Coffee shop proposed in Atkinson
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
ATKINSON — Residents may soon have a place to grab a morning coffee and to chat.
Lincoln Jackson has applied for Planning Board approval to build a 9,000-square-foot restaurant and office at 117 Main St. The local resident said he plans to use the space for a coffee shop, according to Shirley Galvin, the Planning Department's administrative assistant.
There are a few tables outside the Village Store and restaurant dining at the Atkinson Country Club but really no coffee shop in town, Galvin said.
The Safety Committee and Planning Board both reviewed the plans at their meetings this week. The Planning Board continued the site plan hearing to its next meeting July 23, Chairwoman Sue Killam said yesterday.
The continuation will give the town's engineer time to examine the most recently submitted plans, she said. The board accepted the initial plan in April.
Killam said she expects the proposal to go forward.
The plans are available for review in the planning office at Town Hall, she said.
James Lavelle Associates presented the plan to the town, but the company could not be reached yesterday for comment.
The vacant Main Street property is for sale for $299,000 through Coldwell Banker. Jackson, the potential owner, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
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16 comments:
Really no coffee shop?! Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there the Beantowne Cafe at the 121/111 intersection, a Starbucks on 125 (and another one on the way across from WalMart,) and the coffee retail store at the Ice Cream Cafe (the old Stillwell's)? Not to mention Heavenly Donuts AND a Dunkin Donuts on every corner in Hampstead and Plaistow.
Who is the genius that thought the middle of Rte. 121, across from a cemetery, oil spill site, abutting wetlands, and just up the road from a new HAWC well would be a good place for anything commercial, let alone a coffee shop? Mr. Jackson, I have a bridge in Brooklyn, NY for sale. Interested?
Plus to build it in an area that the Chief of Police has designated as an area of concern because of all the accidents turning onto Page's lane is just poor planning. Just another indication that this town is being carved up by greedy developers who don't care a bit for safety or the charm of the town.
From where I stand, we are inching closer towards a strip mall in Atkinson. Shame on you Planning Board members! What are you doing to our town center???
How many free coffees will the Chief be expecting?
I don't really think Atkinson employees will act like they grew up in Chelsea. Bud wanted to open a brewery in Chelsea. But after every department head that had anything to do with permitting came in for a "special consideration" Bud said "See Ya."
Now, do you think the Planning Board will try to insure that there is adequate screening and design to insure that the coffee shop fits into the rural atmosphere of downtown Atkinson? No brainer, right?
Well, it likely won't do much. Why? Because the board is made up largely of people that make their living owning and working for construction and development companies. The chairperson, Sue Killiam, is a land owner and developer that is building houses right across the street from this proposed development (surprise)! Harlod Morse, another PB member, is general manager for one of the largest construction companies in southern NH which is currently trying to gain monopoly rights on water in Atkinson, and owns the country club and golf course, among many other town projects. The town engineer works for many of the same companies that come before the board, as does the Atkinson road agent, who owns a little company on the side. The vice chairman has developed homes in the past (I believe). I'm sure there are other connections, but until the board of selectmen is willing to appoint people that don't have a financial benefit in town construction and development, Atkinson can count on losing its farms and rural character to further development that doesn't fit the area. Very sad...
The people that made the money off this development it will likely retire to somewhere "nicer" up north, while we're all stuck with the sprawl they got rich off of. How sad is Atkinson?
This should be an opportunity for the town to set a public safety precedent...this business...as with any other cash business that wants to move into town should have to pay for - or greatly contribute - to the cost of a full time officers pay, etc. ...maybe even a full time firefighter...
There have been hearings and they've already scaled back their plans once. I think it likely it will get built.
But really, in this economy, and that location, how long could it last? What we will really be seeing longer term is an empty building with a For Sale/lease sign on it that will last just as long as the current for sale sign, if not longer. This makes the whole thing even worse.
Maybe they will eventually will burn it down too and give the fire department some live practice.
Can someone in the Planning Board please explain how a commercial property with enough land for a PARKING LOT will fit into the rural atmosphere of downtown Atkinson???
How long will it last? That is a good question. If memory serves me, several years ago, I recall a coffee shop/restaurant by the post office that lasted less than a month or two. And that was in a GOOD location!
Mr. Jackson should take a close look at the very expensive EMPTY homes and lots at the development across the street. You won't get much business there and I wouldn't hold my breath for any business from the Page's /Bittersweet Lane residents either. They are disgusted with this (and the HAWC) situation!
Coming soon to a small town near you:
STRIP MALLS AND SPRAWL...
Atkinson = North Salem/Haverhill
Gee, I think a Target at the intersection of Providence Hill Road and Windmill Lane would blend in nicely with our rural town. Better yet, how about a WalMart at the end of Moccasin Path?
How about if word of a boycott of any innappropriate business that opens in Atkinson spread to the people that were considering opening it?
Would people be willing to support a boycott?
A boycott on what? You people are so snobby it isn't funny anymore.
Atkinson is such a transient town...not a bedroom community a transient town.
Everyone was in favor of turning Route 121 into a "scenic by-way"...give me a break...how scenic is overgrown foliage on the shoulders of the road? How scenic are dirt and gravel culverts and drainage ditches? How scenic are some of the run down and crappy looking homes that front Route 121? But this is okay...but not brining business into the town?
It would be nice for a REAL...LOCAL...coffee shop to come to town. There are virtually no options for food in Atkinson itself. You can get a greasy overpriced egg sandwich from the Village Store...or pay and arm and a leg for mesquite drowned food at the Country Club.
But god forbid a little coffee shop / breakfast place comes into Town.
And for the person who made the economy comment? Ever swing by Dunkin' Donuts at ANY time of the day? Yeah...its packed. People will always buy coffee and doughnuts even if we are in recession...depression...or whatever.
You are all snobs who think you are better and smarter than anyone else. I am sorry I moved here.
I thought it was a right to be able to pursue....... "to blend in" is not a requirement. To seek a living whether selling coffee or anything else is a "Right" Isn't it?
Maybe not here where it is the townies way or nothing. Sometimes I think our Constitution stops at the towns boarders.
Any body should have a right to open a business no matter how many think it will fail.
I'm against it, not that the planning board cares. That's a residential area, no? How did this happen? This town is going down hill. This guy must have an in, or promised someone something. Maybe he contributed to the police fund.
A boycott will not necessary. I give the place 9 months to stay in business.
What bothers me more is the empty space it will leave behind,
in response to ...."A boycott on what? You people are so snobby it isn't funny anymore." Will this be in your back yard? Well it will be in mine and a lot of others on Pages and Bittersweet, not to mention the people living next door or across the street from it (not counting the builder who obviously doesn't care what his neighbors think) Will you have to worry about the traffic on your street or the noise it creates? For NOW the plans for a day care have been withdrawn, want that next to you? The area in question is zoned TOWN CENTER, would you care if it were put in next to the monuments?
This hasn't anything to do with being a snob, it has to do with keeping Atkinson from looking like 125 in Plaistow or 28 in Salem. I'm guessing you have no problem with building up any piece of land and putting a business in, well I do and that's why I moved here and not to Salem.
I agree, it is not being snobbish. It is being realistic. In the long term what I think we're facing is an eyesore.
What chance does anyone think this business will have long term? You think George's regulars will move? Anyone in their right mind think Atkinson will provide enough traffic to pay the monthly bill's? It is well known that restaurants (and I think Coffee Shop fits this category) have the highest failure rate of any new business.
It's an empty building waiting to happen and that is one thing we don't need on Main St.
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