Asif Choudhry addresses the Old Lyme Zoning Commission at Monday night’s meeting.
The Old Lyme Town Hall Meeting Room was packed Monday evening for the monthly Zoning Commission meeting.
Asif Choudhry, owner of the Bestway gas station at the corner of Hartford Ave. and Shore Rd. (Rte. 156), had applied for a permit to sell beer at the convenience store located inside the gas station. The permit was necessary because Old Lyme bans the sale of all alcohol within 200 ft. of a place of worship and the Shoreline Church is located a few doors down from the gas station.
Numerous members of the public had spoken against Choudhry’s application at the first hearing a month previously primarily due to concerns related to making alcohol more available in general — and specifically to youth — and also on the grounds of the Zoning Commission’s own charge to retain the rural nature of the town. A handful more residents spoke Monday citing similar concerns.
Choudhry offered a spirited defense of his application, noting he had lived in Old Lyme 14 years and, “… done everything possible to sustain this business.” He submitted, “Everybody drinks beer. Kids find beer in their parent’s garage. I cannot sell beer [to] underage [kids.] If kids are going to buy beer, they’re going to buy beer.”
Choudhry also pointed out that no one from the church had come to oppose his application and suggested there was wide support from the Sound View business community for his application, saying, “I basically speak up for all the businesses in Sound View.”
There was, however, little sympathy on the commission for Choudhry’s position and the members proceeded to deny the application unanimously. After commenting he was “delighted to see so many people show up,” Ted Kiritsis noted, “If we abide by the [commission’s] preamble, it’s clear what to do.”
John Johnson said he believed it was clear by virtue of the “large numbers” of the public present at both meetings, “There is definite feeling of the town [to deny the application.]”
Jane Marsh added, “I don’t think there’s any compelling need to change the regulations,” and Johnson chimed in that he was also opposed because of, “… kids and the drinking problem,” saying firmly, “I’m not prepared to make it [alcohol] any more available.”
Chairman Jane Cable summarized the board sentiment saying she would also vote against the application, noting simply that, in her opinion, “The reasons for denying it outweigh the reasons for approving it.”
After the meeting, a delighted Mary Seidner, Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau Executive Director, told LymeLine, “I am pleased that the comments and concerns of the citizens of Old Lyme were heeded by the commission.”
A new writer’s group has been formed at the Lyme Art Association (LAA). Meeting on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., this moderated workshop will explore, develop and critique your fiction, creative non-fiction, memoir and poetry writing with a group of peers.
On Super Bowl Sunday, Joan Gordon brought me a terrific meatloaf she made the day before. We had sandwiches on good rye bread, salad and dessert while we watched the Stupid Bowl. I ate the rest of the meatloaf over the next few days. It is superb.
About the author: Lee White (left) is a resident of Old Lyme in a section of town where she and her house are the oldest members. She has been writing about restaurants and cooking since 1976 and has been extensively published in the Worcester (Mass.) Magazine, The Day, Norwich Bulletin, and Hartford Courant. She currently writes Nibbles and a cooking column called A La Carte for the Shore Publishing newspapers, and Elan, a quarterly magazine, all of which are now owned by The Day. 
