by Mickey Smith

     The next hearing of the Morristown Development and Review Board (DRB) plans to be a busy one, with six applicants on the agenda including a new business and three others that are asking to expand.
Howard and Nick Manosh are looking to add about 840 square feet, in the form of two buildings, at their existing concrete batch plant on Route 15 east.
     In a combined permit, Aubuchon Hardware and RL Vallee (owners of Morrisville Mobil) are both looking to expand and redo their lot at the corner of Routes 15 and 100 in Morristown.  Aubuchon's is planning to add about 4,300 square feet to the front of their building and about 1,100 square feet to the back of the building. Xtreme Collision Center is also named as an applicant, as the proposed changes to the lot would require changes to the property lines.
     RL Vallee is planning the biggest change at the lot.  They are proposing to tear down the current convenience store and build a 4,400 square foot Maplefields towards the west end of the lot.  The proposal also includes more gas pumps.
     Morristown Zoning Administrator Todd Thomas said the project had been discussed for some time, but became viable when RL Vallee was allowed to connect to the village sewer line near Hearthstone via the planned bypass route.  He said along with making room for this project, by connecting to the sewer line, the space which had been dedicated to the septic system would become available for future growth.  Thomas said, if the project comes through the DRB review process favorably, this project should start as soon as possible this spring.
     A new business is also being proposed for the creamery building at the foot of Pleasant Street.  Building owner Jeff Emerson has applied for a conditional “bar” use permit, to go along with a brewery that is planned for the building. Thomas described the use of this use as more in lines with the permit granted to the Green Mountain Arena, than to a permit for a bar and grill type situation.
     Thomas said a second brewery would be an exciting opportunity for Morristown.  He noted, based on the number of out-of-state cars parked at Rock Art, these types of businesses have become destination places for communities and a second such business would serve to improve the interest of tourists, and add to the draw for the downtown is important.
     The DRB hearing will be held on Thursday, February 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Offices at the Tegu Building.