Groton City Ordinance Would Make Pfizer Wait to Demolish Former Research Headquarters

The Groton City Council passed an emergency ordinance Monday that effectively prevents Pfizer, Inc. from demolishing its former research development headquarters for at least three months.

The ordinance, effective immediately, requires a 90-day waiting period and an extensive list of environmental documents before the city will grant a demolition permit for a commercial or industrial building of 5,000 square feet or more.

“This is about protecting the city,” Mayor Marian Galbraith said.

Pfizer, Inc. announced two weeks ago that it would raze the 750,000-square-foot complex known as Building 118 on Eastern Point Road. Galbraith said company representatives met Friday with City Building and Zoning Official Carlton Smith for a “pre-application” meeting on demolition, and he briefed her afterward.

“Pfizer’s demolition plan was to pulverize the cement and basically drop it into the basement, which would leave us with a brownfield,” she said.

Given this, she sought the advice of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the city’s lawyer about how to prevent such a process from occurring.

The ordinance would require a company ‘s demolition plan to include steps to remove asbestos, lead paint and heavy metals as well as handle dust and air emissions. The ordinance also demands a plan for dealing with chemical products, used electronics, batteries, air conditioning units, refrigeration units and contaminated equipment structures or soils.

In addition, it requires a site investigation by a licensed environmental professional, underground tanks for fuel storage and a detailed summary outlining how the company will recycle construction and demolition debris.

The ordinance mandates that adjoining property owners be notified, as well as organizations concerned with preservation or the environmental impact of demolition.

 “All alternatives to demolition and the manner of demolition should be explored,” the ordinance says. “This ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of he public health and safety and environmental and general welfare.”