Complex Plan at Green Barn Site Continued to Later Date

A retail plaza at the Green Barn site will have to wait for final approval after the Salem Planning Board voted Jan. 8 to continue the application to a later date.

The reason for the continuance stemmed from issues with both the signage and the architectural design of what will be the biggest building in the plaza – a new CVS Pharmacy.

The development is located at Main Street and Hampstead Road near the Methuen border.

Planning Director Ross Moldoff said that work needs to be done on the CVS design to bring it up to compliance with the regulations of the Business Office District.

He argued that the proposed 13,000-square-foot pharmacy looks very similar if not the same as a CVS built on South Broadway two years ago in a retail district.

Design regulations call for a style of architecture that looks more residential, with design work reminiscent of the 1800's or 1900's.

Mark Gross, an engineer for Salem's MHF Design, argued that buildings up and down Main Street do not meet the criteria of the regulations for the district or only meet portions. Those examples included schools and car dealerships.

Planning Board Chairman Robert Campbell said that he disagrees with the idea of going up and down Main Street, finding the worst possible examples and suggesting that as the standard by which something should be designed.

He said that the new plaza, especially the CVS, will be the first thing people will see entering town.

"I would like to see something that is a symbol of what we consider quality in terms of architecture," Campbell said.

All of the board members agreed that the two other buildings in the plaza – a bank and a retail building – are perfect as currently designed.

Part of the Thur Ken II proposal includes a patio that will allow room for hanging out or eating lunch outside of the retail and bank buildings.

Moldoff explained that he has similar issues with signage for the 22,000-square-foot project. Both the town and the engineers will hash out solutions to the issues presented before the project goes back before the board.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment recently granted a variance to allow for the retail use in the district.

A report from the Eagle Tribune last week said that The Green Barn will change locations if the project is approved, although the new location for the restaurant has not been identified publicly. The Green Barn has been in that space for 42 years.