Town OKs Volkswagen dealership on Route 11

F.X. Caprara Auto Sales will begin work on a Volkswagen dealership after the town of Watertown Planning Board approved its site plan.

The board, meeting Wednesday morning, approved a site plan that has no entrances on Route 11.

Instead, the main entrance will be from a neighboring lot, which F.X. Caprara also owns and uses for trailer sales. The county Planning Department had proposed eliminating one of two entrances on Route 11 originally proposed, under the impression that the state Department of Transportation wouldn't allow both.

The town Planning Board had suggested a driveway easement on the trailer sales lot, but representative Gary Dwyer said owner William F. Caprara didn't want to do that.

"It could make this property worthless," Planning Board Co-chairman Thomas E. Boxberger said.

Co-chairwoman Pamela D. Desormo said, "It would be up to the new owner to go to DOT for a driveway cut."

The site will also have access from Gillette Road, which runs to the north of the lot.

The new building is part of a plan to split the Kia-Volkswagen dealership at 18476 Route 11 that Mr. Caprara announced in May. The Kia operation has moved to the former Saturn lot at 18675 Route 11.

The site for the new Volkswagen dealership is next to Grenadier Construction. Once Volkswagen moves out, it will become a Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep dealership.

The new dealership would cover 7,000 square feet and the lot would hold 150 to 200 cars.

The county Planning Department had also suggested the lighting plan was too bright and would cause light pollution on neighboring lots and Route 11.

Mrs. Desormo said the current light plan shows light "will be contained to the property."

The final plan also added vegetation along Route 11.

The board also approved a 1,100-square-foot addition onto DC Building Systems, 18621 Route 11, Watertown.

President Donald E. Clark said the expansion will make the building handicapped-accessible, improve its appearance and give the office needed space.

"I would like to see planters to dress it up," said Mr. Boxberger, of the north side of the property.

Mr. Clark agreed to add three planters.