‘New England’ architecture gets a hearing at Jiffy Mart DRB meeting

By Shawn Cunningham and Cynthia Prairie
© 2015 Telegraph Publishing LLC

What is the “over-all New England architectural appearance” and does the proposed Jiffy Mart “adhere harmoniously” to it were the questions on the table Monday night as the Chester Development Review Board reached the Special Criteria portion of its review for a conditional use permit for the new gas station and restaurant facility.

ON THE COVER: A Photoshopped image of the Charlestown, N.H., Jiffy Mart.

Champlain Oil’s Matt Wamsganz, seated front, speaks architecture of the proposed Jiffy Mart. Behind him from left are Tony Cairns, company president, Joni Goss, store manager, and Chester resident Robert Haas. All photos by Cynthia Prairie. Click a photo to launch the gallery.

Matt Wamsganz of Champlain Oil, the corporate owner of Jiffy Mart, offered a series of photos of the recently built store in Charlestown, N.H., which he says will share a basic design with the building proposed for the corner of Main and Pleasant streets in Chester. Wamsganz pointed to stone trim, multi-lite windows, wood grain, composite siding and columned entrance as elements in the design.

“This is not plain, not cookie cutter. It’s not vinyl,” said Wamsganz. “There are divided lite windows, the siding is a composite wood material. It’s durable, you don’t have to worry about paint chipping. The trim is a white PVC material. Again, low maintenance and it looks like wood.”

DRB chair Carla Westine asked Wamsganz to tell the board how the design adhered harmoniously to the appearance of the center of Chester.

He said the proposed building is not harmonious with those immediately around it, adding that “we wouldn’t want to build a building such as those. We don’t want it to look like the Sunoco or the diner or the abandoned pizza parlor or the residence that’s not in very good repair.” However, he contended, it does fit in with the New England style of architecture in Chester.

Architect Claudio Veliz addresses the Development Review Board.

Chester architect Claudio Veliz pointed to the shallow roof pitch and full glass and metal doors as examples of elements that are not traditional to New England, saying that they detract from the architectural appearance. Wamsganz countered that roof pitches and such details are not defined in the zoning regulations.

As the exchange became heated, Wamsganz pointedly asked Veliz how long he had lived in Chester and if he was a taxpayer. “Champlain Oil has been a taxpayer in this community since the ’70s,” said Wamsganz. “We are being held hostage by this man. I’m vice chair of the DRB in my town and this in not legitimate.” He then asserted that Veliz’s was the only objection to the appearance of the project.

Carla Westine, left, head of the DRB, and board member Amy O’Neal. Westine tells Wamsganz his questions concerning Veliz are inappropriate.

Westine stepped in to say that Wamsganz’s questions of Veliz were inappropriate and that he and Veliz should each bring documentation of their assertions that the project does or does not fit for the board to consider.

Wamsganz told the board that he was comfortable that he had given evidence that the building fits with Chester.

Stepping up to side with Veliz, longtime Chester resident Robert Haas said, “I also don’t agree that the building that is being proposed fits in with the architecture. I’ve been a taxpayer for 43 years here and (Veliz) is not the only one who believes that the building doesn’t fit in with the architecture of Chester.”

Chester resident Bill Dakin renewed his question from a previous hearing regarding the long “shed-like” blank wall that faces Main Street. “Can you put windows there or landscaping to break it up?” asked Dakin.

Wamsganz said that freezers and mechanicals were behind that wall so windows would not work and that he is not a fan of fake windows, recalling the recent battle over fake windows in the coming Dollar General store that will be built to the west of the proposed Jiffy Mart. 

“I also don’t agree that the building that is being proposed fits in with the architecture. I’ve been a taxpayer for 43 years here and (Veliz) is not the only one who believes that the building doesn’t fit in with the architecture of Chester.”
Robert Haas
Chester resident

Westine noted that in previous testimony Wamsganz had spoken of large planters that were maintained by the store staff, wondering if such planters were a solution. “That’s possible,” said Wamsganz.

Leigh Dakin asked if the stone marking the site of an early courthouse and jail could be better protected, noting that the stone itself is very fragile. The stone, which is near the Pleasant Street entrance, has been repaired at least once.

Wamsganz said that the stone will stay where it is and curbing that would be installed should keep cars from hitting it. Dakin noted that the stone is small enough for children to climb on, which could result in injuries or damage. She then suggested iron fencing around the stone that visitors could see through to the marker, to which Wamsganz replied that that would be possible.

“We looked all over town. We looked at the Zachary’s site and out by the car wash. But we decided this property was the best for us. Then the zoning changed and we went ahead.”
Tony Cairns
Champlain Oil

Champlain Oil President Tony Cairns traveled from South Burlington to speak to the board. He said that in the 1970s, he recalled how nice the town was in getting his business into an unused building where the Jiffy Mart is today.  And, he added the company was sensitive to the town’s architecture designing the current Jiffy Mart to be “colonial.”

Champlain Oil President Tony Cairns addresses the DRB.

“We looked all over town. We looked at the Zachary’s site and out by the car wash,” said Cairns. “But we decided this property was the best for us. Then the zoning changed and we went ahead.”

There are two ways to build a new store according to Cairns, “We could do it modern like in Hinesburg, but it wouldn’t fit in, so we’re building the design we have here in Charlestown and Ferrisburg.”

“Whether it meets the definition of New England architecture, I don’t know,” said Cairns. “I think it looks colonial.” Cairns also noted that Champlain Oil prevailed in a six-year zoning fight over the Ferrisburg Jiffy Mart. “We’ve been to the Supreme Court with this design; we’ve proved it looks colonial.”

The next DRB meeting addressing the Jiffy Mart proposal will be at 6 p.m. Monday Aug. 10 at Town Hall, 556 Elm St.  Champlain Oil will present a new traffic impact study prepared by Trudell Consulting to answer questions that arose from a  peer review of its previous study.