Planning Board approves site amendment and setback waiver for Sherwin‑Williams paint store at 26–28 South River Road

The Bedford Planning Board on Jan. 27 approved an amended site plan and a dimensional waiver allowing a reduced side setback for a proposed Sherwin‑Williams paint store at 26 and 28 South River Road (lots 11-11 and 11-12). The board granted the waiver to reduce the side setback to 10.6 feet where 17.33 feet is required and approved the site plan amendment with precedent conditions, including an updated landscape plan and a new condition prohibiting outside storage of paint products.

Applicant representatives said the project converts a previously approved restaurant footprint into a 4,063-square-foot retail paint store and reduces projected vehicle trips versus the restaurant plan. Architect Tony Nuzaka of Stone River Architects described the design as a contemporary-colonial aesthetic with a gabled front and a lower warehouse section in back. “We really beefed up the front… Sherwin‑Williams with storefront is South River Road facing,” Nuzaka said. He added the warehouse section will be simpler and that final tenant colors and some signage details would be subject to tenant approval and administrative review.

Civil and traffic information presented by applicant representatives noted the change in use decreases daily and peak-hour trips compared with the restaurant approved previously: the earlier restaurant plan estimated roughly 318 trips per day while the paint store was estimated at about 33 trips per day; AM peak and PM peak trip counts were also substantially lower for the paint store. The applicant said the site’s paved areas are already constructed and that utilities are in place; the bank tenant on an adjacent pad is mobilizing for vertical construction.

Board members pressed the applicant on landscaping and screening for the building’s long, flat warehouse rear facing Colby Court. Several members expressed concern that plantings under roof drip edges and in locations subject to snow/ice could be damaged; the board asked the applicant to work with staff to revise the landscape plan and consider evergreens to provide winter screening. The board also discussed deliveries: applicant representatives said Sherwin‑Williams receives periodic tractor‑trailer deliveries, typically every few weeks, and also uses box trucks and vans; they said large‑truck deliveries would be scheduled to avoid conflicts with customer parking and building hours.

The board added or reaffirmed several precedent conditions to be completed within one year before plan signature, including a revised landscape plan (staff condition 5), screening for any rooftop mechanical units, and a new condition added by the board that “no outside storage of paint products” be allowed on the site. The board’s motion to grant the dimensional waiver was made by Priscilla Malcolm and seconded by John Nelson; board discussion included at least one opposed vote on the waiver. The subsequent motion to approve the site plan amendment, made by Malcolm and seconded by Nelson, passed with a recorded opposition by Councilor Griazo.

The applicant will submit revised plans addressing the landscaping and other staff comments and proceed with required plan-signature steps under the conditions set by the board.