On June 8, Clinton Station—the sports complex slated to take over the Unilever property—moved one step closer to fruition as Clinton’s Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) granted approval for a special exemption for the Unilever property to be used in a recreational manner as a Type A facility. The property is currently an I-1 Zone (industrial).

“It’s a very good step,” said David Mack of David A. Mack Properties, LLC, which is developing the site. “We still have some work to be done, but we’re anxious to get going as soon as we can.”

The June 8 approval was the latest in many that the LLC has obtained in the process of creating Clinton Station. In February, it obtained a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals as the sheer size of the project exceeded the current limits of 70,000 square feet.

“With the scope of the project—they’re putting in two ice rinks, a soccer pitch, a fitness center, and accessory uses including food service plus the possibility of golf and rock climbing—they exceeded the limits that were in place,” said PZC Chair Anselmo Delia.

Mack said the June 8 approval was granted with conditions, “as is typical,” and his company is now working through those conditions, which include working with Unilever representatives on the environmental impact, as well as gaining state approval for traffic patterns.

Delia said that while the change of use was quickly approved, there was a “lengthy discussion” at the meeting about the traffic and parking concerns. Overall, though, he noted that since the concept was first brought to the PZC, there has been excitement about the potential for the site.

“It’s a very creative reuse of what was formerly an industrial property,” said Delia. “The community and members of Planning & Zoning are hoping that this will be a catalyst for a renewal of the downtown and the town of Clinton, as well as an economic development that will allow us to sustain ourselves as a community.”