Trailers On Hewitt Road Have Neighbors Up In Arms

The neighbors are at once incredulous and horrified.

“Look at these,” Jacinta Simoncini pointed to photographs she’d taken of the site. “One day I saw the cement pillars…then the trailers. I couldn’t believe it.”

Simoncini lives at 2 Covesville Court, two streets from the 93 Hewitt Road location where Gorin Subotic, owner of the renowned Mystic Ballet, has—with the approval of the town—planted two trailers atop concrete blocks in the tree lined residential neighborhood, much to the shock of neighbors.

More than 20 abutters showed up at Tuesday’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting anticipating some action on an appeal one of the neighbors filed seeking to have Subotic’s zoning permit revoked. The matter was on the agenda as new business and the only reference to it was to have the appeal scheduled for a June 14 public hearing.

But that didn’t stop people from staying after the meeting to share their concerns.

“They’ll be hearing from us,” said Antonio Mastroianni, a local businessman who lives on Meadowbrook Lane, a stone’s throw from the trailers’ location. “When I saw (the trailers) I said, ‘What? Are you kidding?’’”

But Subotic asked for residents to “please, please be patient.”

“I totally understand how they feel," Subotic said. "They [the trailers] do not look good, they are ugly, but I will make them look nice. I guarantee that they will look better. I will put siding and shutters and windows and landscaping to fit in with the other houses.”

In February, Subtoic applied for, and received, both a building and zoning permit to “set up” two 30-foot by 30-foot modular sheds on his property. The “sheds” are not to be used as dwellings, rather, are to be used as residential storage, according to documents filed with the town. But the sheds are actually “re-locatable modular buildings” used previously as classrooms. Subotic said the trailers will likely be used for costume storage, not housing for dancers part of the ballet’s artist in residence program.

“Right now, the majority of the space would be used for the costumes, they are artwork,” he said. Subotic obtained the trailers from the Norwich school district.

The zoning permit was signed by Zoning Official Joe Larkin. called Subotic after the planning and zoning office received calls from neighbors about the trailers.

“Zoning called me and he said what’s happening. He said, ‘OK, no problem, but just make sure it looks nice, Gorin. ‘I will do that,'" Gorin said.

Linda Hutter, who lives at 29 Meadowbrook Lane, a few doors down from the trailers, filed an appeal with the Zoning Board of Review seeking to have Subotic’s zoning permit revoked.  Neighbors will have their say at the June public hearing.

Rich and Nancy Bestwick live at 87 Hewitt Road. The trailers are a few feet away from their house.

“I’m wondering what could happen to our property values,” an exasperated Nancy Bestwick said as she stared at the trailers shaking her head.

For his part, Subotic said he empathizes.

“I came here 20 years ago and I am very proud to live here …I have a big anchor here,” Subotic said. “I don’t want to be disrespectful of my neighbors. I probably would do the same thing. I totally understand.  I will make sure it looks pretty.”

Rich Bestwick is dubious.

“What’s the definition of pretty,” he asked rhetorically.