Subaru dealership to move to larger, ‘more suitable’ spot in Norwalk
NORWALK — The Garavel Subaru dealership will be picking up shop and moving to a “more suitable” location further down the road, according to owner Paul Garavel.
On Tuesday, the Zoning Commission unanimously approved a plan that will see Garavel Subaru build a brand-new, 45,506 squarefoot dealership across three lots on Main Avenue.
Garavel said the dealership, which has called Norwalk home since 2002, has outgrown its current location on Tindall Avenue, across the street from the Route 7 Connector’s northbound Exit 2 offramp.
The new dealership will replace the former Ethan Allen building, a 16,000 square-foot building at 512 Main Ave.; the former Best Friends pet hotel, a vacant 35,000 square-foot at 528 Main Ave.; and an abandoned lot that used to house a car wash at 516 Main Ave.
“We’ve found that this site works best for us. Our current site is very small and will not permit the type of activity we’d like to have on this (new) site,” he said.
Due to size restrictions, Garavel said his dealership has been renting parcels of land off-site for storage purposes for years. With a new, larger facility, his operation could be consolidated “all in one location.”
Another factor in the move is a possible expansion. The dealership currently employs about 60 people, but could add another 40 after the move, Garavel said.
“We look forward to remaining a member of the community in Norwalk. We find that doing business in Norwalk is great, and the community has been very great and we’re happy to be a part of it,” he said.
Plans call for the demolition of the two existing structures on the three Main Avenue lots, which will be replaced by a twostory dealership that will include an auto repair bay, three car lifts and a second-floor parking deck for employees.
As for what will happen to the Tindall Avenue property following the relocation, Garavel said he was “unsure” about its future.
“We currently rent that space, so we aren’t sure what the property owner plans to do,” he said.
Though the Zoning Commission approved Garavel’s application for a new location, they did so with one condition — asking that the state re-examine whether or not left turns should be permitted into the proposed dealership.
Chairman Louis Schulman said the condition is based on safety and traffic concerns harbored by the commission.
“About 60 percent of the people visiting the site will be making left turns onto the site, and I’m wondering if there’s anything that can be done to reduce the number of left turns there,” Schulman said.
While the condition is not binding, Director Steve Kleppin said it will at least put the issue on the state’s radar.
The city’s Traffic Authority also raised concerns about delivery trucks potentially queuing on Main Avenue, which is known for its traffic during peak hours.
But, according to Garavel, most car deliveries will take place during early morning hours when there aren’t many cars on the road.