Abutters Question Wisdom of Squannacook Hall Development [with video]

Members from Christian Union Church, which abuts the town-owned Squannacook Hall in West Groton, had lots of questions for the Planning Board at their public hearing Thursday evening - specifically about the Request For Proposal from well-known local builders Halsey Platt and Chris Brown who would like to renovate the long-empty Squannacook Hall building into four units of rental housing; three containing a single-bedroom and one having two-bedrooms.

The builder's proposal, - a Concept Plan - will be presented to voters at the Oct. 21 Fall Town Meeting and will require a two-thirds vote to pass.

Squannacook Hall's lot size is small, with some documents showing a half acre of land while church members claim it is a quarter acre. There is also an issue of a shared driveway with the church - the lot line apparently is located in the center of the driveway. Members of the church also use Squannacook Hall for parking during Sunday services and community suppers.

Platt pointed out a similar sharing of a driveway that exists between Union Congregational Church and 214 Main Street where there is a mutual agreement in place on shared use.

Platt told planners that the building was savable; the frame is in good shape; the ramp in front would be removed; a new fire escape would be installed and the exterior aluminum siding would eventually be removed. There are nine parking spaces identified on the plan, some located in front of the building and some in the rear. This number of spaces shows a reduction from the number cited in the Kang Report that was done for the town several years ago regarding possible reuse for the historic building, formerly a firehouse.

The plan calls for a new Presby Septic System that has already been designed by Ross Engineering, to be located in the front of the building that will service the four units.

Planner Tim Svarczkopf said, "This is a great project and good for the town...The building is underutilized. Saving it is great."

Colleague Scott Wilson agreed, "I think that this is a wonderful example of adaptive reuse and it provides some great affordable housing, I think the concept is right on the money."

It was clear that church members present were not in support of the proposal and expressed strong concerns. Church member Carl Rodrigues claimed that the church was never notified of the RFP and said that the church would be interested in purchasing the property and use the land for parking spaces. This presumes that the building would be demolished. He pointed out that there were "severe wetlands" and noted that the church spent $30K to ensure that their basement was dry.

Land Use Director Michelle Collette responded, "All abutters to Squannacook Hall were notified," adding that someone from the church came into Town Hall) and picked up the plans.

Svarczkopf told Rodrigues that the RFP was out for more than a year, adding, "The church has had time," to make an offer.

Rodrigues questioned the property line of the driveway and easements, and Planning Board Chairman John Giger advised that resolving this was for attorneys and land court - not something that could be adjudicated by the Planning Board. He replied that the church would get counsel.

Rodriguez also questioned the statement that nine parking spaces could be created at Squannacook Hall when the church was denied more parking at the rear of its own property due to wetlands. He indicated the buyers of the town's property would probably not get an easement for a shared driveway.

Planner George Barringer noted that the church uses the parking spaces at Squannacook Hall now and, "In tight situations, we need to share. We need to determine if this is a decent use of the building."

Selectman Peter Cunningham said that the town has issued two RFP's hoping for an adaptive reuse of the building. "We want to work cooperatively. The church also takes advantage of parking at Squannacook. If there is nothing else, it may face demolition."

Church member George Wheatley Jr. said that Squannacook Hall was not a good location for residences. "On Saturday night we would lose parking for the church. I support demolition of the building and making it a parking lot."

The Planning Board agreed that Platt's proposal in the RFP met the conditions for a Concept Plan and voted to close the public hearing; voted to recommend the Concept Plan to Town Meeting for approval and voted to ask Town Meeting to change zoning from Public (P) to Residential/Agricultural (RA)