By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE
The Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on Feb. 4 unanimously approved a grocery store to be built on Southford Road. It will be built across from the former Golden Age of Trucking Museum and will be operated by Barry and Patricia Tarnowicz of Southbury, former owners of the Southbury Food Center. A Feb. 8 filing with the Secretary of the State says it will officially be named Middlebury Fresh Market LLC.
Architect Kevin Bennett of Bennett Sullivan Associates said the framed steel, wood and concrete building will have 11,700 square feet of sales area, 11,700 square feet of basement, a rear loading dock for trucks, and a small second-floor office area. The exterior will be heather-moss-colored HardiePlank (cement with wood appearance) siding with white trim. The front will have a brick veneer. A small outdoor patio area will provide a space for customers and employees to eat purchased food during good weather, and there will be a seating area inside as well. A railing around the patio will comply with zoning regulations.
Land use attorney Michael McVerry explained details of the planned excavation and grading, saying about 7,700 yards of fill would be moved within the property. Professional Engineer Jeremy Oskandy of Arthur H. Howland and Associates pointed out retaining walls and other methods that will protect wetlands near Eight Mile Brook. He said two curb cuts would allow two-way traffic into the parking area from Southford Road.
The land for the grocery was acquired by Joseph Desantis and Richard Brown of Middlebury, D/B/A Southford Road LLC, by combining their 2.3-acre parcel at 1000 Southford Road with an acre from the adjoining lot at 984 Southford Road owned by Francis Cipriano of Watertown D/B/A Southford Park LLC. McVerry told commissioners ownership of a small sliver of land between those properties still needed to be resolved. Some land records indicate the sliver is owned by the Region 15 School District.
McVerry also mentioned the requirements for sidewalks, which he called “orphan sidewalks.” Commissioner William Stowell told him P&Z wanted sidewalks to be built as site plans were approved, similar to what was being done in Middlebury Center, and Robison said it was part of an aesthetic, “a certain look as you’re coming up the gateway area.” Bennett said the area could be prepared for sidewalks as he had done for other projects.
In approving the permits, commissioners waived requirements for a building analysis report, traffic report and watershed construction report. They also allowed the 6-by-8-foot road sign to be larger than regulations, in keeping with other signs in the district and the location of the building.
The next regular P&Z meeting will be Thursday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Shepardson Community Center.
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