Planning Board accepts Monadnock Food Co‑op site‑plan application; public hearing opened

The Town of Jaffrey Planning Board voted to accept as sufficiently complete a site‑plan application from Monadnock Food Co‑op for the former Rite Aid building at 14 Peterborough Street and opened a public hearing on May 12. Planning Director Douglas Dumont told the Board the application met completeness requirements and the Board approved acceptance on a 7‑0‑0 vote. The project proposes a change of use to a community‑owned, full‑service grocery and deli, a 594‑square‑foot rear addition to house coolers and freezers, and site upgrades including a designated loading dock and office space above the drive‑through area.

Michael Faber, the Co‑op’s general manager, described planned store offerings and operations, saying the store would include a kitchen for prepared foods and a café with indoor and outdoor seating. "The Monadnock Food Co‑op is a locally owned, community‑focused business committed to supporting regional farmers and providing healthy food options," Faber said. The applicant estimates 65 on‑site customer parking spaces and expects typical employee vehicle counts outside shift changes to be nearer 24, with peak overlap patterns reaching higher numbers during shift turnover. The project timeline presented to the Board anticipates construction beginning in fall 2026 and a store opening in late 2027 or early 2028, subject to permitting and final design.

The hearing record includes an MOU—entered into Nov. 21, 2025—documenting that, commencing Jan. 1, 2026, the Town will allow Co‑op employees to use up to 35 Town‑owned parking spaces across Community Field, the Goodnow Street municipal lots and the Blake Street lot. Dumont emphasized that the MOU allows employee use of up to 35 public spaces and does not assign or reserve specific spaces exclusively to the Co‑op. The public hearing was continued to a site walk on Friday, May 29 at 7:30 a.m. for on‑site review of the proposal.