Retail Plaza

Permitting for the 75 Church Hill Road redevelopment represented a highly coordinated and multi-layered regulatory effort, requiring approvals across local, state, and federal jurisdictions to transform a long-blighted brownfield into a viable commercial center. Solli led the entitlement process by securing Special Permit approval from the Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission under the Exit 10 Commercial Design District (X10-CDD) overlay, including associated zoning text amendments to allow the project’s commercial program and the Town’s first restaurant drive-through use. In conjunction with local approvals, the project required formal Site Plan Review and detailed compliance with zoning, parking, and circulation standards to support a multi-tenant layout within a constrained footprint. Environmental permitting was particularly complex due to contamination and watercourse impacts, necessitating coordination and approvals from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Newtown Inland Wetlands Commission for regulated activities, including the relocation and restoration of Tom Brook and associated wetland mitigation measures. The project also required extensive Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) encroachment and access permitting, tied to the Edmond Road realignment and improvements at Interstate 84 Exit 10, including roadway integration, signal coordination, and access design. Additional permitting components included Soil Erosion and Sediment Control (SESC) plan certification, utility connection approvals, and ongoing interagency coordination to address construction sequencing, infrastructure impacts, and environmental compliance. Through a proactive permitting strategy, detailed technical submissions, and continuous engagement with regulatory bodies, Solli successfully navigated this complex approval framework, establishing a clear path forward for redevelopment of one of Newtown’s most visible and challenging sites.