Progress takes time, but at the January 4, 2024, Stafford took a few more steps forward. Kenneth Hrica, an engineer and licensed surveyor representing Dunbeath LLC, was back with dramatically revised plans for the self-storage facility proposed for 32 West Stafford Street — otherwise known as the Country Village Shoppes.
Back in November, Hrica presented a site plan, but Stafford’s Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) had many concerns about elements that did not meet the current zoning regulations. That original plan called for the building that housed Kolossos to stay and be renovated for potential use as another restaurant, but the PZC had requests around access and parking. In trying to resolve those issues, Hrica said the owner decided to combine the two lots into one, knock down the old Kolossos building, and replace it with another storage building.
Additionally, the project is now split into three phases. Dunbeath LLC now wants to redevelop the buildings at the front of the property in phase one, leaving the building at the back for a later date if and when the market is right. PZC chair, Dave Palmberg, raised concerns about what would happen if phase two never happened, leaving an already run-down building to further deteriorate. He again raised the history of blight violations — which he says total about $26,000 — and a recent violation for garbage dumped behind Hang’s Bistro at the dumpster.
“This is what drives concerns about the back building,” Palmberg said. He suggested the owner demolish the building while doing the rest of the demo work and showing the future footprint on the plan.
Commission member Cindy Rummel pointed out that the back building would still be visible from the road, even with security fencing, and that failing to demolish the building now would take away from the new buildings.
Parking has been whittled down to just a few spaces near the office, where Hrica says there will be just one employee, and there does not seem to be a plan for 24-hour key card access. Still, with some final architectural and landscaping details still outstanding and the concerns of the phasing to be addressed, the application was continued once again.