Augusta Planning Board Tables State Office Building Proposal Because Of Traffic, Appearance Concerns

AUGUSTA — Planning Board members expressed concern that two proposed new office buildings near the State House complex, surrounded by a combined 675 parking spaces, aren’t of a design up to the standards that should be expected at such a prominent spot, and could bring too much traffic for surrounding streets. Virginia-based developer FD Stonewater’s proposal for the office buildings, one a massive three stories and 104,000 square feet and the other a one-story structure of 26,000 square feet, and a 675-space parking lot at the former site of the state Department of Transportation’s maintenance facility at 109 Capitol St., went to the Augusta Planning Board on Tuesday for a major development review Tuesday. Board members expressed concern about traffic from the site jamming up on roads surrounding the spot, especially when many state employees would leave work at the same time at the end of the workday, when commuting traffic is heavy.