Tesla dealership approved by planning commission

Christian Hogue, the design and architecture lead at Tesla, explains the plans for the Tesla dealership in Norwalk to the city planning commission during their meeting on Wednesday. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

NORWALK — A Tesla dealership will replace the former Walmart after the Norwalk planning commission approved the plan during their meeting on Wednesday.

Manaraj Bhatia, the senior planner, explained the modifications the building will undergo and the impact the renovation will have on the surrounding residential area.

“They’re proposing to add three grade level dock doors to the building and to add loading /unloading areas that will remove 336 parking spots,” Bhatia said. “To accommodate this they will add tubular steel fencing with winds all along the periphery of the property which would help the residential neighborhood from any noise or any kind of disturbances.”

The new facility would also create approximately 120 new jobs in the city.

Christian Hogue, the design and architecture lead at Tesla, expressed his consideration for the surrounding residents. He addressed the concerns of test driving along residential streets and the schedule for deliveries at the Tesla center.

“We’re in agreement that all the delivery should be done during the day and deliveries will be done in front of the building out of consideration to the people that are leaving a few feet away from the building,” Hogue said.

The design and architecture lead also clarified deliveries will be done during the day between 10 am and 7 pm.

Commissioner Luis Navas expressed his concern that people test driving a Tesla may get lost or confused and drive down a residential area.

“When you test drive a Tesla, there’s no employee with you. So I could see where some people in the area might get veered off and go into the residential area,” Navas said.

Hogue reassured the planning commission they will educate their employees to make sure the test drivers will not go down residential streets.

Additional details of when construction will start will be determined at a later time.