KENT—Land Use Administrator Tai Kern has sent registered letters of violation to the owners of Motoriot, a bespoke car dealership at 21 Bridge St., saying that a cease and desist order will be issued Aug. 9 if they do not provide information needed by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The Planning and Zoning Commission needs letters from the Sewer Commission and the fire marshal stating that those offices have no concerns about the operation. They also reportedly have not gotten a state license for the site.
“If they do not provide the information needed at the Aug. 8 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting they will be in violation of zoning, building, fire and state requirements,” Kern said. “We’ve had a handful of complaints that we are failing to enforce. There is not requirement for enforcement, but what’s fair is fair and the commission agreed.”
The application, submitted by Jason Doornick and Charles Narwold for property owned by Guy Mauri, has already been extended twice and the statutory limit will be reached Aug. 8. Kern said she consulted a land use lawyer. “If they surpass that date, there is no wiggle room,” she said, adding that the partners could reapply once they have corrected any issues with the site.
“They have gotten professional help, which is good,” Kern said. “No one wants to put them out of business. It’s kind of a cool thing in town.”
Still the sewer commission cancelled two meetings in July because the partners were not ready to present their information. The commission does not regularly meet in August.
Kern told the Planning and Zoning Commission that the fire marshal is checking on the apartments above the business, which includes both car sales and vehicle repairs.
Planning and Zoning Commission members expressed reluctance to see the business closed, but member Anne McAndrew said, “Are we setting a precedent we don’t want? What if there is an accident or fire? Are we liable? It seems we’re being very lenient in not issuing a cease and desist. I kind of feel enough is enough, especially if people are coming in to complain.”
Kern assured the commission that, because “the business is operating without permits, you never approved it, and you have no liability.”
She added that Mauri worked on the parking plan, which had been deemed insufficient by the Planning and Zoning Commission at earlier meetings. “I thought it was satisfactory,” Kern reported.
Members noted that Doornick and Narwold had other business locations in Connecticut and wondered if “this is a one-off with Kent or have they done this multiple times.”
Doornick and Narwold previously stated that they thought their state license covered all their locations, but Kern said that each site had to have a separate license.
