The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07
BOARD FAvORS zONING CHANGE
Opponents Score Alder men for Decision; Mem.
 bers Defend Action

Over bitter protest of residents ol Grandview avenue, the board oi aldermen last night voted C change zoning classification of cer' tain property on that street tc allow expansion of the French Mfg O., subsidiary of the American Brass O., giving as Q prime req son that such business expansion would add to employment.
 The board voted the change as relates to the property of Julia Joy Underhill and the estate of Kate Joy but denied . similar petition for a change from residential to in- dustrial classification of property owned by Edward R., and Hazel Joy Root.
 storm Breaks
 Represented by Attorney Francis McDonald, the group of residents apparently failed to realize that vote was being taken until the change in zoning classification oi tho Underhill property was ap- proved. Then the storm broke.
 "A lot of you live on the houle' yard and in other sections of the city," cried Atty. McDonald, "You have no interest in the taxpayers who have bought residential prop. erty which Is being improved tt make Waterbury Q better city. Yov don't have to put up with the smell and noise of the factory"
 Here Alderman William Loefflel asked to be heard.
 LOeffler Protests
 q live where I can throw . stone onto 0randView avenue" he declared. II don't like the In. timation that we don't care about the interests of the taxpayers. W. have tho interest of the whole city at heart. I just don't think that 1t Is to the interest of Waterbury to stunt the growh of It's indus tries"
 Residents, including James P, Phelan, Thomas r. Moran, Jr., wht said that his concern owned much property on tho street, and Thomas Cassidy, insisted that there were 9t per cent of the 0randview avenue residents against tho aoning ohanee at tho meeting Of the zoning com. mittee of the board of aldermen tive weeks ago, To this Alderman George R, 0ullfoile, board leader, replied
 "That's why we rejected the change of tho Root property. Bul the Underhill property Is nearer tho factory and away from these residents. Mir. Phelan Is the only resident who is near enough to bt in any way affected"
 Takes Issue
 Alderman Joseph Wilhelm took issue with MT. Mcdonald and thu protestNnts who had remarked the "smoll and noise" of tho factory saying that the French Manufae' turing company's plant Is lone oi tho quietest and oleanest in tht city. He told the Qrandview ave- nue group that the property in thu rear of the factory, which they hat said could be utilized for the ex' pansion, does not belong to thI company. ?
 "When I came to Waterbury si, years ago I was assured that thl 1928 zonihg on drandview avenu, meant something and I bough property and erected Q one.familS house." MT. Cassidy told tho board "The original cost Of 97,000 I ex, peeted to double by making i'm provements shortly but I'm tolt that I can't finance the matter { this Eoning goes through. Thl property will have little value as residence"
 Rights Violated
 Thus, the several residents, Wh, protested that their rights as tax payers were being violated by tn, city boards action, Attorney Mo Donald declaring that the city wa taking away tho taxpayers prop orty without compensation" by th, xoning change.
 "Your duty aS aldermen Is to rFo tect the property owners" Attorne' McDonald charged. Tt befits mel with reason to sec that this chang, of residential property to industria k hufting tho taxpayers"
 Hero the aldermen took issue, re- marking that Waterbury would b. served by added employment ant that tho question of taxes from th change was not Q consideration il their action.
 The land, In question, has . i24 foot frontage near the Trencl Manufacturing company. The boar, "ro-passed" their earlier change i the Eoning classification of tn property by c unanimous vote afte tho hearing of nroteat.