A Wallingford vehicle hauling business has plans for a big expansion, but neighbors are concerned that the construction and new location could mean big disruptions.
“We’re kind of out of room here. We need a lot more office space. We’re out of room and just looking for an upgrade,” said East Side Auto Transport general manager Grant Kolton.
Kolton said the business will construct a 10,000-square foot building with garage bays to hold new, used, and auctioned cars, and office space on Thorpe Avenue.
East Side Auto Transport brings 2,000 vehicles a year from Main to North Carolina on double-decker 18-wheel car carriers, Kolton told NBC Connecticut. He said the company plans to keep its current location on North Plains Industrial Road.
“There’s going to be maintenance, stuff like that and there’s going to be nice office space for us,” explained Kolton.
Wallingford’s Planning and Zoning Commission recently gave the project the green light, with several conditions. The area is prone to flooding, so a drainage pond is required according to Town Planner Kacie Costello. She said the company will also be barred from washing or doing maintenance on vehicles at their new location. East Side Auto Transport has agreed to plant extra trees to serve as a buffer between the property and homes across the street.
“I’m not really happy about the noise and construction and my baby sleeping,” said Justina Darragh.
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The new mother bought her home on Thorpe Avenue last year. Darragh lives a few houses down so she’ll have to look to her left to see the facility, but she knows noise has no property lines.
“It makes me actually really upset because we didn’t know about it,” said Darragh who worried about property values.
The property sits directly in front of Saeed Mustafa’s home.
“It’s going to be an issue for me too. Normally, I just pull in and out safely, right? There’s going to be safety issue if they’re parking trucks there,” said Mustafa.
The town planner said trucks will only be allowed to enter from Research Parkway, which sits adjacent to the other end of the property.
Thorpe Avenue, a popular place to take walks could be impacted by the sights and sounds of construction. People up and down the street are voicing their concerns.
“I’m concerned because I walk every day on this road and the reason why I chose this road is because it’s so quiet,” said Christina Wessels who works nearby and walks on Thorpe Avenue every day.
Other homeowners said they are worried about the noise of the trucks and potential pollution once the business is up and running. The town planner said the property is required to remain 50 percent open space and will have 115 foot landscape buffer along Thorpe Avenue. East Side Auto Transport says it’s committed to being a good neighbor and has agreed to add extra trees along the street.
“Our trucks are very quiet, they’re all brand new. They don’t make much noise,” Kolton said. “The strictest standards for emissions go with these trucks, so they don’t smoke either.”
Right now, the town collects just over $6,000 in property taxes, but once developed, the taxes are expected to triple.
“Every little bit adds up, every little account helps. Wallingford has over $4 billion grant list so this is a nice little addition to that area of Research Parkway,” said Wallingford’s Tax Assessor Shelby Jackson.
Jackson estimated East Side Auto Transport will pay $20,000 in property taxes once the project is finished, a small figure compared to Wallingford’s top tax payer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, which moved out from the other side of Research Parkway last year.
“There’s really no comparison. I mean Bristol Myers, they were paying in excess of $2 million a year in taxes,” Jackson said.
Kolton said the company hopes to add more jobs because once it’s able to expand it should take on additional contracts. Right now, it employs 10 people in its office.
