According to the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) filed in July 2010 as part of a required MEPA filing, the proposed Wal-Mart development includes approximately 176,500 square feet total building area. The southern portion of the property is slated to include a single, one story building comprising a 158,000 square foot General Retail and Grocery Store (Wal-Mart).

A four acre out parcel is reserved for future development in the northern portion of the site. The out parcel is conceptually planned for a total of 18,500 square feet of space to be alocated among four buildings and include automotive retail, restaurant, retail, and bank uses.

As proposed, the development will be accessible from Tobey Road and offer approximately 766 parking spaces. The project cost is indicated to be $20 million with an estimated completion date in October 2012.

As part of this retail proposal, Wal-Mart is expected to vacate its existing building in East Wareham. This element has heightened concern over the increasing level of retail flight and the future viability of the East Wareham business district. Recently Staples, Payless and TJ Maxx vacated stores formerly in East Wareham and relocated to Wareham Crossing in West Wareham. A CVS, Stop & Shop Supermarket, and The Home Depot are currently the major retailers in the East Wareham business district. The shuttered 20,300 square foot former Staples in East Wareham is currently offered for lease.

Wareham Crossing is a 675,000 square foot open-air shopping destination offers over 35 stores and restaurants. The modern retail center opened in 2007 and is home to leading retailers including, Target, Lowe’s, L.L.Bean Outlet, Best Buy, Borders, Staples, Old Navy, and Yankee Candle, and LongHorn Steakhouse and Red Robin restaurants.

The new 13,625 square foot masonry retail structure is located at the corner of Route 28 and Donna’s Lane. A smaller building which will contain five to six specialty retail shops is also under construction. The two new structures, designated Buildings 7 and 8 on the Master Plan, will complete the nine building South Street plaza.

The new Walgreen’s is expected to open in late Spring 2010.

The only other Walgreens on Cape Cod is in South Yarmouth which was completed in 2007 on an assemblage parcel incorporating the former Sunoco gas station at the corner of Forest Road and Route 28.

ORLEANS, MA – The Cape Cod Commision opened a pro-forma hearing on March 5, 2010 concerning a proposed Stop & Shop self-service gas mart at the existing Cranberry Cove Plaza located on Route 6A in Orleans, MA.

The proposal includes the construction of a 10-pump facility in the southerly portion of the parcel currently comprising paved parking. According to the DRI application, the project is slated to include five gas islands covered with a canopy. In addition to a 60 square foot kiosk, (1) 10,000 gallon and (1) 30,000 gallon underground storage tanks are also specified.

Although several existing gas stations have been extensively renovated over the years, if approved as currently proposed the Orleans project will comprise the first new gas station facility to be established in Barnstable County, MA in many years.

Anyone interested in reviewing the file on this proposed DRI project, may contact Andrea Adams, Senior Regulatory Planner with the Cape Cod Commission at (508) 362-3828 to schedule an appointment.

If all goes according to plan, Sapphire Engineering, Inc. will be relocating operations from Bourne to Middleborough, MA.

Sapphire Engineering, Inc., a subsidiary of IDEX Corporation, is a U.S. health and science manufacturer of custom precision analytical and diagnostic components for original equipment manufacturers.

The firm is now located in a leased facility which it has been occupying for many years. This 38,100 square foot flex facility built in 1978, is located just west of MacArthur Blvd. at 53 Portside Drive in Pocasset, MA (pictured above).

The Company, however, has outgrown existing facilities in Pocasset and Hopedale, MA and is seeking to relocate and consolidate its operations in a central facility. Sapphire Engineering, Inc. plans to retain all 170 full-time manufacturing jobs from the two Massachusetts facilities. The move is also slated to create 15 new permanent full-time jobs.

Under the relocation and consolidation measure, the business plans to invest a total of $11.8 million in the Town of Middleborough. This figure includes construction costs associated with the interior build out, clean room space, new machinery and equipment, and projected future investments estimated at $3.5 million.

The proposed facility will be located within Campanelli Business Park of Middleborough, a modern park located off of I-495. Major tenants currently in the park include Christmas Tree Shops (530,000SF), NES Clothing Co. (275,000SF), Serta Mattress Co. (150,000SF).

Although Sapphire Engineering will initially lease approximately 80,000 square feet of manufacturing space, the occupancy includes the option to add 20,000 square feet of expansion space. Construction of the proposed building is scheduled to begin this Spring.

An incentive for making the relocation is a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) component, a feature of the Massachusetts Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP). The TIF was widely approved at Middleborough Special Town Meeting in October 2008.

Like any good and supporting member of the community, Sapphire Engineering, Inc. will be missed.