Date: Fri 04-Oct-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

business-Danbury-Square-Box

Full Text:

P&Z Amends Rules For Industrial Setbacks

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has amended its rules to reduce the

minimum front setback distance for industrial buildings in M-1 (industrial)

zones, at the request of an industrial firm which plans to move to Newtown.

The rule change follows a request from John Allen, president of Danbury Square

Box Company, Inc, to relax P&Z rules on factory placements on building lots in

M-1 zones. P&Z members conducted a September 26 public hearing on the topic.

The change will allow factories to be placed a minimum of 100 feet back from

the street. The minimum setback distance requirement had been 200 feet.

Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker said reducing the setback

distance in the town's sole M-1 zone on the north side of Barnabas Road

affects only a handful of industrial properties there. She said the change

would have no effect on residential properties.

Mr Allen, also of Allen Real Estate Enterprises, LLC, said "We look forward

with great anticipation to coming to Newtown." The 90-year-old box company

hopes to start work on its project in the spring, he said. Much landscaping is

planned for the parcel, he said, noting the box company will work to create an

attractive facility.

Rick Labash, a member of the town's Economic Development Commission (EDC),

said the town should welcome the box company to the community. The town hopes

to provide companies with a wonderful business environment, he said. The

zoning amendment proposed by Danbury Square Box will have a limited local

effect, he said.

K. Michael Snyder, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Newtown, said the

chamber supports the zoning rule amendment. The Barnabas Road area is intended

for such industrial development, he said.

Mr Allen said the box company now employs 22 people and eventually would like

to employ about 50 people.

P&Z member Stephen Koch asked Mr Allen why the box company didn't seek a

variance from the zoning regulations from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)

for the change in the front building setback distance.

Mr Allen responded the company doesn't actually have a "hardship" in seeking a

variance, as is required by the ZBA.

The Danbury Square Box Company, Inc, a manufacturer of corrugated cartons and

gift boxes, purchased the land in Hawleyville Corporate Park last summer. It

plans to move its manufacturing, warehousing and office operations from

Danbury to Hawleyville.

The planned new 40,000-square-foot facility will expand the total size of the

company's operations, said John Allen, company president. The company now

operates out of 27,000 square feet of space in two Danbury locations.

"We are built out," Mr Allen said of his firm's lack of expansion space in

Danbury. The Hawleyville site also will provide the company with space for

possible future expansions beyond 40,000 square feet, he said.

Under his grandfather's direction, The Danbury Square Box Company started

business in 1906. Mr Allen's two sons, Jack and Mike, work for the company.

The company began looking for a new location last fall and found the land in

Hawleyville Corporate Park. The parcel the company purchased is on the western

end of the industrial park, not far from Exit 9 of Interstate-84.

The location is appealing because of its proximity to Exit 9, according to Mr

Allen said. The site is intended to provide quick access to Waterbury,

Bridgeport and other cities.

Barnabas Realty Group of Danbury sold Lot 8, consisting of 14.5 acres, in the

industrial park to Allen Real Estate Enterprises, LLC, of Danbury for

$370,000.

The Danbury Square Box Company is working with the Connecticut Development

Authority for financing in connection with its move to Newtown.

Danbury Square Box Company will join Curtis Packaging and Union-Camp Corp. as

container firms doing business in Newtown.

Mr Allen noted that The Danbury Square Box Company isn't a direct competitor

with either Curtis Packaging or Union-Camp. Union-Camp supplies Danbury Square

Box with raw materials. Danbury Square Box then supplies cartons that it

manufactures to Curtis Packaging.

Besides manufacturing corrugated containers, Danbury Square Box is in the

business of "customer fulfillment." In that line, it stores and mails consumer

items to the customers of various other companies.

Mr Allen said he plans to return soon to the P&Z with site plans for the

factory construction project.