NASHUA —The Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter plans to relocate to a downtown warehouse, but after neighbors voiced concerns on Thursday, city planners denied a crucial permit that has now stalled the project.

With a vote of 4-2, the Nashua City Planning Board rejected a conditional use permit for the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter, which hoped to refurbish a 9,000-square-feet warehouse at 2 West Otterson St., currently MJC Machine Tool Inc.

“This will be a great improvement from the existing facility,” said Attorney Gerald Prunier for the soup kitchen.

Renovation plans include a new building facade with a 3,201-square-feet addition, as well as a number of significant site improvements. New, on-site walkways were to be built, along with fencing, landscaping and lighting.

A loading dock was being proposed, in addition to a new roof, asphalt shingles and new windows and doors, according to preliminary designs.

The warehouse sits on a half-acre parcel at the intersection of West Otterson Street and Vine Street in an urban residential zone. The Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter was seeking a conditional use permit to operate a community food service establishment on the site.

“The proposed facility will serve as a community asset in providing nutrition to those in need. The gathering area will be away from the roadway,” wrote Robert Cormier, president of Cuoco and Cormier Engineering.

Alderman Arthur Craffey, Ward 4, lives across the street from where the new soup kitchen is being proposed. In speaking with his constituents, Craffey said, “they really don't want the soup kitchen to come there.”

He stressed that a school is located nearby, along with a bus stop. Craffey said Thursday that he is worried about clients mingling with youth and walking in the street because of a lack of sidewalks.

“ … What guarantee do we have for our children's safety,” asked Craffey. “That is the number one driving concern I have.”

A petition signed by 42 abutters opposed to the soup kitchen moving into the neighborhood was presented to the planning board.

“There is a need for this, but not in our area,” said Jean Parent, who own property nearby. Parent, who is opposed to the soup kitchen's relocation, said Chestnut Street has deteriorated since the soup kitchen moved in, and he fears the same will occur if it moves to West Otterson Street.

Other concerns such as the potential to expand the kitchen into sleeping quarters, or how staff will keep clients inside of the kitchen were also raised. Prunier stressed that there are no plans to allow sleeping at the site, adding that would not be permitted.

“I'm sorry if you don't like our people, but they are just like everybody else,” said an emotional Prunier, explaining the organization has been searching for a site for about three years. “It is important that these people are taken care of.”

Prunier argued that the proposed site is a suitable location since it is in the same area of the current soup kitchen, and within walking distance of most downtown locations.

Lisa Christie, executive director of the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter, expects the new community kitchen to serve breakfast daily to about 50 to 80 people, and dinner to about 80-150 patrons.

“We have no space for people, so they wait outside,” Christie said of the current location at 42 Chestnut St. While the existing site can seat 47 people at once, Christie said the new location would be able to seat significantly more individuals.

The conditional use permit was denied on the grounds that the community kitchen is not compatible with the neighborhood, and that it poses a safety concern because of the large volume of pedestrian traffic anticipated.

khoughton@newstote.com