Ansonia’s Farrel Corporation is closer to a new home in the city after developer Robert Scinto’s proposal for a building on Waterview Drive won approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday.
“Thank you so much,” Scinto said after the board made its unanimous decision, following a public hearing in City Hall.
Scinto had asked the panel to vote on the complex Tuesday so it could be built more quickly. If it is not completed in as early as nine months, the Farrel Corp. may not agree to move in and Scinto said he would have to withdraw the plans.
“I put a very big effort into this,” Scinto said before the vote.
Farrel is currently in downtown Ansonia, where it has been shrinking its operations.
The 94,000-square-foot building will include 60,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 34,000 square feet of office space on nine acres, at a cost of $10 million. It will be made of limestone and have green reflective glass, and the roof will be white to reflect heat.
“Normally this is a metal building, but we really wanted to make this building very special. It will look like a classic office building. It won’t look like a warehouse,” Scinto said.
He added that Farrel would lease the building but has not yet decided to do so. He has said Farrell is looking for a new building tailored to its needs. The company was purchased by the H.F. Machinery Group, a division of L. Possehl & Co. of Lubeck, Germany earlier this year.
The company manufactures a $1.5 million machine that converts raw rubber into mats and tires, according to James Swift, an engineer and landscape architect.
Scinto sufficiently met the concerns of neighbors and the zoning panel, said Chairman Anthony Pogoda.
Neighbors spoke in favor of the complex but asked for more foliage to block the view and for the city to address drainage issues at the nearby Rivendell Condo complex.
Rivendell condo association President William McGuire said his board and Scinto have worked together to resolve any differences.
“The residents of the community trust and respect the Scintos and the many projects they do in the city and we’re happy he is the one constructing the new building,” McGuire said. Scinto has assured condo residents the building will not affect the complex.
Ann Walsh, of Coram Road, whose home will be 200 feet from the building, said Scinto “makes beautiful buildings,” and requested a buffer of trees.
“I would like to see some foliage,” she said.
