Plans for expanded business advances
By Karen Mann

The Wine & Roses business, at the corner of Main and Nichols streets, in Westminster. Journal Photo/Kevin J. MacLean

Selectmen are concerned that the proposed 'Westminster Commons' project at the corner of Main and Nichols streets will add an entrance too large for the location.

Westminster resident Peter J. Normandin is proposing to tear down the existing Wine & Roses building, which he owns, and build a two-story colonial style retail/office building.

At the Aug. 21 meeting, selectmen said they would support the proposal, if the Nichols Street opening served as only an entrance. They also said they wanted to see results from the traffic study that was done.

Normandin's plan calls for adding a curb cut onto Main Street, and sidewalks along both streets. It would also add an entrance from Nichols Street into the parking lot. Normandin said this would be an entrance only, primarily for the bank drive-through, and would not also serve as an exit.

In Normandin's proposal, which has been submitted to the Planning Board, he outlines constructing a 15,500 square-foot building. The building would be the new home to Wine & Roses and Head to Toe Salon. He would also like to put a bank with a drive-through window in the building, as well as office space.

The building where Head to Toe is currently located, 79 Main St., would stay in place, to be used for office space.

Normandin envisions constructing the building in sections, building part of it, moving Wine and Roses in, and then demolishing the store's old building, leaving room for the rest of his new complex.

Town Planner Alicia Altieri said the new building would be an improvement.

"It would be a nice, new building," said Altieri. "It would also improve the traffic situation, because the parking will be more

organized."

According to Altieri, there are no defined lanes or entrances in and out of the current Wine & Roses parking lot.

This was one of the first projects to be reviewed using the new process that was adopted at Town Meeting in 2004. Altieri said it's a more formal process, and is not discretionary.

There are certain guidelines they want Normandin to follow if he constructs the new building.

These new regulations include rules on parking, traffic circulation and site design. From what Altieri has seen so far, she thinks the proposal meets these guidelines.

Other boards in town had until Monday, Aug. 28, to give their opinion on the proposal.