The Rev. Robin Lunn was in near tears as the Zoning Board announced its decision to grant a list of variances and special exception needed for her to move forward with a plan to renovate the former Sacred Heart Church and parish.
“Thank you,” Lunn told the board. “You have no idea what your acceptance means to me.”
Lunn hopes to renovate the existing parish to add two affordable housing apartments, and overhaul the church to be a multiuse space, which would include the Open Cupboard Food Pantry and a nonprofit cafe downstairs and a co-working office space and event venue upstairs.
The entity will be held by a nonprofit run by Lunn, incorporated under the name Sanctuary 47 – referencing 47 Maple St., the address of the church. Lunn is currently in the process of applying for nonprofit status.
The food pantry currently operates out of the church’s parish house, and Linda Ladouceur, who runs the pantry, also extended her thanks to the board, saying she would love to see the pantry continue to run in that space.
Though elated at the Zoning Board’s decision, Lunn acknowledged that she has a much larger hurdle ahead at the Site Plan Review stage, especially with still no set plan for overflow parking – which was the major point of contention even for the Zoning Board, although the board eventually decided not to place any parking-related conditions on its approval.
The board, instead, gave approval for one of the variances requested by Lunn, which allows parking on the lot within the town’s setback requirement. This allows a few paved spaces which encroach on the setback, but also allows for the possibility of “stacked” parking – where one car blocks in another – which could increase the potential parking spaces on the lot by 12.
Lunn’s plan is to phase in the proposed uses for the space over a three years period, but at its capacity, the site will, by zoning code, require 36 parking spaces. At most, Lunn’s plan only allows for 14-16 without stacked parking and 26-28 with.
The board quibbled over whether it should require a certain number of dedicated or contracted spaces off the lot, but ultimately decided to leave the parking configuration to the Planning Board and the site plan review process.
“I don’t think I want to tie the Planning Board’s hands at all,” said co-Vice Chair Andy Hoar.
Co-Vice Chair Carol Roberts reiterated concerns aired at previous meetings that the use was too extensive with too few on-site parking spaces for the residential neighborhood.
“I support the project. I love the project. I just think it may be too much,” said Roberts.
ZBA member Joanna Eckstrom reposted that other businesses on Maple Street, including the Michaud Funeral Home and the Veteran of Foreign Wars post and bar have even less on-site parking without designated spaces on the street.
Lunn said in an interview following the meeting that she anticipated submitting her site plan review application on Tuesday, to get on the agenda for the Planning Board’s upcoming meeting. She said she anticipates the parking situation to continue to be a concern, but said that there is ample street parking spaces within a block of the church, and over 100 private parking spaces that may be able to be contracted for exclusive use by the church.
“I think many heads will provide the best solution,” said Lunn.
The board approved variances to allow parking within the setback, a sign larger than the ordinance allows, for two dwelling units on a half-acre lot served by public water and sewer and for the construction of a handicapped accessible entryway within the setback.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com.