Chipotle Restaurant Greenlighted By West Hartford PZC

WEST HARTFORD, CT — As expected, the town's top land-use board easily approved a plan to build a new Chipotle restaurant in town.

Now, burrito lovers can look forward to when they can indulge their cravings.

At its last meeting on Sept. 6, the West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission voted 5-0 in support of a special permit application to build the restaurant building at 245 Prospect Ave., which will include a drive-through as well as commercial space for two more tenants.

The vote officially paves the way for a new 5,000-square-foot building to be built at the shopping plaza there.

Prospect Plaza Improvements LLC's plan for 245 Prospect Ave. will include that building, which is mostly slated to be occupied by a Chipotle fast-casual Mexican eatery, but also two other commercial tenants, likely retail and/or restaurant uses.

The owner/applicant is based out of Elmsford, N.Y., according to the special permit application.

Last month, the West Hartford Town Council endorsed the Chipotle project as well.

Because the Chipotle project is taking place in the special development district, it had to be reviewed by the town council, per West Hartford's charter, before being addressed by the PZC.

In two separate, 9-0 votes Aug. 22, the council approved two motions regarding the application and its placement in the special development district, necessary actions prior to last week's PZC vote.

PZC approval was contingent on multiple conditions, including that the drive-through communications system abide by local noise ordinances.

In addition, the drive-through cannot be open from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., according to the approved motion.

The vote came after the PZC closed a public hearing on the application.

The applicant will come back to the PZC in late 2025 for a look-back check to determine their compliance with the approved permit.

For the minutes of the Sept. 6 West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission meeting as well as project details, click on this link.

For more information on Chipotle, click on this link.

From Aug. 27: 'New Chipotle Project Endorsed By West Hartford Town Council'