Planning Board Formalizes Six Variances for 946 Bloomfield Avenue Medical Office Parking Structure

The Planning Board's August 17, 2016 meeting memorialized its approval of The Domus Augusta Family Limited's site plan for 946 Bloomfield Avenue, home to a cardiology practice led by Bart DeGregorio, M.D., with eight doctors, about 50 employees and roughly 200 patient appointments scheduled per business day. The resolution detailed six variances granted for the new 92-space parking structure (adding to a reconfigured 22-space front lot for a 114-space total, up from 75): a buffer of 4.2 feet instead of the required 12 feet; impervious coverage described in the resolution as ultimately reduced to 60.4%, just above the 60% maximum; a height of 24.33 feet for stairwells against a 15-foot cap; parking setback and side-yard setback reductions to 4.2 feet and 10.4 feet, respectively; and accessory-structure coverage of 58.4% of the rear yard against a 40% maximum -- plus a waiver to allow 9-by-18-foot parking spaces instead of the required 9-by-20-foot standard.

The board found the safety benefits of adding on-site parking for staff and patients who currently must park across the four-lane Bloomfield Avenue and cross on foot outweighed the variances, especially given landscaping improvements (a dense evergreen, white pine, red maple and shrub buffer) and drainage upgrades -- eight new seepage pits able to handle roughly 22,000 gallons per day, relocated to the front of the property at a neighboring owner's request. The resolution was adopted with Mr. Hegarty abstaining. Separately, Secretary Zichelli reported the Mayor and Council had raised concerns about creating nonconforming lots under the proposed R-1 subdivision ordinance changes, sending the issue back to a subcommittee. No public comment was offered.