The three candidates vying for the First Selectman’s job, which comes with a $101,000 a year salary, have strong views on where large-scale commercial development should go in Branford.
Republican Jamie Cosgrove is pushing for a new Costco at Exit 56 off I‑95. Democrat Andy Campbell is pushing for multi-commercial development at Exit 53 off I‑95. Campbell says 23 acres lie ready for development as the Amtrak Bridge expansion nears completion.
Independent Voters candidate Jacey Wyattt has proposed development in all parts of town and says there is no reason why Branford can’t multi-task.
What about in-between exits 53 and 56? What about in the center of Branford, near Town Hall and the Town Green?
In a press release issued last week, Campbell said he plans to “to promote the repurposing of old industrial sites near the center of town such as Atlantic Wire and MIF, the Malleable Iron Fittings Company (MIF). “
“Redevelopment of these properties will expand the downtown business district from Main Street and the Green down to the river and train station and enhance property values from Montowese Street to Kirkham Street. This will not merely protect our downtown, but enrich it by bringing new investment dollars, solidifying the core,” Campbell argued.
In materials produced during the campaign, Wyatt has proposed numerous building projects, including a zoo, a golf course, and an 18th century “Branford Village.” She said she wants the town to have its own university (to be named Branford University, of course) to be located in downtown Branford. She says it would be near a mix-use live in community “that triples the amount of square feet of residential, retail and office space…”
“I have already met with developers who are interested in investing in these properties and discussed their innovative ideas for improving these sites and enhancing their value,” Campbell said.
Atlantic Wire
Mary Johnson Photo
In a subsequent interview, Campbell elaborated on his ideas for Atlantic Wire, which was purchased by Kevin O’Neill, the president of the Cherry Hill Glass company, in January, 2011. The once-contaminated Atlantic Wire buildings sit on 8.3 acres on the Branford River. O’Neill purchased the property for about $850,000.
O’Neill was not specific about development back in 2011. People familiar with his thoughts said he might consider retail, office and restaurant use. O’Neill received unanimous approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) to use 40,000 square feet of the rambling 158,000 square-foot building for production and storage of windows and skylights. It will serve as an additional site for the glass company he’s been operating since 1992.
Now Campbell envisions a move toward housing, high-end residential housing to overlook the Branford River. Atlantic Wire is located in an industrial zone known as IG-1, one of the town’s oldest zones. So its zoning would have to change.
Campbell told the Eagle that he expects the town to receive a proposal that would combine hig- end residential apartments and commercial establishments for the Atlantic Wire site. He said a key part of the design, one which outgoing First Selectman Unk DaRos has sought for a long time, was the re-alignment of the tight and sometimes unruly intersection at Maple and Montowese Streets and Pine Orchard Road.
“I took a shine to this proposal because it is appropriate to the neighborhood and because it would involve changing a difficult intersection,” he said.
He said over the last six weeks O’Neill and a developer “have put together a comprehensive plan for that development. The proposal includes the re-alignment of the intersection.”
He said a housing and commercial development at the Atlantic Wire site “increases foot traffic and goes to and from the Green. It extends the core of the downtown business district.”
“It will also increase property values. Couple that with some appropriate development at MIF and a developer is working on that and what we would have is an extended triangle for downtown business that will extend to the railroad station.”
He said he envisions a time when the Shoreline Greenway Trail, which lies on the northern edge of the Tabor property, connects to Montowese Street and downtown Branford. “It is time to turn the chapter and move forward.”
Atlantic Wire, a fixture for decades in the town, closed its doors after it went bankrupt. It was later charged with federal crimes and state violations in its systemic pollution of the Branford River. The state and the town have been involved in years of clean-up and restoration of the site.
As for the MIF property, which lies across the way from the town’s railroad station, Campbell said a developer is working on the undeveloped sections of buildings no longer in use. He did not want to identify the developer at this time, he said. Nor did he describe the nature of the development but he said it would have a significant impact on the town’s grand list of properties.
Over the years there have been numerous suggestions for this area, including high rise condos and a waterfront area with a boardwalk.
In a recent campaign debate, Cosgrove said, “I don’t believe Exit 53 is right for development right now.” He said down the road perhaps. “I think Exit 56 is right for Costco. They approached us.” He did not divulge the land that Costco, the large discount warehouse store, is looking at. Costco’s previous plans for Branford and for Guilford did not fly. So far no formal application has been made to the Inland Wetlands Commission, a developer’s first stop.
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