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Kona International Foods seeks amended site‑plan approval for expansion and retail; board continues hearing to Oct. 16
Summary
Kona International Foods proposed a 4,050 sq. ft. addition, a ~2,100 sq. ft. café and a ~990 sq. ft. bagel shop with a drive‑through pick-up window at 132 Plaistow Road. Engineer Steven Mayer outlined drainage, truck access and three waiver requests. The board accepted the application as complete and continued the public hearing to Oct. 16 so staff and engineering comments can be reviewed.
On Sept. 18 the Plaistow Planning Board found the amended site plan for Kona International Foods (132 Plaistow Road, Map 29 Lot 3) complete and heard a presentation from Steven Mayer of Allen & Major Associates. The proposal would add 4,050 sq. ft. of building area and introduce a café (approx. 2,100 sq. ft.) and a bagel shop (approx. 990 sq. ft.), a drive‑through pick‑up window (app‑based ordering rather than a menu board), a loading dock sized for WB67 trucks, and 34 parking spaces.
Mayer described drainage measures that replace most existing dry wells with infiltration systems sized to handle a 25‑year storm event and said the site would connect to municipal water (abandoning the on‑site well) and provide a stub for future fire service. He described three requested waivers: (1) a reduced 7‑foot buffer where 10 feet is required along a C1/commmercial edge (proposed planting of Arborvitae), (2) a waiver to omit showing septic systems and wells for lots across the right-of-way, and (3) a reduced frontage buffer in some areas where no buffer exists now. The plan also shows five new pole lights and four building‑mounted fixtures with full cut‑off to limit spillage.
Board members asked about the drive‑through circulation and hours of operation, and whether large trucks would operate late at night. Mayer said the site is designed to support one truck at a time and offered to confirm actual hours with the owner; the board agreed to review the waivers and engineering comments at a continued session. The board continued the public hearing for PB 2414 to Oct. 16, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at Plaistow Town Hall and advised that engineering/staff responses will be reviewed before waivers are considered.
Next steps: Applicant to provide clarifications about hours and truck timing; staff and engineering reviewer to complete comments; waivers will be considered at the continued hearing.
