proposed Downtown pharmacy
greg
Streets. This falls just outside the official Aylesford boundary, but
it is within walking distance of most Aylesford residents (as well as
Bell Court and others). That’s the good news. And downtown certainly
needs a pharmacy. The bad news—the proposal ignores the downtown
master plan. As submitted, the CVS plan is not suitable for an urban
setting. Instead, they are proposing their standard suburban store
geared toward vehicular traffic, not pedestrians. The one-story plan
includes a large parking area (adjacent to Vine) and a drive thru
pickup window. The primary entrance is on the side of the building,
off the parking lot, rather than Main Street. In fact, the building
is set back off Main with a driving lane for the pickup window, so
that the pedestrian sidewalk runs between Main Street and the drive-
thru lane. The area is zoned B-2. CVS is requesting a conditional use
permit to construct the drive-through and lane, which requires
approval from the Board of Adjustment. A hearing is scheduled for 1:00
pm on Friday, March 27 in Council Chambers. If anyone is interested,
call the Division of Planning for the details—258-3160.
Ben Self
This is an interesting problem. While I'm all for the downtown master plan, I'm also a pragmatist and can't help but wonder if it would still be better than what we have today. Some investment in downtown is better than none, I supposed. Do you know what it will be replacing? Is CVS open at all to revisiting their plan? Any sense from LFUCG on how it is going to go?
-Ben
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Ben Self
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Guenthner, Gregory
Ben, I understand your thoughts completely. I live on Ransom Avenue and could walk to the pharmacy and would walk to it. Because I could walk to it, I would gladly pay a reasonably higher price for items I purchase from it. But this is a really bad plan. See the attached. Perhaps I’m missing something. Perhaps the blueprints will reveal a more sensitive development.
As it stands, it is my understanding that there are no city ordinances or codes to keep this from happening other than the need for a conditional use permit for the drive-thru. But there is more wrong here than a drive thru. Other than appealing to the developer, I don’t think there is any other recourse.
The developer is Phil Holoubeck. I don’t know him personally, but I am surprised. Among many other good things and good works, Holoubeck was a member of the steering committee for the Ayers-Saint-Gross downtown master plan. I expect the Webbs to ignore the master, but not members of the steering committee.
Entering Lexington from Richmond Road is Lexington’s most scenic corridor. With this thing, you’ll come upon an expanse of parking adjacent to a multi-lane Vine Street. A pedestrian will walk on a sidewalk bridge straddling Main on one side and a drive-thru lane on the other. Moreover, the drive-thru lane pushes the building back from the established setback. As another affront to Main Street architecture and downtown pedestrians, the primary entrance appears to open from the parking lot.
I’ve had a couple of conversations with the Planning Division downtown, and there isn’t anything to stop this other than an appeal to the developer. If you know anyone who knows Mr. Holoubeck, please forward this information. If nothing else, this building should be bumped up to Main and over to Vine.
Regards,
Greg
Ben Self
-Ben