Construction fence blocks parking spots

Good fences make good neighbors.

That adage is being put to the test – at least for the short term – at the 306 Center St. construction site, where safety fencing installed ahead of mandated soil removal has blocked nearly a dozen parking spaces of several businesses, including two cafes, at the adjacent commercial building.

The fencing went up on Aug. 15.

Since then, employees and customers of businesses in what locals refer to as the Station House Building, have sought parking elsewhere.

Options have included Fourth Street, Morris Street and seven parking spots west of the building leased by the Fire Hall Kitchen and Taphouse and made available when that restaurant, which operates afternoons and evenings six days a week, isn't open.

Business owners and employees were alerted beforehand by developer Brandon Atkinson that fencing would be erected along the perimeter of the property where his KSA Investments will build a 19-unit apartment/condo complex.

Dale King of Faber Construction, project manager for the KSA development, submitted applications for two on-site permits, Town Assistant Planner Ajah Eils confirmed last week.

"One of them," she told the Weekly News, "was for a fill-and-grade permit for the soil remediation process."

Removing contaminated soil from the area, which was formerly part of a full-service fuel station and storage facility, is required under a conditional use permit granted to KSA for construction of the three-story structure.

KSA representatives and Town officials held a recent pre-construction meeting to literally go over ground rules prior to the soil removal. No date had been set to begin that work as of last Thursday, Eils said.

"The second (application)," she said, "was a right-of-way permit application for on-site safety fencing."

There has been an immediate effect.

"I have 12 students in my 5 p.m. class," explained John Alcorn, instructor at USTA Martial Arts, which occupies the northeast corner of the Station House Building, "and their parents have asked where they can park."

The building also houses Fifi's Bubble Palace Dog Bar, Cruser Coffee and The Slider Café.

Alcorn is hopeful he can reclaim parking spaces once the soil removal work is completed.

"My hope," he said, "is that the owner (Atkinson) believes in a grandfather clause for us."

As for the long term, there is optimism among some that once built and occupied the Center Street residential units will provide customers within walking distance for the next store ­businesses.