Valley News Correspondent

Published: 7/8/2022 9:45:57 PM

Modified: 7/8/2022 9:45:53 PM

CLAREMONT — The new Mazda dealership at 114 Charlestown Road, formerly home to McGee Toyota, received approval Tuesday from the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a variance necessary to move forward with plans to renovate the dealership’s showroom, which officials said will improve safety at the facility.

McGee, which built a new dealership three years ago about a mile south of its former location, is proposing to demolish the front of the building where the Mazda sales offices are located, but not the service bays in the rear.

“It is repurposing an existing dealership and giving it new life,” said ZBA Chairman Mike Hurd before the Board unanimously approved a setback variance.

Before moving forward with the project, the dealership will need site plan approval from the Planning Board. A complete site plan for the new construction has not been completed.

The business, which opened earlier this year and is owned by McGee, proposes to create a setback of at least 40 feet, which is 10 feet less than required in the zoning ordinance. However, as ZBA members pointed out, it will be closer to compliance than the current distance of about 10 feet between the front of the building and Charlestown Road.

Additionally, McGee will eliminate the wide-open access in the front of the dealership. The new configuration will have two distinct access and egress points.

“It will increase safety by eliminating potential problems,” said Zoning Administrator deForest Bearse.

Bearse told the Board that an audit of Charlestown Road showed several businesses with similar entrances and it is recommended they be corrected to improve safety.

The one-story, 30,500-square-foot building was constructed in 1947. McGee purchased it under the name Charlestown Road LLC in 2012. In 2019, McGee built its new 28,700-square-foot facility.

Attempts to reach McGee were unsuccessful.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at [email protected]

Source: https://www.vnews.com/Claremont-Mazda-aims-to-construct-new-showroom-47104537