Stratford To Get Chipotle, New Starbucks After Tax Break Approved

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford is getting a Chipotle and a new Starbucks, after the Town Council approved a tax break for the development. The fast-casual restaurant and the coffee shop will both offer drive-thru and walk-in service.

The new businesses will be located at East Main and Sidney streets, near Interstate 95 and Stop & Shop. The property was previously occupied by three houses, but is was rezoned as a commercial site last year, according to Director of Economic Development Mary Dean. The project will also include a commercial storage facility, Dean said.

Under the tax abatement approved Monday by council members, Chipotle and the storage facility will be 100% tax exempt for three years, and will receive a tax exemption between 33% and 72% for the following four years. The council agenda item for the tax break did not list Starbucks as part of the abatement schedule.

Council members unanimously voted in favor of the abatement, but Stratford resident and former council member Mitzi Antezzo expressed concern about Chipotle being included in the tax break.

"I'm not begrudging new businesses ... but every penny they don't pay, you and I pay," she said in a video of the pre-meeting public forum posted online.

The site is being developed by Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc.

"Our tax assessor did not want to make a guess at what the assessment would be, but you can imagine property that was formerly three residential properties will now be three commercial properties," Dean stated in an email, when asked about how much the project is anticipated to generate in annual taxes for the town once the abatement expires.

The Chipotle is expected to open before the Starbucks, according to Dean, who did not have a definitive timeframe for the project.

A cell tower that will interfere with one of the new buildings will be moved during construction.