Sports complex could be coming to industrial park

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BEACON FALLS — About 12 acres inside the Pinesbridge Commerce Park now could be home to a full sporting facility due to an expansion of uses in the industrial park zoning district.

James Cormier, owner of Finance, Consulting and Marketing Group in Shelton, or FCMG LLC, applied for the expansion of language in the zoning district on behalf of a group of investors.

The investors, whom he has not identified yet, continue to explore the scope and economics of the project at 36 Lancaster and the properties at 3, 5 and 7 Haviland Drive, Cormier said.

Last fall, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve a special exception permit for the expanded uses in the industrial park zoning district.

According to the application, the proposed statement of use now allows for indoor commercial recreation businesses to include any or all of the following: bowling alleys; billiard or pool halls; a martial arts training facility; a physical fitness facility/gym with locker, shower and group training rooms; basketball, racquetball, and handball courts; indoor rifle/pistol or archery shooting ranges; and ancillary classrooms that would serve these uses.

A hearing was held in August, and the commission approved the permit with an effective date of Sept. 5.

The commission during the hearing had asked if this would affect the rest of the industrial park zone, and was informed that it would only add new uses, according to meeting minutes. Cormier said at the hearing that the purpose would be to erect an indoor facility for multiple uses, the meeting minutes state.

In a recent interview, Cormier said the investors are still putting together a proposal, and once completed, they would bring it forward for site plan approval.

The project would be in the area of about 2.3 acres at 36 Lancaster Drive, which is owned by Dr. Sudipta and Bindu Dey, and about 10 acres at the 3, 5 and 7 Haviland Drive properties, owned by Pinesbridge Industrial LLC. That company is owned by the family of Monroe developer Chris Bargas Sr., who is the developer of Pond Spring Village, a nearby age-restricted development.

Cormier said the investors have an option to buy the lots. If they want to expand the project, nearby acreage is available, he said.

The property owned by the Deys was to have been the site of a 5,000-square-foot medical office building, but it has since been relocated and approved for property off Pinesbridge Road.

Cormier said the investors have talked about building the sporting facility in phases, but have not decided yet. Initial plans called for a three-story facility, but it all depends on the economics of it, he said.

This project could be similar to the sports complex on River Road in Shelton, Cormier said.

That complex, called Sports Center of Connecticut, is home to an assortment of uses including miniature golf, golf, batting cages, bowling, hockey, ice skating and laser tag, according to its website.

Kevin McDuffie, former chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, visits that area four times a week. He said it is always booming, and it would be wonderful to have something like that in Beacon Falls as there is nothing like it in the surrounding area.

“I just think it’s going to bring a lot of activity into this town,” said McDuffie, who served on the board when the new uses were approved. “It’s going to be great for the youth, and older people like us to have something to do.”