The South Windsor Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to reject a proposed rule change to allow electric car dealerships in the Buckland Road Gateway Zone after public hearing.
The rule change filed by Drake Motor Partners CT LLC — a limited liability company tied to electric car giant Tesla, which has unsuccessfully lobbied Connecticut lawmakers for years to sell directly to consumers in the state — would give anyone the right to sell, service, and charge electric vehicles, as well as sell solar parts, batteries, and energy products.
Direct-to-consumer Tesla sales are illegal in Connecticut and the Buckland Road Gateway Zone prohibits “automotive, boat, recreational, vehicle, truck, and similar sales.”
Jon Hauser, managing partner for Drake Real Estate Services, said he understands that Tesla cannot sell in the state, but he said it can service and lease cars.
He said he would be willing to remove sales from the language of the proposed rule change.
PZC Secretary Stephen Wagner said “this is going to turn into sales someday if doesn’t turn into sales immediately.”
Wagner said he was worried that the operator of the Tesla building would come to the PZC about selling cars if Connecticut ever makes it legal.
Members of the public expressed their opinions on the matter in person and through letters read by Wagner.
Lisa Rasoti wrote that she and her husband do not support the construction of any dealership on Buckland Road.
“I’m not sure why this is even being discussed,” she wrote.
Tim Shepard echoed that opinion, writing, “Vehicle sales are not the type of business you want in that area.”
Robert Selig, the former owner of Bill Selig Ford, said: “There’s no possible way an automotive dealership belongs in that area.”
Tyrell Dabrowski, sales director at Hoffman Auto Group in East Hartford, said he supports the use of electric vehicles, but it has to be done in the right way.
“There’s laws put in place to protect our consumers so they can have a voice and they are taken care of when there are issues,” he said.
Many PZC members agreed that they don’t want to change the rule, simply because Buckland Road was never meant to have car dealerships.
“I’m not against electric vehicles, it’s the way of the future, but it’s not here,” Vice Chairman Kevin Foley said.
PZC members also said they were worried about Buckland Road becoming like Route 5 in East Windsor, which is filled with car dealerships.
PZC member Michael LeBlanc and alternate Atif Quraishi both agreed that the project should not be done on Buckland Road.
“This is the Buckland Gateway Development Zone and we have made it so we couldn’t have car dealerships here,” Chairman Bart Pacekonis said. He said if they change the amendment, “every other dealer or manufacturer is going to want to come here too.”
Pacekonis and Foley both advised trying to open a Tesla dealership somewhere on Route 5.
Hauser stated: “We’re probably not going to an alternative site down the road. We’re probably just going to the next town that views us differently.”
