After Years of Debate, Town to Front Money for Sign at Plantsville Lot

When Dean Michanczyk, owner of Dean’s Stove and Spa in downtown Plantsville, planned to expand his business to include a the Hearthstone Pub several years ago, he agreed to include 100 parking spaces as part of an effort to provide additional parking in the Plantsville area.

Now after an extended disagreement that has gone on for several years over who should pay for a public parking sign to be placed on the property, the town has agreed to front the tab and put the issue to rest.

Members of the Parking Authority on Wednesday afternoon approved a motion 4-1 to purchase the public parking sign valued at $800 for the lot near Dean’s Stove and Spa. The decision should allow the town to release a $20,000 bond Michanczyk took at at the beginning of the project.

“This is an issue that has gone on too long,” said Michael Riccio, chairman of the Parking Authority. “The town has put this guy through the ringer. Without that lot, the town wouldn’t be recouping ten times as much money in taxes or see the regeneration of those buildings (in Plantsville) that we are seeing today.”

Riccio said Wednesday that Michanczyk has agreed to split the difference on the cost of the signs, taking on the minimum costs, which authority members said is valued in the range of $80 to $100 dollars.

But John Solury Jr., a longtime member of the Parking Authority, said he could not agree to pay for the sign on the backs of taxpayers due to the fact that Michanczyk had previously agreed to include sign installation as part of the project when it was initially approved.

“For the taxpayers to have to pay for that sign is unjust,” Solury said. “We granted a 100 parking space waiver and I understand he is providing parking for the public, but the parking was part of his own business plan as well.”

“The fact that this has carried on as long as it has is not the fault of anyone here on the parking authority,” he said.

Authority member Matthew Florian said he believes picking up the tab is the right things to do, however, and said Michanczyk has already invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to help revitalize the Plantsville area.

“I’ve always felt Dean (Michanczyk) has been strong armed the whole way,” he said. “We should be sending him a thank you note for what he’s done, not criticizing him.”

What are your thoughts on the Parking Authority decision? Share them in the comments section below.

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