Market Basket aims to buy its property at The Ridge in Rochester

ROCHESTER — Market Basket has moved closer to purchasing the land the grocery store sits on at The Ridge Marketplace shopping plaza.

The city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment on Feb. 14 approved three variances for Waterstone Properties, which owns The Ridge. It’s the first step in clearing the way for the land deal.

Concord attorney John Arnold, representing Waterstone, said there are about 9-10 other businesses in that part of the plaza. Approving the variances has no impact to the other businesses, he said.

Market Basket is at 120 Marketplace Blvd., part of The Ridge Marketplace shopping plaza in Rochester.

“It is a subdivision on paper,” said Arnold. “Nothing will actually be done to change anything.”

Arnold said Waterstone was seeking to renew three variances that had been granted in 2021 but had lapsed due to inactivity.

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“These were approved in 2021,” he said. “Per state law, a variance lapses if no action is taken within two years. Due to COVID and staffing changes, this slipped through the cracks, and we are just putting it back in place by seeking to have the variances granted again.”

The variances, granted, all involved property line setbacks surrounding the building and parking lot area. The purpose, said Arnold is to allow Market Basket to own its particular section of The Ridge.

“It is a practice of Market Basket to try and own their buildings rather than lease them,” said Arnold. “This allows them to separate out the property.”

The first variance asked for zero setbacks where 50 would be required; the second 38 feet where 100 feet is required, and the third zero setback where five feet is required. They all involve the outside perimeter of the building.

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City planning director Shanna Saunders said she thinks the move indicates Waterstone will sell that piece of The Ridge to Market Basket Corporation, adding Waterstone could confirm that. Josh Levy, principal of Waterstone, did not comment in response to questions sent to Waterstone.

Questions were also sent to officials at Market Basket corporate headquarters in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and there was no response.

“Their next step is to do the actual subdivision before the Planning Board. After the planning board approves, they are able to sell,” Saunders said.

The Ridge phase 1 property is about 72 acres. The city owns 46 acres at the rear of the property, and it is in a conservation easement. Arnold said the 38-foot variance is there because to do the required 100 feet, the development would encroach on the conservation easement, and he believes that is not allowed.

Saunders said the variance was granted on the condition the language of the easement would change to accommodate the setback Market Basket is requesting.

The other variances establish a conceptual wall to separate the building from the adjacent business, and the third dealt with the parking lot, stating it will not encroach on an already established sidewalk area.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Market Basket aims to buy its property at The Ridge in Rochester NH