Massive Pepsi Warehouse Expansion Approved In Southington: PZC

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Local land-use officials last week joined the Pepsi Generation and approved a massive expansion for a Pepsi distribution center in town.

And, in doing so, the Southington Planning and Zoning Commission Jan. 21 approved plans that will nearly double the warehouse space for Pepsi Cola of Bristol's distribution operation at 110 Corporate Drive, Southington.

The applicant and property owner of the industrial site, Bristol Trust LLC, went before the PZC to expand operations there.

Severino Bovino, a design engineer and vice president of Kratzert, Jones & Associates of Milldale (Southington), represented the applicants before the zoning board,

He said Pepsi currently operates a 71,470 warehousing facility on 9.64 acres at the site, but Bristol Trust has purchased nearly 2 acres nearby allowing for a 65,000-square-foot warehouse expansion.

"To accommodate the proposed addition of 65,000 square feet, the owners purchased multiple properties on West Street," Bovino said.

According to Bovino, the warehouse was first built in 2001, with an expansion in 2008 to its current configuration.

Bovino said this latest addition will require a parking lot reconfiguration at the warehouse, which employs 50 people over two separate shifts.

According to Bovino, the new addition would be about 40 feet high, making it visible, at times, to homes on nearby Churchill Street in Southington.

He said the nearest homes to the property, which is zoned industrial, are 250 feet away.

Because the expansion is an addition to an existing operation, the approved action was for a "site plan modification," which was easily approved, 7-0, by PZC members.

Southington PZC Chairman Robert Hammersley said Pepsi has been a key player in the local business scene and seeing the operation grow was a good sign for the town's commerce.

"I'll just say that this site and this type of business is exactly the type of economic we should be looking for in this area," he said. "I'm proud to have them here and I'm glad they're expanding and I look forward to many more years having this business here and continuing to grow.

"And I appreciate everything they do for our community and look forward to them continuing to be a member of our community "

For the minutes of the Jan. 21 Southington Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

For all plans and documents associated with the 110 Corporate Drive application, click on this link.