BY IRENE LABOMBARDE

The conceptual site plan for the proposed 98,165-square-foot Kohl’s Department Store and 6,907-square-foot Texas Roadhouse Restaurant on Kilton Road met vehement opposition from neighbors at the Bedford Planning Board presentation on Wednesday, Aug. 15, and the board discussed a proposal to convert 1,412 square feet inside Stop & Shop to a Starbucks, and enough questions were raised that the issue was tabled pending further research on traffic patterns.

Also on the agenda was a proposal for a fast food restaurant on South River Road, which was postponed at the applicant’s request.

Kohl’s

The Kohl’s plan presented differs from the original proposal, which was scheduled for the July meeting but not heard due to time constraints. Attorney Bill Tucker explained that, as the site was surveyed, the plans had to be modified to contend with steep grades, resulting in the repositioning of the store from the north side of the lot to the lower end.

Under the new design, the sole access remains on Kilton Road, and drivers will go past the store to get to the parking lot at the north end. The front and one side of the store will face the parking lot, and the rear and other side will face the routes 101/114 access ramps.

“The architecture on all four sides will be important. We intend to work with the staff to come up with good, solid landscaping,” said Tucker.

Bill Goebel of Bohler Engineering said the wetlands on the property have caused design challenges.

“With a 50-foot no-build zone, the property is narrower on the north end than we had originally anticipated. It’s difficult to place the building without violating setbacks,” he said.

Goebel said all utilities for the site are available but expected some issues with storm water management.

Planning Board Chairman Paul Goldberg asked about the distance from the store to the end of the parking lot, and was told by Goebel that it was 500 feet.

“That’s a lot for retail,” said Goldberg.

Goldberg also asked Goebel about snow storage and was told that several landscaped islands have been planned.

When asked what waivers the applicant might request, Tucker indicated front yard waivers would be needed.

“The northwest corner is a little close to Ridgewood Road,” he said. “Also, does the front yard setback need to be honored on the ramp? We’re not allowed to count the area on a limited access highway as frontage.”

Ridgewood Association president Betty Morrissette was the first member of the public to speak.

“Our main problem, of course, is that you are going to give waivers and just put this thing way too close to the houses,” she said. “We have elderly and children here and we do not need another restaurant or store. I don’t care what vents they put in, you’re going to have smells. I don’t think the wetlands should be disturbed and I hope the town preserves that. There’s enough traffic at this time, and I strongly urge you to consider any waivers they are asking for.”

Anne Grassi came forward with a petition against the proposed development, signed by 145 people.

“There will be cars on our road, with no trees left up to protect us from noise, lights and smells,” she said, but said
she is most concerned about how vulnerable her elderly neighbors are.

“When I went door to door, a lot of them didn’t even know about this. I’d knock and they’d just tell me to come in, and now we’re going to have a lot more traffic here. I’d also ask the board to very seriously consider before granting any waivers,” said Grassi.

John Maxwell said his Briston Court property is the closest abutter to the proposed development.

“Basically I’ll have a restaurant 75 feet from my back door – I’d ask you how you would like to have a restaurant 75 feet from your back door? I just don’t think that’s right,” he said.

Town Manager Russ Marcoux asked whether they would consider relocating the restaurant, and whether it would definitely be a Texas Roadhouse. Tucker indicated that it was merely a proposal at this time, and there was no signed commitment from the restaurant.