SOUTHINGTON - The owner of the proposed VIP adult boutique on Queen Street plans to apply for a certificate of occupancy in about four weeks. Before then, Town Attorney Mark Sciota said the town must make a decision on how specific it plans to be about the type and amount of inventory that will be allowed in the store.

Dominick DeMartino of Durham, who owns four other VIP stores in the state, said Friday that a letter he received from the Planning and Zoning Commission further defined the town's adult zoning laws. "They are clarifying to us what their expectations are," he said.

"It's got to be taken up soon," Sciota said. The planning commission tried to agree on the contents of the inventory agreement with VIP during an executive session on Tuesday. After meeting with DeMartino and his attorney for about an hour the commission adjourned without a decision on the matter.

The meeting's minutes state only that DeMartino and his attorney, Daniel Silver of New Britain, were asked to answer questions about the operations of the VIP store whose initials stand for Very Intimate Pleasures.

DeMartino said in a phone interview that he and his attorney don't like what is contained in the letter. "If we want to play ball, we'll follow (the stipulations). I'm confident we'll comply," he said.

The zoning permit for the store restricted the store's inventory to no more than five percent of adult oriented items. DeMartino said suggestions that images on individual boxes could be counted as part of the regulated items aren't a concern.

"Today's market has gotten away from explicit box covers. Those days were 20 years ago," DeMartino said.

Former Town Councilor Victoria Triano, who is an ordained minister, is part of a group of clergy who have publicly opposed the store's opening. "There is movement on this side," she said. Triano seemed surprised, however, that the store could open in a little over a month.

"I know Mr. DeMartino is trying to make a living," Triano said. She said she remains concerned about the process in which VIP was given a zoning permit. "My issue is how the business came into Southington with no red flags," Triano said.

The zoning permit was issued in August through an administrative review without the input of the planning commission. In response to that action, the commission issued an eight-month moratorium on approval of any future adult oriented businesses while it reviews the town's zoning regulations.

"We are working on an understanding prior to us having a real problem," DeMartino said. He said he doesn't think there will be any further meetings with the commission until the store's inventory is stocked. "We are not happy with what has transpired," DeMartino added.

Sciota said the commission's decision on inventory guidelines must be done very quickly. The commission next meets on Dec. 1.

DeMartino plans to have his store open by New Years Day, or before.

lhutchison@record-journal.com

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