Plaistow Planning Board conditionally approves Hanna International Foods expansion, grants three buffer waivers

The Plaistow Planning Board on Oct. 3, 2024 conditionally approved an amended site plan for Hanna International Foods that will add space for bakery, cafe and bagel‑shop operations and a drive‑through pickup window.

Steve Mayer, an engineer with Allen & Major representing the applicant, told the board the project at 132 Plaistow Road proposes an addition to the existing building and 34 parking spaces. Mayer said the bakery component is proposed to operate 24 hours, while deliveries will be limited to 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; the bagel shop and cafe are planned to operate 7 a.m.–9 p.m., seven days a week. "The drive through isn't expected to see a lot of traffic," Mayer said, describing the pickup as primarily for app‑based orders rather than an on‑site ordering board.

The board granted three waivers requested by the applicant. The first waived the 10‑foot commercial‑to‑commercial landscape buffer called for in Article 3 §230‑23A, with a condition that the plan include a note listing all waivers. The second waived the requirement in Article 1 §230‑14.1.CC to show abutting wells and septic systems located more than 100 feet from the area of disturbance (parcels across Route 125 and Rose Avenue). The third waived the 12‑foot frontage landscape buffer required by Article 1 §230‑12.h.2.b along portions of Plaistow Road and Rose Avenue where existing conditions prevent a full buffer.

Board members pressed the applicant on circulation and queuing at the drive‑through; Mayer said the site will retain the existing Route 125 curb cut for in/out access, that Rose Avenue will remain a public in/out, and that the rear access is intended for large delivery trucks. He said paint striping was added to improve traffic flow in the rear.

The board's conditional approval (motion text reads that the application proposes a 4,050 square‑foot addition) included a set of conditions the applicant must meet before final recording: affixing all applicable professional stamps to the final plan and recording sheet; receipt of all required state permits (the chair specifically noted that driveway permitting from the Department of Transportation is included); submission of two original signed copies of a voluntary lot‑merger form; listing each granted waiver on the plan with citation and date; updating the title block to indicate lot consolidation; and preparing a final recording plan meeting Rockingham County Registry of Deeds standards. The chair stated that "all recording documents will be submitted within 20 days of receipt of a state permit."

The board also read the project fees into the record: a public‑safety impact fee assessed at $1.27 per square foot for commercial retail, applied to the 4,050‑sq‑ft addition and calculated at $5,143.50, payable prior to closing out the building permit and issuance of a certificate of occupancy. A $25 check payable to the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds will be required for plan recording.

Next steps for the applicant include obtaining the listed state permits, executing and recording the voluntary lot merger, and submitting finalized stamped plans for recording.