North Adams Cumberland Farms to Double in Size
 The Cumberland Farms is the next store in the chain to get a makeover. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Cumberland Farms is planning to nearly double the size of its convenience store on the Mohawk Trail.
The New England chain plans to demolish its current 2,400 square foot store and an adjacent two-family home and garage and construct a new 4,738 square foot building.
"This Cumberland Farms location is extremely busy, located on a main thoroughfare and within walking distance to a densely populated residential area," according to the application for a permit filed with the city. "Anecdotal evidence suggests intersite circulation would benefit from expanded parking/access aisle areas, and a larger store with more fueling positions."
Cumberland would add a third fueling station but the tanks — 32,000 gallons for gasoline and 8,000 gallons for diesel — would not be replaced.
The proposed layout is similar to the new Cumberland Farms on Curran Highway that opened last month with a "New England gable" look.The company has been renovating its existing stores and building new to add more room for grocery selections, coffees and baked goods and premade foods such as pizza and sandwiches.
Officials indicated at the grand opening of the Curran Highway store that plans were being made to revamp the Mohawk Trail location if it could obtain the residence next door.
That property at 580 Union St. is owned by the estate of Dorothy L. Jackson.
The plans also include a traffic study by McMahon & Associates that concluded "the project is not expected to have a noticeable or detrimental impact on traffic operations along Union Street."
The plans will go before the Planning Board next Monday and the Zoning Board of Appeals on Nov. 17.
The Berkshire Eagle office is also moving from Main Street to a first-floor office at 26 Union St., the former Wall-Streeter mill.
The North Adams Transcript sold its building on American Legion Drive and moved into 85 Main St. in early 2013 but the paper folded into The Eagle last January. Since then, the newspaper has reduced staffing at the North Adams office and lease signs were put in its window weeks ago.
Also coming before the Planning Board on Monday are applications for gymnastics center in the former church 1288 Massachusetts Ave. and a fitness center, Berkshire Kettle Bells, at 151 Eagle St.
Tags: convenience store, newspaper, Planning Board,
