SOUTHINGTON — Town planners approved a planned industrial development this week on Burritt Street that will house a concrete company and a sprinkler company.
The plan is one of several industrial developments proposed or approved for Southington recently.
Edward Reinhard, of South End Concrete, intends to build a 9,000-square-foot building at 35 Burritt St. that will provide space for his business as well as a sprinkler company.
Sev Bovino, of Kratzert, Jones & Associates, a local civil engineering firm representing Reinhard, said the concrete company bought land to accommodate the building.
“He’s been looking for a site like this for years and finally found it,” Bovino said.
Earlier this year, Reinhard successfully requested a zone change for the property from residential to industrial. The town’s economic development coordinator Lou Perillo, an advocate of industrial space in town, supported the change.
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the plan on Tuesday night. Peter Santago, a PZC member, said he was glad to see industrial companies expanding in town.
“These kind of small businesses that help the town and do things are usually very good neighbors,” he said. “We’d like to get more of these.”
Last month, the commission approved the subdivision of a Curtiss Street property for industrial use. Local developers proposed up to 10 lots on the land that could go to small shops or companies needing more space.
Richard Munson, a local property owner, and Swavek Olchanowski, owner of CT Masons, submitted the plan and said there’s strong demand for industrial space in town but little space available. While there are large factories such as the former Pratt & Whitney plant, Munson said it’s harder to subdivide for companies looking for smaller amounts of space.
Munson owns an industrial building at 172 Lazy Lane with tenants including construction companies, machine shops, tool distributors and mechanical contractors. He’s envisioning a similar mix of companies at the lots planned for the Curtiss Street property. Proposed buildings in that industrial subdivision range from 7,000 square feet to over 20,000 square feet.
Town planners are also considering approval for a 12,900-square-foot building on Spring Street. Previous approval has lapsed.
Planners said they’re waiting on approval for the project from the Conservation Commission before they’ll take up the matter and tabled it Tuesday.
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