Developer proposes commercial plaza on property owned by University of Hartford

A Rhode Island developer is proposing to build a 15,349-square-foot commercial development on land currently owned by the University of Hartford in Bloomfield.

The developer, Estero Holding Company LLC, has an agreement to purchase the roughly 8 acres at 529 Cottage Grove Road and 12 Northwestern Drive, once it receives town approvals, according to a wetlands permit application.

Estero is proposing to build a one-story structure with five tenant spaces, ranging from 4,000 square feet to 2,000 square feet, facing Route 218 (Cottage Grove Road).

The area sits alongside a railroad crossing owned by the state, sandwiched between a commercial shopping plaza with Lowe’s Home Improvement to the east, and Corporate Crossing office park to the west.

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Plans also show a drive-thru ATM, which indicates one of the tenants will be a bank.

Estero is seeking a permit from the Inland Wetlands Commission, as the project would disturb about 2,492 square feet of wetlands.

The plans show a proposed stormwater quality basin and a bio-retention swale.

A public hearing is scheduled to continue at the Inland Wetlands Commission’s next meeting at 7 p.m. May 19.