Old Towne Commons Receives Historic Commission Approval

Two down, one to go. Plans for the development of the Old Towne Commons on South Main Street have now been approved by two regulatory town boards.

The Cheshire Historic Commission on Monday unanimously approved a certificate of appropriateness in a 3-to-0 vote. 

The Inland Wetlands Commission also approved in July an application by developer Paul Bowman who plans to build one retail and one residential building at the rear of the 2.4-acre property which connects with Old Towne Road.

Historic Commission Chairwoman Jeanne' Chesanow said a decision to remove an upstairs porch from the circa 1840 George Keeler House at 166 South Main St. was discussed.

"The porch on the front, on the second floor is very cute and quirky. But, it was never really attached right. There was quite a bit of sentiment for keeping it," Chesanow said Tuesday.

In the end, the commission agreed to the porch's removal, Chesanow said, with the stipulation that the decorative elements from the porch will be used elsewhere in the development. 

The porch elements include balustrades, facia boards and supporting posts with decorative turns from milling, Chesanow said.

She said Bowman is keeping the architectural elements from the home and the commission believes he will complete "a splendid restoration of the house." 

Signage for the development must still be submitted to the commission, Chesanow said, which will be a separate application. 

"The applicant paid exemplary attention to detail. It seems not just a financial development but he really seems to care what he does," Chesanow said of Bowman. "It will be a lively addition to downtown."

The 3,600-square-foot historic Keeler House would contain a coffee shop, offices and two apartments, according to the plans.

The plans also calls for the construction of six connected townhouses that would cover about 5,800-square-feet. Two new office and retail buildings would cover 2,750 square-feet and 3,000-square-feet respectively. 

The Keeler Stove Shop building which was demolished in April will be replicated and built to tie-in to the historic Keeler house next door.

An site plan application is pending before the Planning and Zoning Commission which has held two public hearings on the development. It will take up the issue again at its September meeting.