons for supporting the Lawler Lane road closure.c.bessette@theday.com