Black Friday looms
Balancing development, congestion a challenge
In a year that saw bankruptcy closures of a number of national chains like Toys R Us in Norwalk and Danbury, one could not help wondering what it is retailers know that has many of them opening new locations in southwestern Connecticut.
As it turns out, some of those new arrivals know a lot about you, and the likelihood of your coming by to buy off their shelves, rather than clicking through Amazon to make a purchase from home or work.
Monroe officials are looking to boost their image in the business community.
Following a series of changes on the economic development and planning and zoning staff, town officials are looking at how they can reshape and improve their business landscape, which has in past years been made up primarily of shopping centers and mom-and-pop shops.
“We think it’s going to be a great run,” said Ray Giovanni, head of the Chamber of Commerce and newly appointed chair of the Economic Development Commission.
The town has served as the somewhat underdeveloped midpoint between Shelton and Trumbull for years, with Newtown up Route 25. Along with the shift in EDC leadership, Monroe’s planning and zoning commission received a fresh face in Rick Schultz, who for 22 years helped guide development projects that built up Shelton’s grand list.
Where the duo will take Monroe’s business scene will be a work in progress.
“We’re still trying to identify that ourselves to meet the expectations of our residents and constituents,” Giovanni said. “It is a challenge, but with Rick’s expertise and guidance, I think we can work our way through it and try and make a great go of creating the great type of environment that people will appreciate.”
Facing the hurdles
Monroe has long lived up to its reputation as a small New England town lined with mom-and-pop businesses. While officials want to keep their neighborhoods and rural setting, they also want to develop a business culture that will help boost the tax base.
Monroe has lagged in development in the past due in large part to infrastructures issues, officials said, including a lack of adequate sewage systems.
“When you talk about the large projects now, you we have to discuss what kind of septic system needs to be able to sustain that underdeveloped parcel,” Giovanni said.
There has also been plenty of community pushback when anything adds to the congestion along the Route 25 and 111 corridors.
That was the concern last year, when Monroe was supposed to see a new Walmart supercenter and adjacent shopping plaza that was poised to bring 100,000 square feet of retail before the plan fell through.
“We continue to work on processes and working with planning and zoning on regulations,” said First Selectman Ken Kellogg. “The commission has been very active in being open to revisions in regulations and evaluation.”
Undeveloped opportunity
Though development hasn’t been on par with neighbors, that has presented Monroe with opportunities that have already caught the interest of developers.
While congestion on main roads remains an issue that officials are trying to alleviate, those same roads provide the kind of accessibility larger companies are seeking.
Last year, Axel Plastics, a manufacturer of external and internal mold releases and process aid additives, opened a 40,000-square-foot facility at 50 Cambridge Drive, off Pepper Street.
The company had operated in New York, but opted to set up in Monroe for several reasons, including the potential for future development.
“We felt Monroe had a place to offer us that accommodated everything,” said CEO Frank Axel. “The cost of property was in our budget and the piece of property enabled us to build the initial size factory in addition to having the ability to expand almost 100 percent in the future on the property that we now sit on.”
The potential labor pool was also another selling point.
Regional view
The opportunity for future development hasn’t been lost on members of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council.
With the shift in EDC and the planning and zoning office, both former and current president Mickey Herbert and Dan Onofrio see potential in Monroe’s business scene.
“The reality is a lot of towns and cities have economic development corporations and organization structures in their town,” Onofrio said. “A lot of chambers are starting to put a little more effort behind economic development in terms of resources, you see it in Connecticut and I think Monroe is ... following suit.”
Herbert also said he saw potential gains. “I would love if they would see fit to become part of the BRBC because we have economic development people on our staff that would love to support new economic development in Monroe for sure,” Herbert said.