Commission Hears Walgreens Proposal

WESTBROOK - A proposal for a 14,800 square-foot Walgreens pharmacy with drive-thru and an adjacent 8,000 square-foot retail building is currently being discussed by the town's Zoning Commission.

According to the statement of use, the project would redevelop the Cumberland Farms property located at 1211-1223 Boston Post Road near the town center by removing the former concrete slab of the Westbrook Post Office, existing structures of the former Tom's Super Saver Gasoline Super Station, the Cumberland Farms building, Sal's Pizza, a liquor store, and two vacant stores.

Robert Novak, Jr., an engineer from the developer BL Companies, presented several New England designs at the Zoning Commission meeting, according to July 25 minutes, with architecture that would fit naturally with surrounding buildings.

About a month previous to that, according to minutes from the June 19 Planning Commission, Novak said the architecture would feature clapboard type siding with gables with a more Colonial look than the original brick.

At the July 25 Zoning Commission meeting, Novak said a lease has been with Walgreens as the anchor tenant but no tenants have signed on for the second building.

When commission member Robert Hagemeister asked if a restaurant could be considered for the second building, Novak said it was proposed, the developer would return with plans for a smaller building, would present to the Planning Commission a redesigned parking lot with a new circulation plan, and would have to demonstrate the septic would work.

While the second building may get built in the future by BL Companies, Novak said it will not get immediately built.

BL Companies is proposing a pedestrian path allowing access between the Boston Post Road sidewalk, the pharmacy building, the retail building, and Trolley Road.

The project includes a proposal to relocate the traffic signal on Boston Post Road to an area in front of the main entrance for the new redevelopment, according to July 25 minutes.