Norwich — The developer of a proposed Burger King on three Town Street properties abutting a historic colonial-era burial ground on Thursday filed the final plans needed to start the project.

City Planner Deanna Rhodes said Northeast Foods LLC filed a $33,900 bond to cover the anticipated cost of site work and on Thursday, project attorney William Sweeney filed the signed final plans for the proposed fast food restaurant.

But Rhodes said Sweeney did not know when the required archaeological survey would be done to determine if there is any evidence of burials on the property. She said her office will be notified when the survey is to start.

“Before any land disturbance can happen, they need to start on the Phase 2 archaeological survey,” Rhodes said, “and we need to have a preconstruction field meeting.”

The field meeting is a gathering of officials from planning and regulatory agencies, including building inspectors, fire marshals and Norwich Public Utilities, to review all requirements before work starts.

The Burger King, proposed by Providence-based Amaral Revite Corp., at 61, 63 and 65 Town St. sparked vocal opposition at first, including by the Norwich Historical Society. The houses on the property date to the 1920s, but the land is elevated above surrounding modern development and appears to be less disturbed. The burial ground is at the same level, prompting concerns about possible burials on the house lots.

The Burger King was approved by the Commission on the City Plan last October, and the Norwich Historical Society dropped its opposition in a settlement reached in November with the developer.

The Town Street front of the property will be excavated to allow the Burger King to be built at the much lower street level. But the developer agreed to retain an elevated buffer at the rear abutting the burial ground, with 18th and 19th century heirloom trees and shrubs to provide a natural screening from the noise and lights of the drive-thru below. The buffer zone ranges from 20 to 40 feet wide at the rear of the property.

The company also will donate plantings for either the burial ground property, which is owned by the city, or neighboring abutting properties to be used with permission of those owners to improve the buffer around the burial ground.

There is currently no buffer between the Bank of America and the United Community and Family Services health center, located on either side of the proposed Burger King property, and the burial ground.

Norwich Historical Society President William Champagne said Thursday he has not heard from the Burger King developers regarding the potential start of construction.

c.bessette@theday.com