Groton Open Space Association

KONOVER OUT AS INTEREST HOLDER IN PROPERTY SLATED FOR WAL-MART SUPER CENTER; PROJECT STATUS UNCLEAR

GROTON — Konover Acquisitions LLC and Konover Development Corp. said in court papers dated January 8, 2009, that they no longer have any interest in property on Route 184 that they have been slated to develop as a Wal-Mart Super Center, it was learned Jan. 10, 2009.

The companies disclosed their apparent dropout in filings with the New London Superior Court. The filings, signed by Diane W. Whitney, attorney for Konover, withdrew Konover from two legal actions surrounding the project. Ms. Whitney wrote, “Konover no longer has any interest in the real property involved in this matter and therefore has no standing…” to remain involved in the actions.

The overall status of the Wal-Mart project was not immediately clear following Konover’s move. Definitive word would have to come from the project’s backers.

The project has drawn heavy opposition because of the proximity of the Route 184 site to the Groton Utilities Reservoir system.

The Groton Open Space Association was not a party to the legal actions cited, which involved Groton’s Inland Wetlands Agency, although it had intervened officially in Inland Wetlands Agency hearings. The IWA, in a split decision Nov. 12, 2008, had approved a revision of a previous plan to build the Super Center.

Opponents of the project were represented by Atty. Marjorie Shansky, of New Haven. Atty. Whitney is associated with the Hartford firm of Pullman & Comley LLC.