Executive Auto Group is expanding with Kia and Honda!

February 20, 2024 Connecticut, Christian Metzger,

Wallingford — A stretch of auto dealerships along Route 5 near the Meriden-Wallingford town line could become more of a destination for car shoppers after Executive Auto Group won approval to expand and renovate across multiple properties.

The Executive Kia Dealership at 1164 N. Colony Road just south of the Meriden line will demolish and rebuild its current showroom while expanding onto an adjacent, shuttered motorcycle shop, under plans approved by the Wallingford Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday.?

The approval will see the demolition of the current Kia showroom, along with the motorcycle shop and several cinder block retaining walls. As part of Executive Auto Group owner John Orsini’s agreement with Kia, a new showroom and maintenance garage will be built, totaling 24,000 square feet on 4.675 acres of land.?

The construction will create larger car lots on either side of the building, which will occupy a more central location on the property, totaling around 136 parking spaces. It would also connect to the Executive Honda dealership under the same ownership.?

The new building would be divided into two parts, with one half being a much taller glass-fronted showroom space, with a service garage entrance separating the other half of the structure, which would be made with an aluminum-fronted finish where all maintenance would take place. There would also be a covered side area bedside the showroom to receive vehicles and give customers demonstrations.?

“If you look at the parking lot today, there’s really no landscaping within the parking lot itself,” said Jim Cassidy, owner and project engineer of Hallisey, Pearson & Cassidy, representing Executive Auto Group. “We’re proposing to put a series of landscape islands within the parking lot itself that would actually meet and exceed the overall requirement for the landscaping within the parking area.”

Additional improvements will include a hydrodynamic separator to treat water runoff before it is discharged into the municipal drainage system, as well as a stairwell that connects a rear parking lot area where additional cars are parked. Before customers had to walk up to the Honda dealership and around, due to the steep grade of the back half of the site.?