UPDATE: Wallingford PZC Approves Sonic Application

So, my wife and I just got back from attending the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at the Wallingford Town Hall. After an hour of sitting in some rather uncomfortable auditorium chairs, we got the news we had been waiting for:

The Zoning Board of Appeals has passed the variance request we told you about here, and the march to opening Connecticut’s first Sonic Drive-In now moves on to the next Planning & Zoning Committee hearing next month.

We heard opening comments from the ZBA, then Attorney Dennis Ceneviva presented the request for the variance to the board, accompanied by Robert Mesite, managing partner of Sonic of CT, and a gentleman from the engineering firm (whose name I did not get) who will work on the project. There was some initial concern from the board chairman which was quickly allayed, and just one question about the proposed hours of operation from another board member. Then, a Wallingford resident, Ken (sorry Ken, didn’t get your last name!), addressed the board in support of passing the variance request. With little further comment or discussion, the board voted unanimously to allow the variance.

This is great news for all Sonic lovers in Connecticut, and hopefully this was the last big hurdle to overcome before construction can begin. Actually, I think there’s going to be a traffic study done to see if the traffic on Route 5 will be adversely affected by Sonic’s opening, but I don’t think that will be a problem. Most new places that open have initial surges in traffic until the novelty wears off, then it pretty much goes back to normal; it shouldn’t be any different with Sonic.

Kudos to Attorney Ceneviva and Robert and Ralph Mesite for keeping the Wallingford Sonic project on course, and to our new friend Ken for his staunch support of their efforts. Thanks to them, it’s looking more and more like a Cherry Limeade and Sonic burger are in my future plans!

The next meeting on the Sonic project is scheduled for February 8th at 7 P.M. at the Wallingford Town Hall. At this point the meeting is most likely a formality since the P&Z committee did not vote against the Sonic development at the first meeting, they simply wanted more input. Since tonight’s meeting gave them that input, it should be smooth sailing from here on!

VIVA LA SONIQUE!!

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• Wallingford to Decide Fate of Sonic Drive-In (wallingfordwired.com)

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Wallingford Sonic Appeal Passes ZBA

We spotted the following legal notice posted in the Meriden Record-Journal’s Marketplace:

“The Wallingford Zoning Board of Appeals will hold the following public hearings at their meeting of Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Robert Earley Auditorium, Town Hall, 45 South Main Street. 1.    #09-061 Variance request from Mesite Family Limited Partnership for a front yard landscaped area of 25 feet where 50 feet is required (Section 4.16.E.1.a.1), to allow for the proposed site development (Sonic Drive-In, retail/bank building, and office building) at 1033 North Colony Road. Zoned RF-40 2.”

If you’ve been following the progress of the Mesite family’s attempt to bring a Sonic Drive-In to Wallingford, you know that 25 feet of landscaping has the potential to put the kibosh on the whole deal, unless a variance can be obtained. This public meeting will, hopefully, grant that exception so the project can proceed. If the Zoning Board of Appeals votes against it, then you may have to drive a little further to enjoy your Route 44 upgrades…like Milford, or  up on the Berlin Turnpike perhaps, depending on what location is next on the Mesite’s list to develop.

At any rate, if you’re all drooling about having a Sonic in our quaint little burg, hop on down to the Town Hall on January 19th at 7:00 PM to show your support. And bring a friend…or a Cherry Limeade!

[UPDATE: PZC Delays Sonic Decision 1 Month]

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• Wallingford Sonic Appeal Passes ZBA (wallingfordwired.com)

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Wallingford to Decide Fate of Sonic Drive-In