Valenti on the road to growth
The economy may be down but the Dunn’s Corners Toyota dealership has a $5-million plan for building up.
By EMILY DUPUIS
Sun Staff Writer
While other car dealerships are closing their doors, Valenti Toyota is planning a more than $5-million expansion at its Dunn”s Corners location.
On Tuesday, Planning Board members unanimously approved a pre-application and concept plan to construct a new Toyota dealership off Langworthy Road. The applicants must now seek permits from the state Department of Environmental Management and Department of Transportation before returning to the board for further approvals.
General Manager Bill Goodwin said plans call to construct a new 34,000-square-foot Toyota building off Langworthy Road and to renovate and convert the existing 17,000-square-foot dealership into a Subaru sales office. The 12-year-old Westerly dealership acquired Subaru in October, and a temporary building is currently on site. The expansion is expected to create at least 25 new jobs, bringing Valenti’s staff to 50 Toyota workers and 25 Subaru employees, according to attorney William Nardone, representing the applicant, BVF Realty LLC. And it is expected to more than double the current inventory and allow the dealership to expand its hours and services.
Dealerships across the country are closing left and right, and here in Westerly we’re bucking the trend, Nardone said.
Goodwin said the dealership saw a downturn in sales in November and December, but we’ve seen every month [since] it’s turned itself up. Four months ago, 160 new cars were for sale, while 72 are available on the lot today, he added. Goodwin said the federal new car tax credits have helped consumer confidence, and the Toyota and Subaru products are growing. After local and state approvals are in hand, construction is expected to take about five months, beginning with the new Toyota building, he said.
Goodwin said they hope to comply with Toyota “green” standards by incorporating features like a white roof, collecting rainwater to wash the cars and permeable pavements.
We’re looking at every alternative we can, he said.
Nardone told board members there would be a 75-foot buffer between the highway commercial zoned dealership and the residential neighborhood to the south. Toyota operations would also be reconfigured so more intense activities like service, pick-ups and deliveries take place on the north side, he said.
Planning Board members preliminarily raised concerns with a planned entry and exit onto Post Road. Board member Alan Scribner questioned whether the entire 8-acre property would be covered in asphalt because the land in that area slopes toward the residential neighborhood and ocean. Town regulations limit the impervious coverage to 75 percent, or the applicant would have to seek relief from the Zoning Board.
Nardone said they are looking at various pervious surfaces that would assist drainage and offer better aesthetics.
