Thomas MacMillan Photo
A plan for an ice cream parlor didn’t find the favor of the City Plan Commission. But a proposed boxing gym won another round of the approval process.
Those results came out of Wednesday night’s meeting of the City Plan Commission, where two ideas for ventures in the Hill and Dixwell neighborhoods were considered.
Both items were referred from the Board of Zoning Appeals, which heard the proposals last week. Commissioners voted to recommend the denial of a request to open an ice cream parlor on West Street, and to recommend the approval of a request by former world champion Devonne “Da Bomb” Canady (pictured above) open a boxing gym on Orchard Street.
Deputy Director of Zoning Tom Talbot told the commission that the ice cream shop plan calls for a very small operation in a residential building that also houses a daycare. Four other stores nearby also sell ice cream, he said. The store would be located on a narrow one-way street.
“It doesn’t seem well thought out,” said commission chair Ed Mattison. The commission voted unanimously to recommend the BZA deny the application.
Talbot said a boxing gym would be a less intensive use for the building on Orchard Street, which was a gas station before being abandoned in 1984.
“The only thing is it might not happen,” said Mattison, referring to the amount of renovation required at the site.
“Your concerns are probably justified,” said Talbot.
The commission voted unanimously to recommend the approval of the boxing gym.