Derby unveils commerce park concept plan

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DERBY, Oct 28, 2009 (New Haven Register - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- BJ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The city Tuesday presented a concept plan for a commerce park proposed on the former Department of Transportation property off Division Street.

The city last week received $800,000 from the state to build an access road that would lead to the proposed commerce park and open it up for development. The 1,800-foot road would be built behind BJ's Wholesale Club.

The plans call for five buildings, ranging in size from 6,000-square feet to 50,000 square feet.

Derby Economic Development Director Sheila O'Malley said interested businesses are looking at both manufacturing and office space. Three Valley business owners are interested in locating there, she said.

The concept was prepared by DeCarlo & Doll Inc., Consulting Engineers in Meriden and Tate & Associates LLC. Landscape Architects in Fairfield.

In last week's announcement of the funding for the road, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said, "We want to do everything we can to help create jobs in Derby." She said the state envisions the commerce park becoming "a magnet for research and manufacturing companies."

The project could create 200 jobs, Mayor Anthony Staffieri said. "This would be great for the city of Derby." Businesses that locate in the park would not get a tax break, he said. Landscaping near the adjacent Derby Greenway is in the plans. In addition, an existing sewage pump station would be upgraded as part of the project, Staffieri said.

The access road should be completed by the end of next summer.

City officials have said the $800,000 state Department of Economic and Community Development grant will be combined with $200,000 in city funding to match a $1 million U.S. Department of Commerce grant through the Economic Development Administration.

City officials started applying for the state funding more than 18 months ago.

Although it is being referred to as Derby Commerce Park, the concept study drawing labels it "Olde Birmingham Commerce Park." Staffieri said the name has not been finalized.

Carl Yacobacci, who owns Yacobacci Custom Carpentry in the downtown redevelopment zone and who must leave when the ara is redeveloped, said Tuesday he had viewed the drawing and the site "looks like a possibility of a relocation resource."

Yacobacci said he has been interested in moving his business to that parcel for awhile, because of its "good visibility off of Route 8 and easy access off of Division Street."

Patricia Villers can be reached at pvillers@nhregister.com.

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