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June 07. 2012 11:46PM
Used-car display gets Derry board approval
DERRY — The planning board approved a revised plan to allow display spaces for used car sales at Plaza One at 37 Crystal Ave.
In April, the board asked for a revised plan for the display spaces for the Crystal Automobile dealership at the site, which is owned by Forest One Properties.
Several planning board members expressed concerns that the display spaces would take away from regular parking spaces on the property if there was a change in use at the building.
The board did not have an issue with the plan for eight display spaces in a previously approved parking lot expansion behind the 10,000-square-foot retail plaza.
On Wednesday night, board members said they were much happier with the revised plan for the display spaces.
According to project engineer Todd Connors of Long Beach Development, the three display spaces originally slated for the northwest corner of the property will be reconfigured into two spaces. Those two spaces will meet the town regulations for regular parking spaces.
“They meet the town of Derry’s dimensional requirement,” said Connors. “They are nine feet long and 18 feet wide and they both have a 24-foot aisle behind them.”
In addition to those two spaces, Connors said there will be a display space relocated to the front of the Crystal Automobile dealership office.
“There also seemed to be some concern that the display area was far from the office,” said Connors. “We couldn’t get all three there, but this is a decent compromise.”
Board member David Milz said he was the one who likely had the biggest issue with the display spaces at the original hearing but was satisfied with the new plan.
“My only concern was with what would happen if the car business goes away and those display spots are there,” said Milz. “This addresses my concerns, and I have no problem with it because if the car dealership goes away, those display spaces can become parking spaces with no further review by this board.”
Town Administrator John Anderson was the only board member to vote against approving the revised plan.
“It is an improvement over the original plan, but personally I still don’t want to see a used car dealership on Crystal Avenue,” he said. “I think there are enough used-car dealerships in the town of Derry.”
Adam Swift may be reached at aswift@newstote.com.
In April, the board asked for a revised plan for the display spaces for the Crystal Automobile dealership at the site, which is owned by Forest One Properties.
Several planning board members expressed concerns that the display spaces would take away from regular parking spaces on the property if there was a change in use at the building.
The board did not have an issue with the plan for eight display spaces in a previously approved parking lot expansion behind the 10,000-square-foot retail plaza.
On Wednesday night, board members said they were much happier with the revised plan for the display spaces.
According to project engineer Todd Connors of Long Beach Development, the three display spaces originally slated for the northwest corner of the property will be reconfigured into two spaces. Those two spaces will meet the town regulations for regular parking spaces.
“They meet the town of Derry’s dimensional requirement,” said Connors. “They are nine feet long and 18 feet wide and they both have a 24-foot aisle behind them.”
In addition to those two spaces, Connors said there will be a display space relocated to the front of the Crystal Automobile dealership office.
“There also seemed to be some concern that the display area was far from the office,” said Connors. “We couldn’t get all three there, but this is a decent compromise.”
Board member David Milz said he was the one who likely had the biggest issue with the display spaces at the original hearing but was satisfied with the new plan.
“My only concern was with what would happen if the car business goes away and those display spots are there,” said Milz. “This addresses my concerns, and I have no problem with it because if the car dealership goes away, those display spaces can become parking spaces with no further review by this board.”
Town Administrator John Anderson was the only board member to vote against approving the revised plan.
“It is an improvement over the original plan, but personally I still don’t want to see a used car dealership on Crystal Avenue,” he said. “I think there are enough used-car dealerships in the town of Derry.”
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Adam Swift may be reached at aswift@newstote.com.
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