Axles Site Plan Application Approved

The fate of Axles of North Branford, the not-for-profit membership club that seeks to open at 2344 Foxon Rd., has rested in the hands of the Planning & Zoning Commission since February and on Aug. 4, after continued dissension over the parking issue, the Commission voted to approve its site plan application in a 2-1 vote that barely succeeded.

Timothy Lee, a lawyer representing Axles, introduced a plan to expand the number of parking spaces to 103, which was reduced to 99 after the elimination of spaces according to fire marshall requirements.

"The number of spaces is more than adequate to accomodate the use of the property," Lee declared. "We've addressed the concerns relative to parking."

But town planner Carol Zebb questioned how the spaces of other tenants would be integrated with the Axles spaces.

"Some areas may still be in conflict," she said.

Lee also stated the club would only allow 30 people to occupy the club, which reduces the number of parking spaces needed. When the commission considered that, it ultimately agreed to drop its request for additional spaces, reverting to the original plan that was approved in .

Since then, Axles decided to expand the club to an additional unit to accommodate building code issues, requiring it to reapply for site plan approval.

The Commission finally agreed to its request, but not before Axles resdesigned its parking plan only to have the Commission revert to the original approved plan, since Axles limited occupancy to 30. When Commissioner Doug Combs asked how the 30-person limit would be maintained, a club member who accompanied Lee said a door monitor would be hired to count the crowd.

Combs was the negative vote. Commission chairman Harry Dulak and Commissioner Francis Lescovich approved. None of the other Commission members were present.

Also in attendance was building owner Archie Bailey who approved Axles parking plan. After his approval was confirmed, Dulak stated that any tenant parking issues would be addressed to Bailey and it wasn't the Commission's responsibility to address them.