Two “cool” brothers and a “quiet” Yale cop pitched their proposed pawn shop as a tidy and law-abiding place, but neighbors convinced zoners to nix the plan.
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) voted Tuesday night to deny an application to open the new pawn shop at 1298 Whalley Ave. In doing so, the board sided with a half-dozen upset neighbors who showed up at the Hall of Records to oppose the plan.
Zoners first heard from Chad Oliver (pictured above), one third of Elm City Pawn LLC. Oliver hoped to open the store with his brother Rory and Yale police Officer Joe Prieto. The brothers already have a pawn shop in Waterbury. A pawn shop on Whalley Avenue would have required a special zoning exception.
Chad told BZA members that the pawn shop would fit in well with the surrounding area. 1298 Whalley Ave. is a small shopping complex near the corner of Davis Street, containing a hair salon and a convenience store, among other shops.
Chad described a software system called XPawn that the store would use to track all items sold or pawned, to ensure that the store is not receiving stolen goods.
Six people spoke in opposition to the proposal, including the former neighborhood Alderman Tom Lehtonen (by way of a letter submitted to the board) and current Alderwoman Angela Russell.
Andy Orefice (pictured), head of the local community management team, said the pawn shop entrepreneurs had not demonstrated that there is a need for a pawn shop, as a special exception would require them to do. He also pointed out that the Diamond Exchange jewelry store at the corner of Davis Street is also a pawn shop, and that there’s an elementary school on Davis Street.
“I don’t want this in my neighborhood,” he said.
Janice Underwood, who lives a few blocks away on Woodside Terrace, said the neighborhood already has a number of stores that sell and buy used goods. “I’m at a loss to see how this would enhance our neighborhood.”
Stan Kontigiannis, a former aldermanic candidate in the area, said he owns property that abuts the rear of the shopping plaza. He said the plaza has been neglected by its New Jersey landlord, who has allowed vulgar graffiti to stay on a rear wall.
Robert Aldrich, who runs a veterinary clinic at 1292 Whalley Ave. said a pawn shop would be a bad addition to a shopping center that’s already an eyesore.
Rory responded to the opposition. He said his pawn shop in Waterbury is the “neatest and cleanest” store in town, and the New Haven store would be the same. Were they to open up their shop on Whalley Avenue, they’d probably be great friends with Dr. Aldrich before too long, he said. “Because we’re really cool guys.”
“I’m sure you’ve seen the pawn shop shows” on TV, he said to the board. That’s going to be them on the small screen next, he said. “We’re working our way up.”
Officer Prieto (pictured) stepped to the mic to testify.
“And you’re cool too?” asked BZA chair Pat King.
“I try to be cool,” Prieto said. “I’m the quiet one.”
He said the brothers are good, honest people.
“The applicants seemed like serious people,” said board member Victor Fasano later, during the evening’s voting session. But the neighborhood has legitimate concerns, he said. “My inclination is to vote against” the plan based on the complaints about plaza maintenance and the neighbors’ concerns.
“I’d agree,” said board member Ben Trachten. The applicants did not demonstrate a need for the special exception, he said.
The board voted unanimously to deny the application.