A formal site plan application of the Atlantic Wharf mixed-used development is set for its first review, including the opening of a public hearing, on Thurs. Nov. 5 at Canoe Brook Senior at 7 p.m.

The Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) approved the development's master plan last spring. Due to public interest and input (including nearby residents' concerns about building density, increased traffic and other quality of life issues) during public hearings on the master plan, the PZC has decided to take the unusual step of combining receipt of the application site plan with opening of a public hearing on the plan at the same meeting, Branford Asst. Town Planner Rich Stoekler told Zip06 today. The plan is available for public review at the Planning and Zoning Department office in Town Hall.

The Atlantic Wharf 7.5 acre site is located at the corner of Montowese and Meadow Street and will redevelop the cleaned-up former industrial site, shut down for contamination problems in the early 2000's. It includes street intersection realignments as well as adding a new road within the development that will have intersections with Meadow Street and Pine Orchard Road. In addition, a walk/bike path along the southern perimeter will face the Branford River and tidal flats.

The project will include 10 three story buildings, with 205 residential apartments (studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom) above and a mix of retail, commercial and restaurant space on the ground levels. plans call for 11,750 square feet of retail/service space and  4,960 square feet of restaurant/bar space . A total of 379 parking spaces will be incorporated through both on-street parking and covered parking underneath a building deck.

One building, described in the master plan as the Phase One construction site, is planned for construction across the road from the current Atlantic Wire building, in an empty lot on Meadow Street. As that building is being constructed, the circa 1906 brick buildings which housed Atlantic Wire Company will come down.