The Monadnock Food Co-Op has taken the first steps to get Planning Board approval to start a full-service grocery in Jaffrey.
On May 12, representatives of the Co-Op appeared before the board with an application to change the use of the former Rite Aid on Peterborough Street to a grocery, as well as approval for building additions.
Chuck Ritchie, an engineer with Fieldstone Land Consultants, presented the plans on behalf of the Monadnock Food Co-Op, laying out the proposed building changes. They included about 600 square feet in the back for additional refrigeration units, and another 1,050 square feet addition to the North side for a loading dock and office spaces.
Additional upgrades would include upgrading the electrical system for the increased usage from the refrigeration, sprinkler systems throughout the building, and access to a picnic area for shoppers to eat food from the ready-to-go and cafe options the store sells.
The board reviewed the plans, and while it had some questions about the upgrades, the main point of conversation was parking — namely, parking for store employees, which the Co-Op hopes to have off-site at public lots close to the store.
The Co-Op has had discussions with the town about the use of public parking for up to 35 spaces during shift changes, when the most employees would need spaces. That would reserve the 65 spaces on site for customers.
Town Manager Jon Frederick and Co-Op Manager Michael Faber have signed a memorandum of understanding that the town is aware of the plan to use off-site parking for employees, and that there is sufficient parking to support that in public lots within walking distance to the store, including the lot at Community Field, the Blake Street lot and the Goodnow Street lot.
Board members questioned whether there was precedent or fairness in “reserving” spots for a particular downtown business.
Planning Director Doug Dumont specified that the agreement does not “assign” spots to the Monadnock Food Co-Op, merely acknowledges that there is sufficient public parking in the area, and that the employees have the right to use it, though parking would remain on a first-come, first-served basis.
Jaffrey Development Projects Coordinator JoAnne Carr noted that there are plans within the next few years to pave and formalize parking at Community Field with striped spaces, which would result in about 75 to 90 parking spots, depending upon the plan used. She said there are significantly more cars than can park there now, using an informal parking system.
Faber said the Co-Op is not tied to having employees park in any specific area, but has determined parking wouldn’t be sufficient to have all employees park on site.
Select Board ex officio Franklin Sterling said he didn’t think the issue was unsolvable.
“I think you can tell, there’s a real need for this, there’s a general excitement about it coming, about you coming here. If you could move in tomorrow, that would be terrific,” Sterling said. “It would be nice not to have to drive to Rindge to get a dozen eggs. I want you to walk away from this with the feeling that none of the questions or concerns raised here today are insurmountable; we can find a way to work around them.”
The board agreed to continue the hearing and hold a site walk on the property, scheduled for May 29 at 7:30 a.m. The board is scheduled to convene in a regular meeting at the town office immediately following the site walk, where they may enter deliberation on the proposal.