This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Site Testing Hoped to Speed Unilever Redevelopment in Clinton

At a special town meeting on March 8, Clinton took another step toward developing the Unilever property when the town voted to appropriate $70,000 for the 2017 Responsible Growth and Transit-Oriented Development Grant Program to design and engineer a wastewater disposal system for the site.

Occupying about 20 acres at the intersection of Hull and John streets, the Unilever property has been vacant for almost six years. The plant had more than 100 years of history in town, but in July 2011, Unilever announced that the company’s Clinton plant would close by the end of 2012. Since then, there have been interested buyers and plans to redevelop the site, but the plans have fallen through.

First Selectman Christine Goupil told the Harbor News that soil testing could begin on the property soon.

“The town has requested that we be able to work with our existing wastewater engineering consultant on this project. If this request is approved, we will be able to get testing underway within a couple of weeks,” Goupil said.

“The property is under contract/option right now, so the option holder is the entity with access and control of the property. We are working with them for site access, soil testing, and information sharing,” said Goupil.

Clinton Realty Associates, LLC, currently has an option to develop the Unilever property. Goupil said that having an invested potential buyer will help the process.

“The town is overseeing the project, coordinating with the consultant engineer and both the property owner [Unilever] and current option-holder on information sharing and analysis. The town will manage the grant work,” Goupil said. “It should expedite the [Department of Energy & Environmental Protection] permitting with all parties working together. We are thrilled that both the state and the option-holder are invested in this process and we look forward to seeing the results of the investigation.”

The wastewater disposal system is the latest in a series of steps taken to get a new tenant into the Unilever property. Earlier in 2018 changes to the zoning regulations that would permit more potential uses for the site were approved by the town’s Planning & Zoning Commission.

“At this time, the potential purchasers are very open to many different end uses. They have been working with the planning firm that undertook the Making Places project on potential redevelopment, but much will depend on the soils on site and the ability to dispose of wastewater. The town has been bringing potential tenants to the developer as well,” Goupil said.