Those uses identified in these regulations as requiring special permits shall be deemed to be permitted uses, subject to the satisfaction of the requirements and standards set forth in this section, in addition to all other requirements of these regulations. All such uses are declared to possess characteristics of such unique and distinct form that each specific use shall be considered as an individual case.

Application for a required special permit shall be made to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Said application shall be accompanied by four black and white prints of the proposed plan as required by § 240-15, and stamped envelopes with no return address, addressed to each of the owners of property within 250 feet of any portion of the lot on which the proposed special permit is located; such owners to be as shown in the latest real estate lists of the Town of Weston (or the actual owners of record if otherwise known to the applicant). Each such application shall be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission which shall hold a public hearing thereon and render a decision in accordance with §§ 8-26d and 8-26e of the Connecticut General Statutes. The Planning and Zoning Commission may approve the application and issue a special permit, provided that it finds that all of the following conditions and standards have been met:

A plan for the proposed development of a lot for a special permit use shall be submitted with the special permit application. The plan shall show the location of all buildings, uses, parking areas, traffic access and circulation drives, open spaces, landscaping, topography (including regraded contours), signs, exterior lighting, special features, and any other pertinent information, including information about neighboring properties, deemed necessary by the Planning and Zoning Commission, to determine and provide for the proper enforcement of these regulations.

The Planning and Zoning Commission shall attach such conditions to any approved use as are, in its opinion, necessary to assure initial and continued conformance to all applicable standards and requirements and in accordance with law.

Within 15 days of the approval of a special permit use, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall file with the Building Inspector and Zoning Enforcement Officer one print of the approved plans, with the approval noted thereon, and a copy of the Commission's resolution, including a list of any conditions pertaining to the approval. One print of said plan and the resolution shall be made available to the applicant.

A special permit shall be deemed to authorize only the particular use or uses specified in the permit. A special permit shall expire if: i) said use or uses cease for more than one year for any reason other than fire or other casualty or is changed to another use; or ii) all required improvements are not completed as of the date which is five years following the date of issuance of the special permit, or such shorter or longer period as determined by the Commission and set forth in the conditions of approval. The Commission may extend any expiration date upon application by the permittee.

Notwithstanding the terms of § 240-18 or any condition of approval to the contrary, special permits granted between December 1, 2007, and September 21, 2009, shall not expire for failure to complete required improvements, unless a required improvement remains substantially incomplete as of the date which is five years following the date of issuance of the special permit.[1]