Naugatuck Manufacturing Company Files Expansion Proposal
Unimetal Manufacturing filed paperwork calling for a 100,000-square-foot expansion to a Naugatuck building.
A manufacturing business located near the Naugatuck Industrial Park has filed a proposal with the Land Use Office that calls for three additions and over 100,000 square feet of added floor space.
Thomaston-based Unimetal Surface Finishing LLC filed paperwork last month for a proposed expansion of its property at 15 East Waterbury Road, which is the location of the former Donham Craft business.
According to the documentation, Unimetal’s proposal calls for an additional 107,105 square feet to the already existing Donham building, with construction taking place over a three-year period. Also, the company said in its paperwork that such an expansion could net an additional 60 jobs for the business.
Both Donham and Unimetal had recently merged in June, according to a press release posted on Unimetal’s website.
David O. Prendergast, president and CEO of the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation, said the merged company is looking for a number of alternative operations for the future of its metal and finishing operations.
“One of those (alternatives) is to look at what capacities they have on the existing site to expand,” Prendergast said, noting that the NEDC is assisting Unimetal in determining its options as a newely merged company.
Unimetal is expected to give a presentation to the Zoning Commission on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at Town Hall regarding a preliminary area of the expansion process. The company is seeking a special permit to conduct the proposed excavation, which is required if an applicant wants to remove more than 350 yards of earth material, said Borough Planner Keith Rosenfeld.
Joseph Savarese, commission chairman, said he hasn’t had a chance to review the proposal and that he expects to get more information during the presentation on Wednesday.
With typical zoning applications, applicants have to get a number of approvals through the Land Use Office, such as whether the proposed site is on wetlands or whether it will impact neighbors.
Attempts to reach Unimetal for a comment in recent weeks were unsuccessful.