In 2023, it seemed as though the neglected group of buildings formerly known as the Country Village Shoppes were quickly moving toward demolition and rehabilitation, and then things stalled out.
So, where are we? Here’s a rundown of what’s been going on — or not — over on West Stafford Street.
November 2023
Kenneth Hrica, an engineer and licensed surveyor representing Dunbeath LLC, was at the November 13, 2023, PZC meeting to present the site plan application for a total overhaul of the property on West Stafford Road. After presenting the plans to the Inland Wetland Commission in September, the proposal has now moved onto the PZC. (You can see the full story from that meeting here.)
Essentially, the developer proposed a self-storage facility. Regrettably, the presented plans raised more questions than they answered. Concerns ranged from drainage problems to outstanding blight fees, and the proposed designs seemed to deviate from existing Planning and Zoning regulations. For instance, the town’s regulations stipulate that no uninterrupted facades should exceed 100 feet, the appearance of a flat roof should be avoided, and the PZC prefers a variation in materials. The example of Aubuchon’s conversion of an old metal building was cited, where they used false windows and barn doors to enhance the building's appearance.
In the end, given these concerns — and many others — the commission voted unanimously to table the issue until the December 21 meeting. This will give Hrica and the project architects time to address some of the commission's concerns. Overall, the commission was happy to see a plan for the site.
January 2024
The original plan called for the building that once 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 \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 deteriorate further.
Parking has been whittled down to just a few spaces near the office, where Hrica says there will be just one employee. There is no plan for 24-hour key card access. Still, with some final outstanding architectural and landscaping details and the phasing to be addressed, the board continued the application. (Check out the full article here.)
February 2024
The application was withdrawn, at least for now. After the last discussion, the applicants reportedly decided to return to the drawing board. Rather than trying to salvage the current footprints, the board expects Dunbeath LLC to come back with a new plan to raze the entire complex and start over with one building.