Allan Appel Photo
Because the traffic is so snarly at the intersection of Quinnipiac Avenue and Foxon Boulevard, a new subway is coming.
Make that Subway with a capital “S,” as in yet another outlet for the long-sandwich eatery chain.
Wednesday night City Plan commissioners gave a unanimous OK for a new Subway restaurant to be built in a vacant lot on the north side of Foxon Boulevard, near the busy intersection with Quinnipiac Avenue.
The long rectangular lot is now empty and grown over with weeds. It lies between a gas station at the corner and a small business plaza.
Within 50 yards from the future Subway site sits a Taco Bell, a 7 – 11, and a Burger King, plus food markets in the three gas stations at the corner.
Subway is undaunted.
Robert Criscuolo, of Branford-based Criscuolo Engineering, said a lease has been signed for a 12-seat Subway restaurant with drive-through to be built on the 2,340-square-foot site.
About half of the new building will comprise the restaurant, with the other half of the space turned into a retail store. The tenant for that space is not yet determined, said Criscuolo.
Jim Pretti, of Criscuolo Engineering, said plans also include 17 parking spots, a 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. schedule of operations, a new five-foot sidewalk, and two 16-foot curb cuts leading in and out of the site.
Adam Marchand, aldermanic representative to the City Plan Commission, expressed concern over all the new impermeable surface — asphalt — that will be installed.
Criscuolo said catch basins and leaching fields are already in place to handle stormwater runoff. He said thick-growing arborvitae will be planted along the perimeter on two sides.
City Plan chief Karyn Gilvarg reminded the applicant that even after the vote, it will have to come back to the commission for a “check off” regarding signage.
If all goes well, the restaurant should be open for business within nine months, said Criscuolo.
I could've sworn there was a subway in that area already, but I haven't been there in so long I could be mistaken. Good though, that lot has been abandoned since I was a kid and before that 7-11 even existed.