WILTON — The Board of Selectpersons agreed Tuesday to accept a redevelopment proposal for the Wilton Tannery property at 833 Route 2.
Four members agreed to sell the property to James Black of Black Acres Firewood and his brother, John Black of Rocky Hill Landscaping, for $1.
John Black is a selectman and stepped down from the board during an executive session before the vote was taken.
The brothers propose a three-phase development plan for a small business park to house multiple businesses, James Black said after the meeting.
The first phase is expected to start in June and cost between $50,000 and $100,000. It includes demolition of a couple of buildings and any remaining cleanup, he said.
The second phase is expected to be done in the first three years and cost between $100,000 and $150,000. It includes using the site and building for firewood, mulch and compost already available for sale through their existing businesses. John Black also has a worm-castings compost business that will move into the building.
Nichols Trailers of Farmington has agreed to move its parts store and manufacturing to the front of the site once renovations in the second phase are completed, he said.
A third phase is expected to be done within 10 years and cost between $100,000 and $250,000. It will include construction of a self-storage facility on the west side of the site.
After the third phase, the brothers hope to add eight to 10 employees to their current payroll and continue expanding with other businesses, according to the proposal given to the board.
No name has been given to the project, James Black said.
There is over a million dollars worth of concrete on the property that can be used for hay storage and compost, he said.
A previously abandoned second driveway will be reopened.
The development will benefit the businesses and the town, he said, and possibly lead to more grants for the town.
abryant@sunmediagroup.net
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