Developers Withdraw West Harwich Retail Proposal

HARWICH – The developers of a proposed retail project on Route 28 in West Harwich withdrew it from planning board consideration last week.

The board was considering the controversial 7,500-square-foot project along Route 28 for referral to the Cape Cod Commission.

Chad Brubaker of Liscotti Develeopment and Harwich Retail LLC read a letter to the board withdrawing the project without prejudice.

The board unanimously approved a motion to allow the request.

The withdrawal followed several months of protest from residents.

At a previous meeting in June, resident Carl Wood complained that he can’t get out of his driveway in the summer.

“This should have been brought to our attention before you people spent all these months planning it,” Wood said.

Efforts have been made in recent years in West Harwich to preserve historic characteristics of the village, along with creating a Captain’s Row historic district.

The retail project was proposed on two lots in the village owned by Harwich Retail LLC. The Captain George Winchell Baker House, which is in poor condition, presently sits on one of the lots.

“I think we better try and keep the neighborhood as it is,” Wood said. “The worst we can do is just take the building down and plant grass.”

Resident Steve Scannell said there should be a vote at town meeting to handle a project like this.

He also said a better location for a retail project would be near Routes 39 and 137.

“There is good traffic out there. It is more appropriate out there,” Scannell said.

It was speculated that the retail space was going to be a Dollar General because of the ties between the retailer and Liscotti Development.

Seasonal resident Amy Lord, who hopes to live full-time in the town, said the town has a history.

“I believe in the history and I am sad about a dollar store,” she said. “But I do know that we need to do something as a community.”

Lord said she would like to see projects in the area like a community garden or pickle ball courts to bring the community together.

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