Everyone Wants A Piece of Branford

Businesses are transforming in Branford with a new location for the KIA dealership (pictured), a proposed BBQ restaurant at the Indian Neck Garage, and plans for the historic building that features a new antique shop in Stony Creek.

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) gave unanimous approval for two projects last week—- the KIA relocation; and a zoning change needed for the BBQ proposal. The public hearing on the Stony Creek building at 116 Thimble Islands Road will be continued until April.

It was also announced at the P&Z meeting that AT&T will hold an informational meeting next week to discuss a possible 134-foot cell tower on Rose Hill Road.

Expansion Triggers KIA Move

The Kia dealership will take a short road trip down Route 1 from its current location at 165 N. Main St. to a new home at 205 N. Main St., setting in motion a major expansion for the dealership. 

Bob Alvine, president and general manager of Premier Subaru and Premier Kia, said the move will make room for an eventual expansion of the Subaru dealership which he opened 15 years ago. Alvine told the Eagle the moves are necessary because of “expanding business and the need for more space.”

The P&Z granted Alvine’s request for a special exception to renovate and expand the former Dodge dealership at 205 N. Main St. The Kia dealership, which Alvine opened in 2011, will then relocate to the renovated space.

Alvine told the Eagle he hopes to complete construction and move the Kia dealership within a year. Alvine said that will free up the property at 165 N. Main St. which can then be combined with adjacent properties at 175 and 155 N. Main Street which will become the “nucleus of a new Subaru building.”

The Kia relocation project has already been approved by Inland Wetlands Commission.

Architect Peter Clement, pictured above, described the proposed changes to the former Dodge building.

During the public hearing, residents from nearby Chestnut Street asked questions about parking and about the fence at the rear of the dealership property.

Engineer Michael P. Harkin said the parking lot will be decreased near Chestnut Street.  Plans call for reducing the size of the parking lot and adding more grassy areas and landscaping. When construction is complete, the dilapidated fence and invasive plants at the rear of the property will be removed, and a new fence will be installed.

“We worked really hard and diligently with the town,” Harkin said in regard to the planning process.

Interim Town Planner Richard Stoecker said the proposal would turn the property into   “a good-looking modern dealership” and that the landscaping would be a “nice improvement.”

Remember the Swap?

The properties, including the current Subaru dealership as 150 N. Main St., are owned by Alvine’s corporation, Premier Realty Holdings LLC. Alvine purchased 165 N. Main St. about 11 years ago, and purchased 155, 175 and 205 N. Main St. within the past three years.

The site at 175 N. Main St. was newsworthy in 2010 when it was part of a proposed three-way swap by former First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos. Plans called for moving the senior center from the town-owned Canoe Brook Center on Cherry Hill Road to an office building at 175 N. Main Street, which was owned by the Giordano family. The Giordanos would swap their building for the town-owned building at the corner of Main and Montowese streets, which houses the Board of Education offices, which would then move to the Canoe Brook Center. Those plans met considerable opposition and never materialized.  Alvine purchased the Giordano property in 2013.

BBQ At Indian Neck Garage

If plans proceed for a BBQ venue along South Montowese Street, people could soon be enjoying slow-cooked brisket and ribs in the former Indian Neck Garage.

The P&Z approved the first step of the project by granting a zoning change for 192 S. Montowese, which is the half-acre vacant lot to the left of the garage. The zoning was changed from R-3 to BL (Local Business) The garage site at 194 S. Montowese is already zoned BL.

“The Stand” restaurant is the brainchild of Greg Nobile, the Tony award winning producer; and Eamon Roche, who operates a BBQ catering business in Branford.

Attorney Jim Perito, who represents Nobile and Roche, said the project will include both the Indian Neck parcel and the adjacent vacant parcel which has been used for farming. Plans call for both a farm stand and a restaurant. Perito said the proposal “will fit the village nature of the area.”

Nobile told the P&Z that the auto repair garage, which was built in 1938, will provide a unique venue for the BBQ restaurant. A food truck will be parked in one of the garage bays, and the remainder of the garage will be a casual dining area.

Roche said he hopes to operate from May 1 through October. He currently operates the Last Stand Canteen catering business from Medlyn Farm on Route 146.

Questions from the public centered around parking issues since there are four restaurants in the area, including Lenny’s Indian Head Inn, which is just down the street from the Indian Neck Garage.

Stoecker said parking issues will be addressed when the site plans are submitted.

Nobile told the Eagle they hope to submit site plans, designed by engineer Bob Crisucolo, in late April or May. “We would love to be open this summer,” Nobile said.

Nobile said the restaurant and farm stand will be a great addition to the neighborhood. “For me, it’s about community; it’s about bringing people together.”

Nobile said the BBQ menu won’t compete with Lenny’s, which has been legendary for its seafood for more than four decades. “It’s a totally different line of food and atmosphere,” he said.

Information about Roche’s BBQ catering business can be found at www.laststandcanteen.com

The Indian Neck Garage and the adjacent vacant property were purchased in Feb. 2014 by a corporation owned by Kevin O’Neill and Theodore J. Cwiertniewicz, who also own the Atlantic Wire property on Meadow Street. The Atlantic Wire site is slated to be sold to the developers of the proposed upscale apartment and retail complex known as Atlantic Wharf. O’Neill is the president of Cherry Hill Glass Co. on Elm Street. 

Antiques and Permits

Barbara Lucas and her husband Claudio Riccitelli (pictured above) opened the Stony Creek Depot late last year at 116 Thimble Islands Road. Lucas told the P&Z commission their business plan included the antique store on the first floor and rental apartments on the top two floors. The Branford couple rented the building for a year and recently completed the purchase.

She said while they were renovating the building, questions arose about whether or not permits had been granted 30 years ago to add the third floor. 

“The building has quite an interesting history,” Lucas told the commission. She said the one-story venue was a bar in the 1800’s, and that the second floor apartment was added in the 1930’s. She said records show that permits were applied for in 1986 to build the third floor, but that the permitting process is now in question.

The couple has agreed to reduce the number of bedrooms on the second and third floor apartments, which would bring the total to three bedrooms instead of five. Lucas said they are dealing with the East Shore District Health Department because the building has always had holding tanks instead of a conventional septic system.

Lucas said they want to operate the property “as it has been for the last 30 years… and be compliant with the town.”

The Zoning Board of Appeals granted variances prior to the P&Z meeting, but the East Shore District Health Department sent a letter to the commission stating it could not approve the application until additional floor plans are submitted.

Lucas said the process to legalize the building has been very complicated. “It’s all been very difficult to sort through,” she told the commission. “We did not realize this when we started.”

She said there were apparently no questions about the use of the property for the past 30 years. “We’re looking to clean up a building that was falling apart,” Lucas said.

No one from the public spoke during the hearing. The P&Z decided to continue the hearing until April 16 to give the couple more time to present additional plans to the health department.

Another Cell Tower

Also at the P&Z meeting, Stoecker announced that New Cingular Wireless (AT&T) will hold an informational meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at Canoe Brook Center to discuss a possible 134-foot cell tower at 45 Rose Hill Road on property owned by Paul Santa Barbara.
Branford officials requested an informational meeting be held prior to the company filing any formal applications with the Connecticut Siting Council, which has jurisdiction over cell tower projects.

The cell tower, if approved, would be located in the Branford Hills section of town and would serve both Branford and East Haven. 

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