GENEVA — After a two-year delay, it appears a new Dunkin’ will be serving up doughnuts and coffee at the corner of Exchange and North streets as early as next year.
At a joint meeting of the city’s Industrial Development and Local Development agencies in November, members approved selling what has been called the Gateway Parcel to CRT CXLVI, a limited liability company represented by Mark Cafua of Cafua Management Co. of Massachusetts, one of the largest Dunkin’ franchise operators in the Northeast. They operate several Dunkin’ locations in the region, including one on Hamilton Street.
The company is paying $250,000 for the jointly owned property. According to a revised purchase contract, CRT CXLVI must close on the property by March 1. It also must obtain all city approvals before closing.
The agreement ends a protracted period where it appeared the project was in jeopardy because of contamination on the property. That nullified the original sale, which called for a purchase price of $285,000, pending the completion of environmental investigation and clearance by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Those environmental issues ultimately were resolved.
Negotiations between the city agencies and the developer picked up after the land was cleared for development.
This plan calls for a Dunkin’ operation but no second retail component.
The developer received approvals from the city Planning Board for the original proposal, but will need to go back for another approval, said Tracy Verrier of MRB Group, the IDA and LDC’s administrator.
Another potential hiccup is an update of the city’s zoning, which does not allow drive-thru businesses in the area where the Dunkin’ is to be built. City Council is expected to approve the new zoning map at its meeting Wednesday night.
David West, the city’s planning director, confirmed there are zoning changes that affect development in the area where Dunkin’ will be built.
“The proposed new zoning contemplates higher density and a more urban development form for the intersection of North an Exchange, as described in the city’s Comprehensive Plan,” he said Thursday. “The proposed new zoning would conflict with several of the components of the previously approved drive-thru site plan, including setbacks, parking location, drive-thru next to residential uses, drive-thru circulation in front of the building, and height.
“That said, the developer submitted an updated application (last) week under the current code. It is my understanding that the Planning Board will review the application under the zoning in place when the application was received.”
The city had hoped to bring a grocery store to the Ward 6 neighborhood, defined as a “food desert” because of a lack of access to fresh foods. However, in 2021, when announcing the Gateway project, officials said they were unsuccessful in attracting a grocer to the spot where Dunkin’ will be built.
Cafua Management Co. did not respond to a Facebook message requesting comment.