Lakeshore Plaza plan gets trial run

By ALEC O'MEARA

Staff Writer

GILFORD — The booths of Motorcycle Week will be stretching to Lakeshore Road this year, as the Planning Board gave trial approval to allow vendors at the Lakeshore Plaza during Monday’s meeting.

Lakeshore Plaza, also known in town as the former Globe Plaza, currently houses Hoyt’s Cinema 8 movie theater, the Gilford House of Pizza, and a state liquor store. The applicant, listed as Lakeshore Plaza LLC, requested to allow approximately 80 feet of vendor space in the parking lot corner nearest the intersection of Lakeshore Road and Old Lakeshore Road.

Representing Lakeshore Plaza LLC was owner Phil Brouillard.

Brouillard said the request arose from discussions he’d had with a former vendor that was possibly interested in returning to the plaza with others. Though he said he had not confirmed anyone for the site, Brouillard estimated that "five or six" vendors may make use of the proposed area.

"There might an advantage to be able to get a Bike Week T-shirt without having to go all the way to the Weirs," Brouillard said.

Board member Jerry Gagnon was initially concerned about the number of potential vendors that could fit in the proposed area. At first, Gagnon estimated that 80 vendors could be squeezed into the proposed space, but he later modified his guess to around 40.

"That’s a far cry from six," said Gagnon.

Board member and Selectman representative Kinney O’Rourke moved that the Planning Board approve the vendor sites for 2004 for a trial basis, and then review the site plan application for later years.

"We know from experience and from our neighbors that without some kind of rigid oversight, it (vendor sites) can get out of hand very easily," said O’Rourke.

Member Richard Sonia moved to amend the proposal to state that vendors must also park their vehicles in the allotted space. Sonia suggested that by limiting the parking, there would additional space in the lot for other businesses. In addition, Sonia said, the parking would help to "control" the number of vendors in the area.

The amendment failed to receive a majority vote, with Sonia, Gagnon, and chair Polly Sanfacon in favor and O’Rourke, Richard Waitt and Richard Vailliancourt against. Member Carolyn Scattergood was absent.

The board then approved the proposal 6-0.

During the deliberations abutter Judy Riley raised concerns over a water tower on the property. In response, Brouillard said the tower would be painted this summer.

In other business, the board approved a six-lot subdivision on the northern tip of Mark Island. The 37-acre lot, identified as 16 Mark Island, will be divided into five lots of approximately two to three acres each as well as one remaining 26.5 acre lot.

The subdivision was approved unanimously.