BY CHRIS QUARTARONE

A proposed 50,300-squarefoot supermarket, a shopping center and a restaurant could soon change the landscape around Macy’s and the Wayfarer Inn.

Packard Development of Newton, Mass., is proposing to build a supermarket, two buildings with 36,000 square feet and 48,000 square feet of retail space and a restaurant, all within a 23.3-acre area in the Performance Zone along South River Road in Bedford.

The plan, which goes before the Planning Board on Monday, Feb. 11, calls for the partial demolition of the inn to make room for a 50,300-square-foot supermarket to be built adjacent to Macy’s on the north side as well additional parking in front of the supermarket.

“It’s exciting. They are looking at reusing and redeveloping the area,” said Bedford Planning Director Rick Sawyer.

The Wayfarer Convention Center, part of the existing hotel and the historic John Goffe’s Mill, which stands between sections of the hotel, will remain intact.

“Right now, the proposal is that the covered bridge and waterfall will remain like it is,” said Paul Cincotta, Packard Development Project Manager.

Sawyer said he is hopeful this plan, if built, would breathe life back into the Bedford Mall.

“The number one spur from this is added interest in the area,” he said.

Cincotta said his company is in the process of doing a traffic study but he is not expecting a need for any changes to the driveway on South River Road.

Currently no specific businesses have signed on to fill the retail space.

“It’s very early on at this point,” said Cincotta. “During the summer and early fall, we’ll start with that.”

Additional parking would bring the total amount at the location to more than 1,300 spaces.

Cincotta hopes construction could begin early next year.

“In the normal course of the permitting schedule, we believe groundbreaking would be about a year from now,” he said. The Bedford Planning Board meeting takes place at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 11, at the Bedford Meeting Room, BCTV Studio, 10 Meetinghouse Road.

To view the Planning Board, and other boards and commission meeting schedules, minutes and agendas, visit www.bedfordnh.org.