New Chipotle Project Endorsed By West Hartford Town Council

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Town counci members last week gave a key thumbs up toward a proposed Chipotle restaurant in town, with zoning officials now handling the application next month.

In two separate, 9-0 votes, the West Hartford Town Council Tuesday, Aug. 22, approved amending the conditions and an application for the town's Special Development District, paving the way for a new 5,000-square-foot building to be built at a local shopping plaza.

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.

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 land-use boards.

On Sept. 6 the West Hartford Plan and Zoning Commission is expected to host a public hearing and possible vote on the project. The PZC meeting is at 7:15 p.m. at West Hartford Town Hall, 50 S. Main St.

At the most recent council meeting Aug. 22, developer representatives outlined the project's parciculars to local leaders, offering a clearer picture of what will be built.

Attorney Kari Olsen of Murtha Cullinan in Hartford, representatives of the developer, introduced several architects and engineers and other development players before the council.

All discussed specific aspects of the project, such as location, dimensions and other technical features associated with the development.

Olsen said the plaza is currently at 95 percent capacity and past special development district modifications have allowed that plaza to expand, renovate and evolve.

"We have made great progress in improving Prospect Plaza in the past decade," Olsen said. "It has given the property owner the ability to really market this to a better, more robust option."

She said with the plaza now nearly fully occupied, there's room on the southeast corner of the parcel to add to it, which is where the Chipotle building will go.

"As we know now, that is just a sea of parking spaces," Olsen said.

Development there is within the town's plan of conservation and development, which is encouraging busineses development to continue as a means to add to the tax base.

No members from the public spoke on the proposal, though the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce did submit a letter endorsing the project.

"The Chamber believes this would be a welcome addition to the town. We are excited to see new investment in a property that, until recently, had gone decades without improvements. The recent successful openings of Floor & Décor and Planet Fitness are excellent examples of new investments," wrote West Hartford Chamber of Commerce President & Chief Executive Officer Christopher Conway to the council, also alluding to recent new clients at the site.

Council members, outside of offering up some concerns about trash collection, were enthusiastic about the proposal, saying that area has improved in recent years.

"This is an exciting area and I'm really thrilled to have the investment of this building and Chipotle, more specifically," said West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor.

For the minutes of the Aug. 22 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For all documents relative to the Chipotle building application, click on this link.

From July 28: 'New 'Chipotle' Planned In West Hartford Plaza'