Published: 2/7/2017 12:41:11 AM
Modified: 2/7/2017 12:41:16 AM
West Lebanon — Aspen Dental will be the first tenant to move into a proposed building that will be constructed along Route 12A, according to city planning documents.
The dental office hopes to move later this year from its current home next to Wal-Mart down the street to a property that once housed a Pizza Hut, according to a receptionist at Aspen Dental’s West Lebanon office.
The New York-based company, which specializes in low-cost dental care and dentures, says it has more than 500 franchised offices in 22 states.
Developers announced plans to raze the former restaurant building this summer, almost a year after it became vacant following the November 2015 closing of Pizza Hut. A new, 6,000-square-foot building with space for both Aspen Dental and a coffee shop with a drive-thru window will take its place.
The proposal won Planning Board approval in August, but developers face pushback from city officials who expressed concern about traffic in the 1-acre lot.
The combined dentist office and coffee shop could attract as many as 235 vehicles during mid-week mornings, according to a traffic study presented this summer. At the time, engineers working for the developers said a coffee shop likely would attract drivers already on Route 12A.
Phone messages left for officials with West Lebanon Retail MNGT LLC, the property’s current owner, were not returned on Monday.
Aspen Dental will utilize 3,750 square feet in the proposed building and be allotted 15 parking spaces, according to plans filed with the city. The coffee shop would occupy 2,250 square feet and have 18 parking spaces.
It’s not known if a tenant has been chosen for the other half of the property, but the submitted plans don’t mention a second lessee.
Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@vnews.com or 603-727-3223.