PARKING PROBLEM: 134 Main St. Wants To Use L.A. Field For Overflow

The Planning Board considered Bob France of Mount Laurel Development request for parking approvals for the the 134 Main Street Development. With the agreement of Lawrence Academy, the parking plan for the 105 seats for a restaurant (95) and a bakery (10) proposes to use 34 parking spaces located on the private school's Shumway Field on Main Street. France said he already has 21 spaces and needs an additional 26. He stressed that the restaurant management would arrange for valet parking for any overflow that would need to park at Shumway Field.

Originally, the plan called for use of parking at the Lawrence Academy tennis courts, but France said that the school was concerned about liability of going through parking lots, and preferred the use of Shumway that has sidewalks directly to the restaurant at 134 Main Street. This parking area would allow self-parking as well as valet parking. Restaurant employees would be encouraged to use this lot in order to keep as many spaces as possible for customers.

France said he is still working with Dr. Michael O'Neil of Nashoba Vision Associates, an abutter to 134 Main St to potentially use 10 spaces in the firm's parking lot.

The Board had previously granted 134 Main Street abutter George Pergantis a waiver for 11 spaces on Main Street for his proposed seafood restaurant, and Planner Russ Burke suggested that the same amount be granted for the restaurant at 134 Main St. Pergantis, present at the hearing, complained to the Board that there would be "too many cars and the street is just too narrow. There will be an accident. I am against it. If there is an accident, I will fight it in court."

Planner George Barringer said, "We do not have a parking problem on Main Street," adding that he has taken pictures at different times of the day and that there are many spaces available especially in the evening. Colleague Tim Svarczkopf added that Main Street is not too narrow and that the Planning Board had evidence that there was ample space for parking on either side of Main Street.

Former Planning Board member Anna Eliot stressed that with the creation of overlay districts, there was anticipation that there would be shared parking, resulting in the elimination of impervious surfaces and creating a spirit of working together.

Planning Board Chairman John Giger said that the modification request was "98 percent final". They are awaiting a signed agreement from Lawrence Academy and will vote on the conditions for the parking plan at their next meeting.