Private Membership Club Finally Wins Site Plan Approval

After producing corporation papers from the Connecticut Secretary of State affirming its non-profit status, Axles, the private membership club seeking to open on 2344 Foxon Road, won final approval from the Planning & Zoning Commission for its site application.

Timothy Lee, a lawyer representing the club and Harry Martone, a club member, appeared before the commission again last night and were relieved that they had finally got the application approved, which means they can apply for a building permit.

Lee also affirmed the club would not sell alcohol, which had been another sticking point during the deliberations with the commission, which began in February, when the application was approved with a number of conditions, the main one being the need for proof of non-profit status from the IRS. Last month Lee told the commission it would take six months to document the IRS status so he was allowed to apply for state recognition of non-profit status, which he established last night with the serving of the papers.

Regarding the liquor issue, Martone claimed the club would operate with a BYOB policy, with Lee asserting it can apply for a liquor permit after it has been open for three years.

The new piece of business at last night’s meeting was an electric equipment replacement project at the Lake Gaillard water treatment plant. Darlene Buttrick, project manager at Tighe & Bond, the engineering firm, and Patrick Keough, from the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, presented their plan for upgrading the electrical equipment.

Town planner Carol Zebb reported that the fire marshal, building official, town engineer and regional water authorities had no objections to the plan.

Buttrick said site work would begin in August or September, be completed by the end of the year with a total project time of 15 months. The commission unanimously approved the site application.