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Company OK to move into old PVA Building in Wilton

WILTON – With little discussion, the Planning Board accepted, and then approved, a site plan presented by Atlantic Prefab for reuse of the former PVA Building on Route 31, on which it has a purchase and sales agreement.

The plan was presented Wednesday, April 19, by Mark Beroney, general manager and senior designer, who spoke informally and answered questions.

The company, which is currently located in Nashua, will use a portion of the building: 48,000 square feet in the southernmost part, the addition to the original building that was built in 1975. Baroney said they could later use more of the building, but would like to find a tenant.

Since the company will make no changes to the exterior of the building, drainage or parking areas, the Planning Board agreed that a 1999 site plan “is an accurate description as it currently exists,” and didn’t require a new drawing.

Because the plan is a change of use, the board waived the fees for the other 128,000 square feet in the building that would be required of new construction.

Board member Tracy Ewing said she wondered, since fees are supposed to simply cover Planning Board costs, “What are we doing that costs $1,500?” No engineers or outside consultants were needed.

Baroney said he had suggested that figure based on square footage after looking at the regulations.

“We considered it our fee for moving to Wilton,” he said.

He suggested, however, that “maybe fees should be looked at.”

The board agreed to look at change-of-use fees. If the rest of the space is used in the future, a site plan review will be required.

The company makes prefabricated, mostly commercial, metal and wood roof trusses and interior and exterior wall panels. It employs 25 people and could, under the right circumstances, expand to 50.

The company is currently occupying space in several towns, and wanted to consolidate operations in one place. It is a sister company of a Manchester firm with which it works closely.

The building is in the industrial zone and uses no hazardous materials. Because the building is near Stoney Brook, it is in an aquifer protection zone. The Planning Board said all outside storage must be on a paved surface. Baroney said only finished products are stored outside waiting shipping.

Baroney said the company ships “an average of one or two trucks a day,” which the Planning Board determined wasn’t an increase in previous traffic from the site, and didn’t assess impact fees.

The building, which is owned by Innovaire Direct, hasn’t been used in several years, so all of the sprinkler and alarm systems must be inspected and reactivated. Otherwise, the Fire Department found no problems with the plan.

With the approvals granted, Atlantic Prefab will now close on the purchase and move in as soon as is practical.

Selectman Kermit Williams welcomed the company to town. Baroney resides in New Boston, and he said he wondered wither there were trout in the brook.