Orange Planners To Review Big Y Site Plan For Former Xmas Tree Shops Building

ORANGE, Conn. — The Orange Town Plan and Zoning Commission is scheduled to review Big Y Foods Inc.'s site plan and architectural review application Tuesday for a proposed full-service grocery store at 200 Indian River Road, the latest step in the company's plan to redevelop the former Christmas Tree Shops space at Colonial Commons.

The application calls for converting the existing approximately 67,400-square-foot retail building into a full-service grocery store with associated site improvements and an architectural redesign. The proposal is listed under new business on the commission's Aug. 4 agenda. No public hearing is scheduled, and because this is an agenda, no action has yet been taken on the application.

The proposal follows the commission's July 7 meeting, when members opened a public hearing on Big Y's special exception application for the property and continued the matter for additional review. At that meeting, the commission also approved zoning regulation amendments unrelated to the grocery store proposal.

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Big Y announced in January that it plans to open a supermarket at 200 Indian River Road in spring 2027, occupying the former Christmas Tree Shops location. Company officials said the Orange store would encompass about 53,000 square feet and become another location in its growing Connecticut network.

The Springfield, Massachusetts-based supermarket chain has continued expanding its Connecticut footprint in recent years. Big Y currently operates more than 40 stores statewide and has also announced plans for a new location at Westfarms in Farmington, while continuing to renovate and modernize existing Connecticut stores.

In addition to the Big Y application, the commission's agenda includes approval of the July 7 meeting minutes, the zoning enforcement officer's report and routine old and new business. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the High Plains Community Center Cafeteria, 525 Orange Center Road.