Major Auto Repair Chain Coming To Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A South Main Street property that has been pitched for everything ranging from an outdoor sports center to a truck wash now has an approved use and a plan.

The Southington Planning and Zoning Commission twice voted 7-0 at its last meeting in support of both a site plan and special permit to convert the parcel at 876 S. Main St., Plantsville, into a national auto body and repair facility.

It will be an auto repair shop operating as a Caliber Collision franchise.

Caliber was founded in 1997 and, currently, features more than 1,700 centers nationwide offering multiple automotive services. It is based out of Lewisville, Texas, with operations in 41 states.

The property is zoned for business and it is owned by 1300 South Main LLC in Farmington, with the Calito Development Group LLC out of Torrington listed as the applicant.

According to the special permit application, the new, yet-to-be-built business would feature a 12,760-square-foot building/garage and include necessary parking.

Steve Giudice, an engineer with applicant representative Cole Civil + Survey LLC, went before the PZC on Jan. 16 to discuss the project.

He said the site is bordered by the Quinnipiac River and is served by public water and sewers.

According to Giudice, his firm has drafted site plans in the past for that parcel regarding other future uses, including a sports center and a truck washing operation, though neither came to fruition.

He said, in the past, a house on the site was used by the local Elks Club as a haunted house during past Halloween seasons.

The project already had approval from the town's wetlands boar

Matt Eucalitto with Calito Development Group told zoning board members the location would house a "modern, state-of-the-art facility" and employ 25-30 in jobs ranging from paint sprayers to technicians.

A public hearing drew no public comments and it was closed before giving way to the PZC's final vote of approval.

For the minutes of the Jan. 16 Southington Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

For more information on Caliber Collision, click on this link.

For all documents related to 1300 S. Main St. project, click on this link.