NORWICH – The Common Council heard conflicting public comments concerning a proposed zoning change originally requested by Tansey’s Automotive Services owner George Blood in February.

At a council committee meeting, Blood asked city officials to rezone the 13 Birdsall St. automotive shop – and several other surrounding properties – from a residential (R3) to a commercial (B1) designation. His plan is to expand the business to include a pair of automotive repair bays adjacent to Tansey’s, which he’s owned since 1975.

Homeowner Ken Hine, whose property at 15 Birdsall St. directly sides with Tansey’s, responded at the time that “no man has the right to change another’s zoning merely to put in a business for his own benefit” and reviewed a number of objections to the change in zoning.

Hine said his concerns over the zoning change included the possibility of tax increases for the area affected, the amount of noise created by a nearby automotive repair shop, inadequate parking and the limited space available.