A Sweet Development in Darien

Planning & Zoning has approved a plan that will bring new activity to the Baker Park neighborhood, and it has little to do with flood mitigation.

Tuesday evening, the commission granted Ruth Clark a special permit to sell baked goods at a new confectioner on the corner of Noroton Avenue and Maple Street. The property is currently a drop-off dry cleaner, but soon it will be a small bakery-come-corner shop, comparable, said Clark, to Mackenzies in New Canaan.

"The idea is a small bakery store in a neighborhood frequented by families and children," said Clark. "A small venture run by myself, with help from my husband on the weekends."

In addition to selling baked goods purchased from a commercial bakery, Clark said she also plans to sell beverages and specialty gift items such as party favors, packaged candies and chocolates.

"I don't know if you're familiar with Bridgewater Chocolate that they have in Ireland—very good," said Clark.

Operation of a "convenience food service," like Clark's proposed confectioner, requires a special permit from P&Z. The permit allows for a retail-food sale mix, and no more than a few seats for customers. 

"If it's permitted, I would also like to have window seats, so if you have go in and you have to wait for a few minutes, you have somewhere to sit," said Clark.

Commission members were supportive of the "small venture" proposal, which they said was allowable in the neighborhood business zone. Deliveries won't be too early—between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., said Clark—and there will be no cooking on the premises.

For member M. Reese Hutchison, the plan brought a wave of nostalgia.

"That was a convenience store back when I was young, back in the 70s. I remember getting sodas there as a child," he said.

Members' sole concern was with regards to the garbage. They cautioned that in the unfortunate event of low food sales, the shop might generate more waste than anticipated.

"You could arrange for the dumpster to come more frequently," said Vice Chairman Joseph Spain. "We could put that point in our approval."

Clark said she was also researching opportunities to donate unsold goods to local food banks and shelters on a daily basis.

"It seems like a very benign use for the property," said Chairman Fred Conze.

And with that, Conze motioned to approve the amendment to the business site plan at 95 Noroton Avenue. All members voted in favor.