Major Redevelopment Planned For Prominent Canton Shopping Area

CANTON, CT — One of the town's more prominent commercial centers is being targeted for a massive redevelopment, with local land-use officials already eyeing the plans.

The Canton Planning and Zoning Commission last month reviewed an early concept plan for a large-scale redevelopment of the Canton Village shopping center along Albany Turnpike.

Property owner Brian Sewell and engineer Chris Pawlowski of C&K Engineering presented the preliminary proposal for properties at 220 and 224 Albany Turnpike during a pre-application review session.

The conceptual redevelopment plan calls for several new buildings, including a quick-service coffee shop near the Albany Turnpike entrance, additional retail and restaurant space, and two three-story mixed-use buildings containing apartments above the commercial space.

According to project documents, each mixed-use building would contain between 40,000 and 60,000 square feet of gross floor area with first-floor restaurant, office, and retail uses and residential units on the upper floors.

The proposal also includes expanded green space, outdoor gathering areas, sidewalks, bicycle racks, landscaped buffers, benches, and updated street lighting throughout the development.

Plans show a central landscaped boulevard-style entrance and a pocket park area between the mixed-use buildings.

The existing Canton Village plaza includes businesses such as the U.S. Post Office, Bahre’s Wine & Liquors, Larsen Ace Hardware and At the Rooftop restaurant.

Developers said loading docks and dumpster areas would be located behind buildings to reduce visibility from public areas, while an existing wetland corridor east of the property would remain undisturbed.

The project falls within the Canton Village Design District and would require modifications to portions of the town’s regulating plan, including parking setback standards, according to application materials.

Canton Town Planner Neil Pade told commissioners the concept discussion focused partly on potential deviations from current zoning regulations.

Pade also noted that some parcels within the existing Canton Village site plan are not controlled by the applicant and that neighboring properties contain easement connections that could require additional reviews outside the commission’s authority.

Commission members provided feedback on the concept plan during the meeting, though no formal action was taken because the discussion was part of a preliminary review process.

Developers said they plan to incorporate the commission’s feedback into future revisions before submitting a formal application.

For the minutes of the April 15 Canton Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

For all documents related to the pre-application phase of the project, click on this link.

To watch the April 15 Canton Planning and Zoning Commission, click on this link.