Planning board reviews Dunkin' design at 1895 South Willow; board presses on queue, access and landscaping

The Manchester Planning & Zoning Board held a nonbinding design review Thursday for a proposed Dunkin' restaurant with a drive‑thru at 1895 South Willow Street, during which designers and applicants described a compact layout constrained by a permanent sewer easement, shared drive aisles and an existing condominium parcel line.

The applicant, Jason Hill of TF Moran, said the plan places the building toward the back of a triangular, wedge‑shaped lot to preserve a shared driveway and to create sufficient drive‑through stacking. ‘‘Based on these constraints, this is the most efficient use and most practical use for the customers,’’ Hill said, describing a counterclockwise queue that would store about 12–13 vehicles and a parallel bypass lane leading to the site’s exit.

Why it matters: The board treated the review as a chance to identify safety, circulation and streetscape issues before a formal site plan application. Board members repeatedly pressed the team on potential conflicts between the drive‑through queue and the shared two‑way access, pedestrian crossing points at South Willow and interior landscaping and signage that would shape how drivers use the lot.

Board concerns and applicant responses - Curb cut and visibility: Several members asked whether…