Clarkdale commissions approve amended design for 909–911 Main Street newsstand despite preservation objections

The Clarkdale Planning Commission and the town's Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the previously approved design plan for the newsstand at 909–911 Main Street, permitting a substitution of operable storefront windows the applicant had already installed.

The change drew extended public comment and technical discussion about historic character, manufacturability and economic vitality. The commissions considered staff's recommendation to accept the substitution because the property owner has not opted in to the town's historic-preservation overlay and because staff said the revised storefront will help downtown economic activity.

Staff and project history

Town staff told the commissions the newsstand project was originally approved in June 2022 under the former design-review process and that the design-review responsibility later moved to the Planning Commission. The applicant, 909 Main Street LLC, and its architect, Rene Radocchio of Architecture Works Green Inc., sought approval of a revision limited to the windows on the bar portion of the storefront; the two adjacent retail bays retain the previously approved window treatment.

According to staff, the property owner did not elect to opt into the town's new…