Parking Issues Stand in the Way of Axles

The ongoing saga of Axles North Branford, the private membership club that seeks to open at 2344 Foxon Rd. reached a new level of dissension last night when Henry Martone, a club member who owns All Seasons Energy at that location and has invested $50,000 in developing the club, accused the Planning and Zoning Commission of discrimination against motorcyclists when it examined the parking issue associated with the club’s expanded site plan application.

After Town Planner Carol Zebb discussed the parking of motorcycles at the club, Martone jumped up and yelled, “Do you think we’re white trash?” He stormed out of the meeting room and Commission Chairman Harry Dulak quickly intervened, explaining that there was no discrimination was implied. He stressed that the commission was simply examining parking issues affiliated with the expansion request.

Axles' initial site plan application was approved in April, but it was applying for a new site plan last night because it plans to occupy an additional unit at the address since it was unable to get a building permit for the first unit because of building code issues.

After Martone’s lawyer, Timothy Lee, explained the planned expansion, Zebb initiated a long discussion of the application, which focused on parking issues. The number of required spaces increases with the expanded space, but the commission was unable to determine the exact amount needed. Spaces for existing businesses at the address, including Metro Pooch and Breakout Training Facility, may have to be shared so the commission ultimately decided to table the motion until members of those businesses could be consulted.

The matter will be taken up again at the commission’s next meeting on July 7.

The commission approved the other item of business at last night’s meeting, agreeing to amend zoning regulations to allow to sell used motor vehicles at its 2395 Foxon Rd. location. The establishment is located in a B-2 zone that prohibits the sale of motor vehicles, but requested to sell a limited amount of used vehicles in association with its auto parts business.

David Gibson, the attorney representing Big A Auto Parts, said the company had previously applied for a zone change but was rejected because of the lot size. He said there will no interior display of vehicles for sale and there will be a limit of 10 vehicles for sale outside. The vehicles will be kept away from the parking setbacks.

Dulak inquired whether parts would be stripped off the used cars and sold, but John Volpe, the owner of Big A Auto Parts who attended the meeting, said only new parts are sold. Zebb rewrote the application to incorporate that information and it passed unanimously, with Commissioner Doug Combs saying it’s good for business.

After receiving approval for the zoning regulation change, Big A Auto Parts will prepare a site plan application and will also seek approval from the Department of Motor Vehicles, Gibson said.