OKs in hand, Rentschler mall to start

Renderings | Contributed A rendering of the Outlet Shoppes at Rentschler Field from developer Horizon Group Properties.

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Groundbreaking is imminent for the proposed Outlet Shoppes at Rentschler Field after East Hartford planners granted zoning approval for the 410,000-square-foot retail development, authorities say.

Chicago developer Horizon Group Properties said Thursday the planning and zoning commission’s green light at its Wednesday meeting followed Monday’s clearance by the town’s inland wetlands/environment commission.

Horizon previously had said that, if approved, the project would break ground in October, with the outlet mall to open in late 2016 or early 2017.

“We are pleased that the Town of East Hartford has seen the value in the design of the project which complements the historical attributes of the aeronautics and aerospace industry while embracing open spaces and comforting amenities such as fountains, fireplace, and well landscaped covered walking corridors for shoppers. We are excited to start building,” said Tom Rumptz, Horizon Group senior vice president of development/construction, said in a statement Thursday.

The mall is intended to anchor a development plan from United Technologies Corp., whose Pratt & Whitney Co. jet-engine division occupies a number of buildings adjacent to Rentschler.