Officials approve recycling operation

By Mary E. O’Leary
Register Topics Editor
NEW HAVEN — The City Plan Commission Wednesday approved placement of a recycling operation in an existing warehouse in the city’s north port area.
A-One Recycling LLC, currently of Branford, will use 5,000 square feet of a 100,000-square-foot warehouse at 100 Wheeler St., which is already home to 10 other businesses.
The company bales large quantities of paper, cardboard and plastics for transport elsewhere and is not open for residential disposal.
Attorney Michael Brandi said its customers are industries and commercial companies with 5 to 10 deliveries a day by truck.
City Engineer Richard Miller reminded Brandi that it cannot process recyclables from any business in New Haven since the city set up a transfer station authority.
"Anything generated here has to go through the New Haven Transfer Station," Miller said.
The commission approved a special permit for the business for five years.
The commission took no action on a proposal to prohibit the sale of "loosies," after determining the intention of the sponsoring aldermen was a little too loose.
The discussion at the commission centered on what exactly was a "loosie," why should it be regulated, who would collect fines and could it only be prohibited from stores that remain open after 11 p.m.
A "loosie" is a single cigarette that ends up being used as drug paraphernalia, explained Deputy Director of Zoning Tom Talbot, although he admitted that what the sponsoring aldermen wanted was a little unclear.
Commission Chairwoman Patricia King had to explain the drug connection to Miller.
"It’s what you substitute for the tobacco," she said.
"I’m an engineer. What do I know," Miller said.
Commissioner Roy Smith Jr. worried about singling out convenience stores that stay open all night, as opposed to other establishments. "This is a mess," he said.
The commission took no action and recommended the aldermen consult with city attorneys on the ordinance aspect and, after fleshing it out further, come back to city plan staff for help on any zone change.
Aldermen Mordechai Sandman, D-28th, Alexander Rhodeen, D-13th, Roland Lemar, D-9th, and Gregory Morehead, D-22nd had requested the changes, with Sandman taking the lead.
The commission, in one of its shortest meetings, also approved plans for a new bridge at Prospect Street at Trumbull Street and Farmington Greenway and OK’d a site plan for 19 residential units at 776-780 Grand Ave., an existing three-story brick structure.
The plan includes 9 efficiency apartments on the first floor and two upper floors with four one-bedroom apartments and one efficiency each with construction set to begin this summer.
Mary E. O’Leary can be reached at 789-5731 or moleary@nhregister.com.