The current “Tract J” parking lot that will be developed into housing, labs, or offices. The City Plan Commission on Wednesday approved a Science Park redeveloper’s application to build a new 199-space surface parking lot where a handful of dilapidated former Winchester Arms factory buildi ngs were recently demolished. Science Park Development Corporation (SPDC) Chairman and CEO David Silverstone said that this new parking lot will replace an existing 199-space parking lot right across the street — a site his company plans to build up into new labs, offices, or housing. Local land-use commissioners granted that approval during their latest monthly online meeting Wednesday. The commissioners voted unanimously in support of both the site plan and the Class C soil erosion and sediment control plan for the SPDC’s bid to construct a 199-space paved parking lot at 275 Winchester Ave. As Silverstone, project engineer Kathy Gagnon, and project consultant Jake Pine explained, this new parking lot will be built on the northern portion of the demolition site at the corner of Munson Street and Mansfield Street. That’s where SPDC has spent the past year knocking down the last remaining vacant Winchester Arms factory buildings. The southern portion of that site will be fenced off and receive plantings and other landscaping. What portion of this ex-factory complex has been demolished? asked Westville Alder and City Plan Commission member Adam Marchand. “One hundred percent of Tract A buildings have been abated and demolished,” Pine replied. “Right now, this site is razed completely.” Silverstone said that SPDC is still waiting for the results of test borings to determine the environmental condition of the soil at the demolition site. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) then needs to sign off on those test-boring results before the demolition project is officially complete. That said, Silverstone continued, “no additional demolition of what still exists” from the Winchester Arms factory complex is “being contemplated.” The demolition site is right next door to the 158-unit Winchester Lofts apartment complex, the new 281-unit Winston apartment complex, and the Winchester Works office space. The all-but-completed demolition at the corner of Mansfield and Munson represents the latest turn in the decades-long transformation of this part of New Haven from an around-the-clock mini-city composed of factories with tens of thousands of people turning out Winchester rifles into an emerging 21st century upscale urban living and tech hub. Silverstone said that the creation of this planned new 199-space surface parking lot is designed to replace an existing 199-space surface parking lot right across Munson Street, on what is known as Tract J. That latter lot “will be the site of future development” — likely lab or housing. “At the end of the day, there won’t be additional parking. It will be replacement parking,” Silverstone said. Is this going to be a “permanent lot?” Commission Chair Ernest Pagan asked. “I don’t want to say that, Mr. Chairman,” Silverstone replied. “The long-term plan is to first build this lot. Next, do a development on Tract J, whether it will be lab or housing, we’re not sure yet. And then ultimately replace the parking that we still have with a parking structure of some kind so that we can free these lots up for development.” Silverstone said that the Science Park area currently has 1,043 parking spaces. “When the smoke settles, we’ll end up with 1,043 spots” after the creation of this new lot and the development of Tract J. During the public hearing portion of the meeting, Prospect Street resident Carl Jackson said that he “wasn’t very happy with the original Winchester building” that was vacant and dilapidated for so many years. “At the same time, I’m also not thrilled by a suburban-style surface parking lot taking its place.” He asked the redevelopers to install screening or landscaping that makes the parking lot “more presentable.” He also called for sidewalk replacements on Mansfield and Munson. Ramona Davis, who lives on Munson Street, also spoke up during the public portion of Wednesday’s meeting. She said that she has seen a marked increase in “an infestation of rodents” since March, thanks to the demolition. “When we were demolishing the buildings, we did do rodent control because we knew that those buildings were home to a variety of wildlife, let’s put it that way,” Silverstone replied. “I’m not aware that’s a continuing problem.” He provided Davis with his email address and asked her to get in touch if she continues to have any rodent problems. The commissioners ultimately voted unanimously in support of both the site plan and the Class C soil erosion and sediment control plan for the new 199-space parking lot. Before moving on to the next item on the agenda, Pagan said to Davis, “Please take Mr. Silverstone [up] on that offer” for help with the rodent infestation. Ground control to Major Tom. 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