Developer seeking W. Concord sites

Town planner Marcia Rasmussen said she met with Ross Hamlin last month about his interest in redeveloping an entire block in the village, including the West Concord Chrysler dealership property and the adjacent properties that make up the southern block of Commonwealth Avenue.

West Concord residents and businesses are concerned about the size of the project and its potential impact on traffic and are eager for more details.

“I think the scope of the parcel is of great concern to many,’’ said Dan Holin, chairman of the West Concord Task Force, a group that’s working on a master plan for the village.

“It’s a huge portion of the whole square footage of West Concord. It could really change the face of the village, no matter what’s done to it, based on its sheer size.’’

Rasmussen said Hamlin indicated that he was working on getting all the properties under agreement for purchase.

Hamlin, for his part, has not filed any plans with the town and said it was “premature’’ to discuss details of the project.

The possibility of a large project comes at a time when town officials and residents are in the midst of a planning effort to help shape the future of the village.

Late last month, the West Concord Task Force held its first meeting with a consultant hired to help the town develop a master plan for the village - the part of town most at risk for development, Rasmussen said.

To allow time for the master plan to take shape, residents at Town Meeting this spring approved temporary restrictions on development in West Concord. The Interim Planning Overlay District limits the amount of expansion on a building and requires a special permit to change certain uses in a district.

Holin said the temporary restrictions prevent Hamlin from moving forward with the project now, which gives the town more time to plan.

“It is allowing the master plan to take place not in a race against development,’’ Holin said. “It will effectively allow us to design a future for the village and allow developers to be a part of it. Without it, we’re in a far worse scenario.’’

Rasmussen said the timing for a project in that area with a cooperative developer couldn’t be better.

She said the developer can be a part of the master planning process, so the end result is something both residents and town officials can embrace.

“This is the ideal situation where you have someone interested in a development and working to come up with a solution,’’ Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said Hamlin has expressed a willingness to work closely with town officials and residents. She said the goal is to have the master plan done by early spring next year. She said certain tools for the master plan, such as zoning changes, could go before Town Meeting at that time.

Holin said he’s encouraged to hear that the developer is willing to work through the master planning process.

“The master planning process is only as good as its ambitions and how they are realized,’’ Holin said. “You could turn it into a reality that could be terrific.’’

Rasmussen said Hamlin is looking at mixed use that includes local or regional retail stores, not a chain store or drug stores. He’s considering about 80 units of housing, a restaurant, and parking for 200 vehicles.

Nick Boynton, a local resident and developer, said he’s met with Hamlin a couple of times to discuss his ideas and is excited about the possibilities. Boynton, who owns property in West Concord on nearby Beharrell Street, said the village would get a big boost if there are more shopping options for consumers and if there’s more housing for residents.

“It will change the whole block,’’ Boynton said. “I like it.’’

Boynton said it also creates an opportunity for him to work with Hamlin to improve access to his properties on Beharrell Street from Commonwealth Avenue. Boynton said he’s discussed with Hamlin the possibility of putting in a road through the former car dealership parking lot.

Boynton has three mill buildings that he’d also like to develop for office space and housing.

Boynton said he’s also discussed the idea of building a community theater on part of the dealership parking lot that Hamlin doesn’t plan to use.

Boynton said it could either be a joint venture or Boynton would consider buying a piece of the land from Hamlin for the theater.

“There needs to be more fun things to do in the village,’’ Boynton said.

Resident Dorrie Kehoe said people are starting to realize that the village is going to change. Instead of trying to stop change, she said, it may be best to work together to create the best change possible.

“There’s a general acceptance that something’s going to be done,’’ Kehoe said. “If it can be managed, it can be positive.’’

But no matter what is proposed, Kehoe said the big issue will be traffic.

“The concern, of course, is traffic,’’ Kehoe said. “It’s a very compressed area.’’

The village is home to a commuter rail station and is a rush-hour shortcut for commuters avoiding the Route 2 rotary. West Concord is also home to a proposed 350-unit housing project.

Kehoe said residents are anxiously awaiting news about that project, which has recently stalled. If it goes forward, the project would put Concord over a state requirement for affordable housing, which means the town would have more control over future housing growth.

If the plan falls through, Kehoe said, a developer could propose a large project in the village area and the town would have little say in it.

“That has huge implications,’’ she said.

Jennifer Fenn Lefferts can be reached at jflefferts@yahoo.com.