River Road retail project: Some work can continue as developer seeks changes

Ledge is being excavated and retaining walls added to create a site for a retail building and parking lot on this 1.1-acre lot across the street from the Sports Center of Connecticut.

A stop-work order has been lifted by the Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on the construction of the retail project at 781-785 River Road (Route 110), across the street from the Sports Center of Connecticut.

The developer now can move forward with footing and foundation work for the 5,800-square-foot structure being built. However, work on some of the excavation and grading will have to wait until the P&Z can act on the developers request to modify its previously approved site plan.

A view of the ledges vertical drop from the Turner Road house to the Route 110 road level, where a retail building and parking lot will be built.

A public hearing on the developers request has been scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22.

The developer is Bishop Management of Shelton, which includes principal Howard Soffan, owner of the Sports Center.

Work at the 1.1-acre site has been controversial because of how close the excavation is to at least one neighbor, whose Turner Road property abuts the development parcel to the north.

The excavation work has created a significant ledge drop-off near this neighbors property line.

Richard Schultz, city P&Z administrator, said having the developer put up an eight-foot-high chain-link fence to separate the excavated ledge from the Turner Road property owners land is a high priority.

Thats a safety issue, Schultz said.

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River Road retail project: Some work can continue as developer seeks changes