CVS Files an Application to Build a Store in Somers

The pharmacy and retail chain CVS has filed an application to build a location in the town of Somers, according to First Selectman Lisa Pellegrini.

Pellegrini said Tuesday that CVS has filed a proposal to build on a piece of property at the intersection of routes 190 and 83 in the town center, a topic that had been rumored as early as last Summer.

She said that because of certain Somers zoning regulations the company has to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals to request about six or seven variances before going ahead with the full application process. If the ZBA grants these variances, then the company would have to submit a land use application to the Planning and Zoning commissions, which have the final say on these issues.

CVS will present to the ZBA next week on Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

“I encourage people to attend and voice their comments,” Pellegrini said.

According to the minutes from the Dec. 12 Board of Selectman meeting, Pellegrini clarified that there were "rumors" regarding the CVS proposal, which she went ahead and cleared up with some facts of the situation.

Pellegrini told Patch that CVS approached the town for a pre-application conference, in which it talked with the company officials about what the town requires to build in the Somers town center.

“I do have concerns about the intersection because the application does not include intersection improvements,” Pellegrini said.

This section of town, while considered Somers' town center, also lacks any sort of historic delegation.

Town Attorney Carl Landolina, who presided over the pre-application conference with CVS, told the Board of Selectmen last month that area where CVS wants to construct is “neither a Village District nor Historical District, although several years ago a Village District was proposed but was overwhelmingly voted down.”

Meanwhile, the board is in the process of conducting a traffic study at the intersection, the meeting minutes stated. 

Editor's Note: We originally reported that the ZBA meeting was at 8:30 p.m. This is incorrect. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. We've corrected the error. This story was originally posted on Jan. 8.