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Dead end proposed for street near Sharon Commons
By James Lindsay/Correspondent
Fri Jun 15, 2007, 01:08 PM EDT
Sharon -The plan for the Sharon Commons "lifestyle mall," overwhelming approved by a special Town Meeting, is entering its permitting phase. Representatives of developers Michael Intoccia and the Congress Group discussed the project’s progress with the Zoning Board of Appeals Wednesday .
The plan includes a total of 450,000 square feet of retail space, including two major "anchor" stores of 80,000 and 75,000 square feet, the largest of which is likely to be a grocery store. Additionally, 46,000 square feet of office space is planned above the retail shops. The mall will be located on Old Post Road, off South Main Street.
However, the plan also includes a "friendly 40B," or what is known as a Local Initiative Project, which is a 40B affordable housing development to be carried out with the guidance of the Board of Selectmen. Two separate housing developments are proposed, both located on Old Post Road.
"Once we get the mall going, then we’ll start (the 40B process)," said Intoccia.
Chairman John Lee was quick to remind the audience that both developments are interconnected. "You can’t totally separate these two issues," said Lee, citing Intoccia’s plan of using a common wastewater treatment facility for both the mall and the housing component.
Wednesday’s presentation, however, dealt only with the mall. Landscaping and engineering dominated the discussion.
Though all aspects of the plan are not finalized, the developers want to turn Laurel Road, intersects with Old Post Road, into a dead-end street in order to limit the traffic impacts from coming from the development, said Bob Shelmerdine, an attorney for Intoccia.
The preliminary plan to turn Laurel Road into a cul-de-sac, however, would require adjusting the road and encroaching upon three homes – one on Laurel Road owned by Intoccia, and two on Old Post Road, of which Intoccia owns one and is in negotiations with the second owner for either access or sale.
The design presented Wednesday also included a rotary on Old Post Road, where it would turn traffic around so that there would be only gated emergency access to and from South Walpole Street. This, too, requires alterations to the road, which would require both town and county approval.
The ZBA continued the hearing until July 25, when traffic, wastewater treatment, noise, and storm water management will be discussed. The developers hope to have a final Site Plan Approval vote from the ZBA by the end of September.
Because of the expected length of the process, the ZBA is assembling a committee of five volunteers, led by former chairman Ed Hirschfield, for assistance and advice. Those interested in volunteering should contact ZBA chairman John Lee.
