GFA Federal Credit Union is moving up Jaffrey Road to the intersection at routes 101 and 202.
The credit union, which currently has an office in Monadnock Community Plaza, is going to replace The Magic Flute at 99 Grove St., southwest of the traffic light.
“Conditions of the site are in pretty poor condition, and that includes the existing structure,” Chad Bannon said.
Bannon is a civil engineer at Fieldstone Land Consultants and addressed the board on behalf of the bank, presenting plans for the redevelopment of the lot, which falls within the Village Commercial District.
The existing building is to be demolished. The new structure will have with a two-car drive-through. New pavement to meet the redesigned, one-way traffic loop is planned as well.
At the request of an abutting residential property owner, an eight-foot vinyl privacy fence will be installed at the property.
Bannon explained that the design meets all restrictions and regulations, including a 30-foot buffer at the rear of the property, opposite of Grove Street.
In fact, discussion of what the front of the property, which is visible from both highways, actually is dominated the conversation.
Ivy Vann, chair of the planning board, noted that the proposed design has the front of the building facing Route 101, with parking also along that side. She says that, in an effort to make “Grove Street South” more business and pedestrian friendly, buildings should face Grove Street and keep parking spaces to the side.
“Parking between the building and the road is a suburban model,” she said, highlighting that Peterborough should feel more like a small town, not a suburb.
Fortunately, representatives for GFA – CEO Tina Sbrega and Peterborough Branch Manager Lynn Hebert were in attendance – and agreed to to turn the building and amend the design so the front of the building faces Grove Street .
The plan will be brought before the Zoning Board of Adjustment soon, and then again to the Planning Board.
At its Monday meeting, the board also allowed a driveway to cross a stream that is considered protected wetland for a new development off Route 101. If the project could not cross the stream, it would be sited against the highway, which the Master Plan advises against, calling it “visual disturbance” to a gateway into town.
It is prepared to grant conditional approval after drafting detailed conditions and an explanation, and will revisit the request at a future meeting.
“We’re generally in favor of this,” Vann said. “But we want to be clear about why we’re in favor of this.”