Public Hearing on Costco Proposal Draws 100 in Branford

Costco representatives told about 100 people attending a public hearing at Branford High School Thursday night that their proposal once fully built would generate $850,000 in annual tax revenue for the town.

Additionally, the plans are projected to add 205 new jobs in town. But despite those developments many in Branford are unconvinced and spoke in opposition to a proposed Costco in town, the New Haven Register reports.

“The type of retail development that is proposed by the applicants is simply not the type of economic development that Branford needs,” said one resident, according to WTNH News 8.

Town officials said Thursday night that they have received 144 letters with 92 in support of a Costco and 51 against.

A group called Branford Citizens for Responsible Development addressed the Planning and Zoning Board expressing traffic concerns, the Register reports. One speaker noted that the Milford Costco had 192 calls for service which will drain town services.

But another speaker indicated that Branford really wants a Costco because the Facebook page called “Bring Costco to Branford Now” has almost 2,000 likes.

Costco officials say if they receive approval it will take one year of construction time for the project to be completed.

Read the full New Haven Register story here.

Project details

Costco has submitted plans with the Planning and Zoning Commission to construct a 158,000 square-foot store on 44.7 acres near Exit 56 off Interstate 95, the New Haven Register has reported.

According to plans filed with the town, Costco wants to build a 158,070-square-foot building.

The 44-acre parcel includes two existing buildings, a shellfishing processing facility and an industrial warehouse building, but both uses would remain the same, the Register reports.

Read the Register’s full story here.

Opposition

Opposition to Costco has been building as a group of Stony Creek residents and some local Democrats oppose the plans, the Branford Seven has reported.

RTM members Josh Brooks and Peter Hentschel oppose the Costco plans, the Seven reports.

In January an email went out to some Branford residents including numerous Democrats entitled “10 Reasons Costco Doesn’t Belong in Branford, the Branford Seven reports.

In the email it states Costco would hurt the town’s economic and that the jobs pay poorly, but the Branford Seven notes Costco is known to have one of the highest wages and benefits for a warehouse club.

Cosgrove has long been a support of developing the Exit 56 corridor, the Seven reports.

Read the full Branford Seven article here.