🔒Bristol OKs 16 apartments in two downtown commercial buildings

Applications to create 16 apartment units in two downtown commercial buildings were unanimously approved Monday night by the Bristol Planning Commission. The applications, filed by Michael and Lisa Fabiano of Redding, proposed creating eight apartment units on the second floor of a building at 4 Riverside Ave. and eight more on the second floor of 10 North Main St. While the second floor of each building is currently vacant, they each have a commercial tenant on the ground floor. M&T Bank occupies the first floor of 4 Riverside Ave., while Oak Hill School, which serves children with disabilities, occupies the first floor of 10 North Main St. The Fabianos own both buildings, which are located on adjacent lots that share a parking lot. In July 2016, the couple paid $2.09 million for 4 Riverside Ave. and $1.4 million for 10 North Main St. According to project narratives submitted with each application, the second floor of 4 Riverside Ave. has 5,012 square feet, while the second floor at 10 North Main St. is just slightly smaller at 5,002 square feet. The application states the plan for 4 Riverside Ave. is to develop eight apartments on the second floor, including one two-bedroom unit and seven one-bedroom units. For 10 North Main St., the project would also create eight units on the second floor, including two two- bedrooms units with two bathrooms, five one-bedroom units and one studio apartment. The two buildings are located in the downtown business district zone. According to the Fabianos, they will provide a total of 95 parking spaces, more than double the amount required by city zoning regulations. During discussion of the applications, Michael Fabiano told the commission there is no requirement for any of the apartments to be set aside as affordable. He said he has not yet finalized rents, but added that he intends to price the units at or below those for apartments to be constructed across the street. In June, the Bristol Economic & Community Development Commission approved the sale of a downtown parcel at the corner of Riverside Avenue and North Main Street for $250,000 to Carrier Home Builders of Plainville, which plans to erect a six-story, mixed-use building with 70 units of housing and 5,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. After hearing from the applicants, the commission voted unanimously to approve the site plan applications for both buildings. Also during the meeting, the commission held a public hearing on an application to develop a QDoba restaurant at 735 Farmington Ave., and then unanimously approved the application.