Wayne Cooke Files New Lawsuit In Failed Branford Costco Plan

BRANFORD, CT - The owner of Hilltop Orchards in Branford has filed a new lawsuit against town officials in Branford seeking a trial and monetary damages over the failed Costco development plans.

Wayne Cooke has filed a civil lawsuit against Inland Wetlands officials.

In his lawsuit, Cooke is seeking: a trial by jury; monetary damages; attorney's fees and costs; and "such other relief as may pertain law as equity."

The suit is alleging "violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and a civil conspiracy to violate plaintiff’s civil rights."

It isn't the first time Cooke has sued town officials over the Costco plan - he took former First Selectman Unk DaRos to court after Costco pulled out of the project in 2011.

In his lawsuit, Cooke now says that soon after the current administration took office, a local real estate developer tried to renewed negotiations to place a Costco at the location near Exit 56.

But after a period of time, once again, Cooke claims Costco officials tired of Branford officials, from both the current and past administrations, trying to derail the project and lost interest, again.

Cooke said the Branford officials' actions caused him to "sustain damages" and that the town acted with "malice" towards him.

The conceptual plans for Costco submitted years ago called for developing about 44 acres of land between Route 1 and East Industrial Road off I-95. The proposal includes five properties.

Plans called for a 158,070 square-foot Costco warehouse on about 22 acres owned by Cooke and the Cooke family. Six commercial buildings were slated for construction on 16.5 acres owned by Charles E. Weber Jr. and Al Secondino. One building was proposed on a 1.73 acre site owned trustee Peter G. Mandragouras. Other property owners are involved in the PDD.

Costco announced in February 2017 that it was no longer interested in Branford.

Cooke has also created a website https://branfordfraud.com/ to detail developments in the ongoing fight to bring Costco to town. He has also placed “Where’s Costco” and "Branford Fraud" and various other signs around town.