Subaru Unveils Proposed Dealership

The architect for the proposed new Subaru dealership in Branford said owner Bob Alvine couldn’t attend Thursday’s public hearing with the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) because he was meeting with Subaru officials in Japan.

“I designed the building with Mr. Alvine,” architect John Mathews of Madison told the commissioners. ​“He really wants to make the town proud of this facility,” he said. ​“The existing one is overflowing.”

The new facility, pictured above, would be built on two lots across the street from the existing dealership at 150 N. Main St. Two buildings at 155 and 165 N. Main would be torn down and replaced by the new facility. An office building at 175 N. Main St. would remain. The properties are all owned by Alvine, president and general manager of the dealership, through his Premier Realty Holdings LLC. 

Alvine, who opened the dealership in 2000, began purchasing the properties across the street about 16 years ago.

Alvine previously told the Eagle the building would exceed 30,000 square feet, and would include a large service drive-through lane, express service, more than 30 service bays and a Subaru heritage museum.

The hearing will continue at the December IWC meeting at Canoe Brook Senior Center.

Finding a New Home

“We can’t expand on that existing site so we needed to find a new home,” said engineer Michael Harkin, of Harkin Engineering in Killingworth. ​“Mr. Alvine would love to stay in Branford, that’s why he purchased those properties.”

Harkin said the three properties at 155, 165 and 175 N. Main tally about 8.2 acres. He said 3.82 acres — 46 percent — of the project site would be impervious surface, which he said is well below the allowed percentage. Impervious surface includes the buildings, pavement, sidewalks and parking areas. He said there would be an increase of 1.43 acres of impervious surface over current conditions.

Harkin said there are wetlands on the rear portion of the site. He answered several questions that were raised by the commissioners during the recent site walk. Harkin discussed stormwater drainage proposals and said there would be less stormwater runoff than currently occurs.

“Right now there are no storm drainage structures on the site,” he said, explaining they will add catch basins for rainwater, and install an underground detention system to reduce stormwater runoff. He said about 80 percent of surface water will be diverted to the underground system, and the remaining 20 percent will flow toward the wetlands to maintain their wet condition.

Harkin presented four scenarios for drainage near the wetlands in response to a previous request from the commission for more options. The commission and Harkin agreed on which option would best suit the wetlands.

He said initial plans called for using the property at 175 N. Main for the dealership and offices, but that the fire marshall said there would not be enough access for emergency responders. Harkin said those plans were scrapped and the new plans were drawn up, allowing 360 degree access for fire trucks and emergency vehicles.

“We had numerous meetings with town officials before we even submitted this application,” Harkin said.

He said he will add the snow removal plan before the next session of the hearing.

There were no comments from the public.

Alvine also owns Premier Kia of Branford; and Subaru and Volvo dealerships in Watertown.

The Kia dealership, currently located at 165 N. Main St., will soon be moving operations to 205 N. Main St., the site of a former Dodge dealership. Alvine received approval last year to renovate the building for his Kia dealership.

Regulations, and Other Issues

The IW commission will continue discussing the use of third-party consultants at the next meeting. IWC chair Peter Bassermann handed out a preliminary draft of the issues Thursday and asked the commissioners to respond to him by e‑mail. The draft will eventually be sent to the town attorney.

Bassermann raised the issue of third-party consultants in September . He said it’s important to clarify the use of consultants before another complex project application like Costco comes before the IWC.

The commission held an executive session Thursday to discuss four lawsuits that were filed regarding the new IWC regulations.

Carolyn W. Kone, a land use attorney with Brenner, Salzmann & Wallman LLP in New Haven, attended the executive session. The law firm, along with attorney Bill Aniskovich, represents the town.

The IWC voted in August to put the new regulations on hold for six months while discussions with the parties took place.

Four developers filed appeals after the IWC adopted new regulations in May. The six-month moratorium on the new regulations also put a six-month stay on court proceedings and allows the parties to continue to discuss the issues. The developers who are appealing the new IWC regulations include Charles Weber, Al Secondino, Michael Belfonti, Rita Ann Sachs and Alex Vigliotti of Vigliotti Construction Co.

Weber and Secondino, through their 595 Corporate Circle corporation, own a 16.5 acre parcel, which is part of the 44-acre Planned Development District (PDD) at Exit 56. Plans called for six commercial buildings on the Weber-Secondino site. Weber and Secondino have an option to purchase a 22.36-acre site owned by Wayne Cooke and the Cooke family corporations where Costco proposed to build.

It has been speculated that developers of the Costco commercial complex at Exit 56 will re-file their applications. After months of hearings, they withdrew their applications in April, shortly before the IWC was scheduled to vote on the projects.

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