The newest Costco in Connecticut, located in New Britain, opens Oct. 15 and sounds a lot like what's in the planning for a new Costco at Branford's Exit 56 location.

Meanwhile, on Oct. 3, Branford's Inlands Wetlands Commission (IWC) plans to walk the site of Costco's two-phase development location in the east end of town. The IWC has requested Costco engineers and other members of its development team to be present to walk the site Oct. 3.

Costco's site plan application was submitted to Branford's Inlands Wetlands Office on Sept. 9 and went to the IWC for a first look on Sept. 10. Commission chairman Dan Shapiro and the rest of the IWC expects an overview of the three-part application at the next IWC meeting, given by members of the Costco team.  The meeting is set for Oct. 8.

At the Sept. 10 commission meeting, attorney Thomas P. Cody was the only member of the Costco team appearing before the IWC. He explained Costco has submitted three applications for the development in order to provide a full overview of all phases, as requested by Branford Planning & Zoning Commission when accepting Costco's master plan in July. Each application addresses one of three undeveloped parcels on the 44 acres, located off East Industrial Road at the I-95 Exit 56 south entrance/exit. Costco will build on about 20 of those acres.

Non-profit Branford Land Trust has since issued a position statement on the application, citing the development's potential negative impacts to land trust property upstream, and seeking to work with the town and the developer to mitigate and manage water run-off problems. The Trust also stated it would hire experts to give additional scientific and environmental input to public reviews; and noted the group may file for intervenor status to become a larger player in the application process.  As of press time, the status has not been filed, according to the Branford Inlands Wetlands Office. The Inland Wetland Commission public hearing on the Costco application is expected to begin in November.

While the process continues apace in Branford, according to a Sept. 25, 2015 press release issued from Costco, the New Britain Costco becomes the sixth to open in Connecticut. Nationwide, there are now 482 Costco stores and worldwide: 689.  In New Britain, the company was slated to hire approximately 225 new employees held a job fair at the local high school in August.

The New Britain Costco tops out at 154,000 square feet and will include a gas station. The Branford Costco, also with gas station, is set to be developed as the first phase of the project and is pegged at approximately 160,000 square feet. The New Britain Costco includes specialty departments for  bakery, meat, produce, deli as well as featuring an Optical Department, Online Photo Center, Pharmacy, Tire Center, Hearing Aid Center, Food Court, and Wine & Liquor area.

"We are thrilled to be bringing Costco's low warehouse prices to the residents of New Britain," said Warehouse Manager Tom Daly in the press release. "They have been asking us to open here for a long time, and we already have made an impact on the local job market. We look forward to contributing to the community in many ways."

The Costco home office is located in Issaquah, Wash. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol COST.