The planned move of the Grapevine Family Resource Center’s Avenue A Teen Center took a step forward Thursday night, when the Planning Board approved the site plan for a 2,200-square foot expansion to the Aiken Barn building.

The addition to the Aiken Barn building will enable Avenue A to move from its current location in a rented space on Main Street in Antrim into the Grapevine headquarters.

Grapevine Executive Director Melissa Gallagher and Avenue A Director of Teen Programs Jacqueline Roland have stated that the benefits of bringing the teen center to the Grapevine include improved safety, increased access to resources,  access to the outdoors, better integration with the community, convenience for parents, accessibility and increased space for programming.

“We have just outgrown the old space,” Gallagher said. 

The Grapevine expansion project is funded by a CDFA Community Center Program Grant, which will be awarded in the form of a forgivable loan. According to Anne Ketterer, principal architect of Novo Studio, the requirements of the grant specify that the project break ground by Sept. 30 and be complete by September 2025. 

Gallagher noted that the CDFA funds can only be used for the  construction of Avenue A addition and will not fund any programming or operating expenses at The Grapevine or Avenue A.

After a visit to the site, the Planning Board conducted a public hearing regarding the site plan.  Jennifer Adams of the Friends of Tuttle Library said that while the group had some concerns about the traffic flow, “the Friends totally, 100% support this project.” 

Jeff Lewis of Northpoint Engineering, who presented the site plan, noted that removal of the  Grapevine’s existing driveway to Aiken Street will result in a change in traffic pattern for the library and the Grapevine, and could also affect the abutters.

Gallagher and Roland said that Avenue A programs will not bring greatly increased traffic to the Grapevine during normal business hours, and that pickup and dropoff for the after-school program, which  currently takes place in the Trends of Fashion parking lot due to the requirements of the bus,  will stay the same.

After a discussion about the traffic patterns around the library, the driveway shared with abutters and the public parking lot on the south side of the library, the board approved the site plan with conditions that traffic exiting the Grapevine parking lot will be routed behind the library with a “Left Turn Only” sign, that appropriate “No Parking” signs will be added to the existing parking lot to enable emergency vehicles and that the Grapevine meet with the Select Board before the new addition opens in order to cement a plan for improved traffic signage. 

Propane recycling business receives approval

On July 11, the Planning Board approved an application for a propane tank recycling business in the town’s Route 9 Business District. The application, submitted by Michael and Nancy Driscoll, was discussed at hearings on June 20 and July 11.

The Driscolls had operated their business in a different location. 

After the June 20 meeting, the Planning Board requested information from the Antrim Fire Department regarding safety requirements at the business, as well as feedback from the Antrim Conservation Commission. Fire Chief Marshall Gale stated at the July 11 meeting that no fire-suppression system would be needed, as the entire operation would be located outside. Gale noted that as per standard requirements,  the business will be required to have three fire extinguishers on site.

The Driscolls’ application was approved with conditions that a 25-foot buffer will be maintained around the fence enclosing the property, that the operators will keep a weekly log of fire extinguisher inspections, that the driveway shall be constructed and maintained for emergency vehicle access, that the number of tanks stored on the property should not exceed 50 20-pound tanks at one time and that no more than 1,000 tanks will go through the property in a one-week period.

Young appointed to Planning Board

At the start of Thursday’s meeting, Planning Board Chair Mark Murdaugh announced that Bill Fleur had resigned Alternate Dennis Young was unanimously elected to serve on the board as a regular member.