Wendy's Rebuild Plans Submitted To West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD/FARMINGTON, CT — More than a year after getting necessary approvals in Farmington, plans to knock down and rebuild the Wendy's across from the Westfarms Mall are now before West Hartford.

Like the popular shopping mall nearby, the Wendy's fast food restaurant across the street from the mall sits on a parcel of land that is both in Farmington and West Hartford.

This means approval from both towns' land-use boards is required.

While the Farmington Planning and Zoning Commission approved the 331 South Road project back in September 2022, West Hartford had yet to take up the matter — until now.

But West Hartford, whose land-use office is chock full of development projects, requires an extra layer of approval in the form of the West Hartford Town Council.

That's because, for those plans to go forward, the town must amend the special development district to allow for construction to proceed.

And, according to West Hartford's charter, the town council must do that and then refer the matter to the West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission.

Tuesday, the West Hartford Town Council voted 9-0 to accept the application; schedule a public hearing for the Feb. 27 council meeting; and, then, refer the project to the necessary land-use committees, boards and commissions.

The PZC has the final say before the old-school, 1980s-looking Wendy's site can come down and be replaced with a modern eatery with a drive-through.

For now, the plans before the town are from "Inspired by Opportunity LLC," which is the lessee of 331 South Road, Farmington/West Hartford and it plans to build a new, modern box-style 2,680-square-foot Wendy's by the mall.

Essentially, the building footprint would be in West Hartford, with much of the parking in Farmington, though the entire project needs approval from both towns, with Farmington already saying "yes."

While the current Wendy's can seat 108 diners, the new facility will only be able to seat 40, though the addition of a drive-through, which the current Wendy's doesn't have, is expected to help keep revenue flowing.

The current restaurant is also 3,220 square feet, with the new structure planned to be significantly smaller and more modern.

For a full project narrative about the Wendy's construction project, click on this link.

For the minutes of the Jan. 9 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

From Sept. 23, 2022: 'Farmington/West Hartford Wendy's Plans Major Makeover'