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Planning Board Endorses Concept Plan For Groton Inn [with video]

The Planning Board voted positively, with one abstention, to endorse the proposed Concept Plan for the site of Groton Inn that will be presented to voters for approval at the Oct. 21 Fall Town Meeting.

Partners in 128 Main Street LLC, Chris Ferris of Gloucester and Rich Cooper of Marblehead, stressed to the Board that they want to 'blend into the community' with their plans for the historic property. The Partners have been working with current owner of the Groton Inn property, George Pergantis, for a long time, and have a signed Purchase & Sale Agreement for the eight-plus acre site.

The architect from Pitman and Wardley said that the "overarching goal was to maintain the historical integrity of Main Street. We have taken care in the initial site plan to pay attention to the property, creating a communal opportunity." He added that all homes being constructed would be consistent "with the vernacular of Main Street".

Engineer Dan Wolfe of David Ross Associates explained, "The new inn will be in the exact location as the old inn, with the back wing shifted over" while the other buildings will have an open view of the property. Sections of the old inn, which was destroyed by fire in August 2011, were reported to date back to the Revolutionary War period.

Wolfe noted that a traffic study still needs to be done, and a plan for low impact drainage. He added that all buildings would be outside of the 100-foot wetlands buffer.

The Concept Plan as presented to Planning Board shows a three-story, 24-room inn and a 50-seat restaurant with a footprint of 8360 sq. ft.; a two-story caretaker residence, and a fitness area with a footprint of 3040 sq. ft.; 18 inn cottages, and 12 long-term rental units.

The 18 inn cottages would be constructed in two phases; first phase would consist of 10 cottages followed by eight more located farther back on the site at a later date. These are planned as an extension of the inn's rooms designed to accommodate groups such as families and bridal parties.

The Carriage House would feature a multipurpose room for use by local organizations. This part of the site would be the location of the long-term rental units, some of which will be designated affordable, and possibly a fitness center.

Ferris said that part of their plan is to construct a wooden foot bridge from their property to Gibbet Hill Grill, and they have discussed this with the restaurant owners. The bridge would be wide enough to accommodate a horse-drawn carriage, he said. There will also be a roadway connection between the inn property and adjacent property - Boynton Meadows at 134 Main Street.

Ferris added that one of the models that 128 Main St. LLC looked at is Riverwalk in Concord. Landscape Architect Lorayne Black displayed a rendering of the concept for the inn and when she was finished with the design, she said she was struck by how it looks remarkably close to the original inn.

"This is just a concept," said Cooper. "We're not trying to step on any toes. We just want to try to make it as close to the old inn as possible."

"This is a wonderful proposal," Planner Russ Burke said, stressing the identical replication of the former inn and the possible connection to Gibbet Hill.

Colleague Tim Svarczkopf commented that he had concerns about how the rentals would be sited in order to preserve the view from the street; "I applaud this overall but I have a lot of questions about the rentals and the cottages."

"I will speak favorably of the replica of the inn. I think the (project) would be a benefit to the town but I'm concerned with all this development in back. There is not a lot of information on the back. Development in the back is more weighty than the inn in what it will look like. The plan should show that," resident Bob Pine told the Board. He added, "I don't get the back part. The views are important. I hope some of the views in the back will be available to the public. Conceptually, it is great. I like it all...but the back part seems premature."

Property owner George Pergantis told the Planning Board, referring to Ferris and Cooper said, "I am glad that these people came. I am very happy today. It will bring the historic inn back to life in the town. I hope Planning Board will help make this happen."

Planning Board Chairman John Giger stressed that there are guiding principles for phase 1 and phase 2, and "we are not going to get all the clarity as fast as some would like."

Amid some discussion regarding closing the public hearing, the Board did just that and then the majority voted on the prepared Planning Board report in favor of supporting the 128 Main Street Concept Plan at the Oct. 21 Fall Town Meeting. Member Carolyn Perkins abstained from the vote.

Groton Herald

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