Commission approves extension and monthly reporting for Cookamo Brothers site‑improvements

The Town of Berlin Planning and Zoning Commission on June 4 modified the timetable tied to a court‑recorded stipulated judgment for a pair of Farmington Avenue properties, granting a time‑limited extension and imposing a schedule and monthly reporting requirement.

Tom (Cookamo Brothers Associates LLC) told the commission he could not meet the original five‑year completion deadline for the site‑improvement work tied to his building at 861 Farmington Avenue, describing interior and exterior progress but warning that coordination with shared site work and seasonal paving constraints made the earlier deadline infeasible. "We're not going to make the timeline," he said, describing remaining mechanical, HVAC and exterior tasks.

Tony Valente of Newport Realy Group, the adjoining property owner with tenants awaiting site completion, said a six‑month extension "is probably not going to get that project" finished before winter and asked for enforceable milestones so Newport would not be left unable to complete its own site work. Counsel and staff proposed a compromise: require Cookamo to reach a level of completion permitting Newport to perform site work before winter and to provide a written, itemized schedule and monthly progress reports.

Town attorney Jennifer Capola explained the legal mechanics: the stipulation (section 6 of the judgment) contains a five‑year completion clause that can be extended by express commission action and court filing. The commission moved under Section 12 of the stipulation to extend Cookamo Brothers' deadline for completion of all site improvements to Oct. 31, 2026, and Newport Realy Group's related deadline to Dec. 15, 2026; the motion also required Cookamo to submit a proposed schedule of completion and to provide monthly written progress reports to the commission, with council authorized to prepare the necessary revision for court filing. The commission amended the motion to require the applicant submit the proposed schedule by the July 9 meeting.

The commission approved the motion as amended in a voice vote; council will prepare the formal written modification for filing with the court. Commissioners emphasized they would track progress monthly and expect timely written updates; staff noted a site bond or other assurances could be used if final paving could not be completed before winter.

Next steps: Cookamo to submit a proposed schedule by the July 9 meeting and monthly written progress reports thereafter; council to draft and submit the stipulation modification to the court.