The Preston Planning and Zoning

Commission OK’d a zoning regulation change that would allow commercial plant nurseries to open accompanying retail stores selling “items other than nursery stock.”

Preston — The Planning and Zoning Commission last week approved a zoning regulation change that would allow commercial plant nurseries to open accompanying retail stores selling “items other than nursery stock.”

The regulation text amendment was requested by David and Joyce Hart, owner’s of Hart’s Greenhouse & Florist, which has facilities in Norwich, Preston, Canterbury and Brooklyn.

The Harts purchased T&C Greenhouses at 99 Route 2A a year ago in April and opened a plant retail sales operation at the 20-acre mostly wholesale greenhouse operation in May.

The owners are interested in expanding retail sales to non-plant items, perhaps including baked goods, Town Planner Kathy Warzecha said.

Warzecha said the new amendment would allow a retail sales space of up to 5,000 square feet, but would not allow the sale of power equipment, such as lawn mowers, farm equipment or tractors — which likely would have to be displayed outdoors.

Other than the prohibition on power equipment, the regulation does not specify the types of retail products that could be sold at greenhouse retail stores. Warzecha said it would be too complex to start listing specific items or categories of products.

If the facility plans to build a physical expansion or expand a parking area, the owners would need to apply to the town for site plan approval, Warzecha said.

If an existing building, such as a greenhouse, were to be converted to retail sales, with no changes to the property, the operation would be allowed as a permitted use in most residential zones in town.

David and Joyce Hart could not be reached for comment Tuesday on their plans for the former T&C Greenhouses. At last week’s public hearing on the zoning regulation change, David Hart said a retail expansion would diversify the products and support other local agricultural operations and better serve visitors to the community.

“We feel it’s very important to be able to diversify any farm operation,” Hart told the commission.

Resident Andy Depta, a former Norwich resident, said he is familiar with the Hart’s operation in Norwich and also supported the regulation change.

The PZC voted unanimously to approve the regulation amendment.