Tuscan Village Development Contract With Salem Expected Next Week

SALEM, NH — Representatives from Tuscan Brands are hoping to sign the official development agreement with the town of Salem next week, as part of the Tuscan Village project described by Selectman Michael Lyons as "the largest financial decision in the history of Salem, except (for) Windham leaving Salem High School." The development agreement will direct the artisan Italian restaurant company to pay a certain amount of money to mitigate the project's impact on the area. The agreement has been in the works for about two years, as the Tuscan Village development moves forward in Rockingham Park.

Mark Gross of MHF Consultants, representing Tuscan Brands, said the company is ready to commit $13 million for road improvements in the Tuscan Village area. The company's officials came before the Planning Board Tuesday to get site plan approval for a cafe/gas station/car wash/convenience store building, planned as part of the Tuscan Village development. In total, the entire village will span about 170 acres. It will consist of mixed-use buildings including restaurants, markets, residential areas and a hotel. Market Basket was among the first anchor businesses to open there.

Some members of the Planning Board were skeptical about approving any site plans before the development agreement is reached. "How can we vote on things if we don't know what's in it? I want us to know what the project will involve," said Planning Board member Robert Gibbs.

Gross said, "We are hopeful that by this Monday night that we have a signed development agreement that can come before the Board of Selectmen."

Lyons, who spoke at Tuesday's public hearing, said the Planning Board should not vote to approve site plans before a development agreement is in place. He said that because of responsibility to the taxpayers, town officials should make the proposed agreement available on the town website for residents' review before Selectmen and the town manager give final approval.

Tuscan Brands owner Joe Faro, on the other hand, asked that the Planning Board "keep this project moving."

"I don't think that anybody has taken the kind of risk that I have taken to bring something to this to town that can only be dreamed of," he said. "Believe me, there's no freebies here."

Tuscan Brands owns four Tuscan Kitchen restaurants, located in Portsmouth, Salem, Boston and Burlington, Massachusetts, in addition to Tuscan Markets in Portsmouth and Salem. The company is also planning a cafe-style location in downtown Portsmouth.

According to Gross, as part of the Tuscan Village impact mitigation, the company is ready to commit $13 million in offsite improvements, which would include reconstructing and widening roads on Route 28 from the post office to Cluff Crossing Road, as well as reconstructing Rockingham Park Boulevard from the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway to the Interstate 93 on-ramp, according to Gross. Those funds will also cover reconstructing an intersection, paving, and other improvements.

In a 4-2 vote, the Planning Board on Tuesday approved site plans for the convenience store/gas station/car wash/cafe mixed-building, to be located in the area of Mall Road and Artisan Drive. The site plans were approved with 16 conditions, which include requiring the company to reach a development agreement with the town before getting a construction permit, to submit an impact fee calculation, to pay road and public safety impact fees before occupancy, and to acquire the necessary state permits.