Vacant Meriden plaza to be rebuilt under Dunkin’ franchise owner’s plan

MERIDEN — Batista Firms Inc., owner of the city’s Dunkin’ franchise, has filed an software to redevelop a vacant plaza on South Broad Road. 

In accordance to strategies submitted with the city’s Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, Batista desires to transform the present Dunkin’ on South Broad Street into a company headquarters and build a new travel-as a result of Dunkin’ and industrial constructing to the north. 

Fee users listened to particulars of the prepare previously this month right before tabling the discussion pending far more data.

The plan will involve 5 parcels on South Broad Road amounting to 2.6 acres whole. Legal professional Dennis Ceneviva, who represented Batista, told commission members the intent is to develop a new Dunkin’ and a 37,000 sq. foot business developing for an undetermined user.  

“The houses that are section of the application and shown on the project’s current ailments survey, 43 and 51 South Broad St., are owned by the applicant and the houses have previously been demolished,” claimed Metropolis Planner Paul Dickson. “The software is currently in front of the IWWC and was considered a summary software (no sizeable effects) and tabled because of to statutory time needs and a couple of team responses.”

In accordance to Ceneviva, there are no wetlands or watercourses on the parcel, having said that there are forested wetlands to the east. City employees experienced requested more information and facts regarding the set up of a retaining wall, the design sequence and a apparent effects statement from the soil scientist. 

There is an current retaining wall at the rear of Dunkin’ and Batista proposes to make a retaining wall across the rear and fill concerning the two high factors, Ceneviva mentioned.

Austin Dowd, civil engineer at SLR Consulting, instructed fee members the parcel is truly a compilation of 6 qualities due to the fact there is a compact sliver of land to the north that does not have an deal with. Dowd reported for this challenge these parcels will be put together into three parcels and the boundaries will continue to be the exact. 

 The present business home will be demolished and the pavement to the rear will be eliminated and restored with topsoil and indigenous seed mix, according to town information. There is a brook that feeds into Meetinghouse Brook with most storm drainage heading to the wetlands. The site plans have been modified for each remarks from the condition Department of Transportation regarding the main access drives.

Batista will return prior to the IWWC on July 6 with an effects assertion from the soil scientist and a floodplain permit. 

The undertaking is related to yet another professional plaza Batista developed on the city’s east facet that contains a Dunkin’ drive-by way of and a Jake’s Wayback Burger and a health-related business developing. 

Commercial development on the Route 5 corridor in Meriden is challenged since of shallow great deal sizes and wetlands on the east side, city officers have reported. Projects these as the Greenback Normal retailer essential the acquisition of a number of residences and grading the lot. But the corridor continues to be a precedence for the metropolis and the Dunkin’ and freshly reworked Atlantis Foods Mart are website traffic turbines.

“The redevelopment along just one of our main corridors will have a optimistic impact on the metropolis,” said city Financial Progress Director Joseph Feest. “Many merchants are hunting for large targeted visitors counts and this spot would in shape in properly into that group. You have a D&D and a recently remodeled gas station in that section together with a motor vehicle dealership. We search forward to Mr. Batista’s strategies  once authorized.”

Reporter Mary Ellen Godin can be arrived at at [email protected].