Planners hear request to turn retail into residential

NORWAY — The Norway Planning Board voted to approve a renovation and a change in business at its meeting on January 26.

A proposal to turn retail space into residential was tabled by the board because more information was needed.

Eric Stoddard, who was present at the meeting, asked the Planning Board for approval to convert existing automated car wash facilities at 57 Main Street to employee-washing facilities. Stoddard plans to convert the former automated car wash to one where employees will hand wash the vehicles. No changes will be made to the self-serve car wash at the back of the lot, said Stoddard.

"I think in this area, having the brush system that touches the cars isn't what people want. They like a touch-free wash," said Stoddard. "With a hand wash you can be more sensitive. We've got a plan to wash anything we can fit in the door."

Stoddard said that he plans to employ three people. The self-serve car wash is expected to open in March.

"We are ready to be in motion in the hand wash bay," he said.

Changing locations

A physical therapy office is also expected to open soon.

Rick Bader, who has owned Richard Bader Physical Therapy at 39 Main Street in Norway for 12 years, plans to renovate the former Blue Moon Midwives building at 176 Main Street, convert it to a physical therapy office and move his business there from its current location.

Bader also has an office in Poland and one in Bridgton.

Bader said that he plans to renovate the existing barn at 176 Main Street and add on a 12-by-18-foot addition to the main building. Ultimately, said Bader, the barn will be used as a supervised workout center.

The entire building will be utilized, said Bader. He anticipates that a total of seven employees will be working out of that building with three therapists working at a time.

"We do everything one on one, so we'd be seeing three patients at a time," said Bader.

Bader said that he loves having his business on Main Street.

"We started on Main Street, and wanted to be on Main Street, but one of our problems is parking," said Bader. According to Bader, only a few buildings on Main Street allow him to have adequate parking.

Most appointments last between 30-40 minutes, said Bader, but he does not anticipate that any of his patients will have to park on the street. According to Bader, alternative parking is being sought.

Converting space

Landlord Darryl Kissick has proposed to change the store-front retail space at 374 Main Street, once occupied by Secret Garden Flowers and Gifts, into a potential residential living area.

Kissick was not present at the meeting.

Norway Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman said that Kissick has been given a plumbing permit to install a shower next to the sink and toilet that already exists, so he will have a fully-functioning bathroom.

"He is going to keep half of it as [unusable] retail space, and the other half he'd like to rent out," said Corey-Whitman.

Planning Board Chair Dennis Gray said that a couple of issues needed to be addressed before approving Kissick's proposal: whether the building meets code for egress and whether the unit has at least one-and-a-half parking spaces, which is required by the town.

Planning board members agreed that no parking would be allowed on the street. Gray said that people would also not be "thrilled" to use the existing driveway, pointing out that it's a challenge to get up and down in the wintertime.

Corey-Whitman said that, prior to giving Kissick an occupancy permit, which is required by anyone seeking to rent one or more dwelling units in one structure, she would inspect the entire building.

Norway Downtown President Andrea Burns said she didn't support the space turning into a living area, fearing it would disrupt the commercial flow of Main Street.

"It interests me that he says he is going to continue to have some commercial space, because that store where the Secret Garden was ... had the whole first floor," said Burns. "It's hard to see how a commercial entity could remain in there with an apartment. Norway Downtown is concerned about a change of use from a commercial front to a residential front; it will impact the commercial flow of the street."

While Burns sympathizes with the fact that, like everyone else, Kissick needs an income, Norway Downtown would also like to protect the commercial health of Main Street, she said.

A public hearing would have to be held to discuss the issues surrounding the change of use of the building. Corey-Whitman said she intends to go over a number of code requirements with Kissick as well.

Edited on February 7 to correct the current location of Richard Bader's Physical Therapy Office (39 Main Street in Norway). After the story was published Darryl Kissick contacted the Advertiser Democrat to stress the fact that 374 Main Street would only be temporarily turned into residential and would later be used as a commercial space.