WOBURN - Though comments were generally favorable, the Planning Board and its director would like a little more time to review a large project off Main Street in the South End in the area of Walgreen's with drainage figures needing to be confirmed.

The proposal would remove the Busa liquors building on Main Street and replace it with a larger building on what is now a vacant portion of the lot next to Walgreen's.

An Auto Zone would be part of the new building.

While the current Busa building is a little over 4,000-square-feet, it would be replaced by an 11,200-square-foot building, a net addition of about 7,000-square-feet.

Attorney John McElhiney, representing the applicants, American Venture Corporation, noted the proposal has merits on several fronts including removing a tired Busa building, improving sight lines for vehicles exiting on to Main Street, and allowing the addition of landscaping.

Several Planning Board members agreed but, on the recommendation of Director Edmund Tarallo, suggested drainage figures be confirmed and verified before a favorable vote is issued.

The Planning Board, in this case, is acting in an advisory role with the final decision in the hands of the City Council.

The City Council is scheduled to revisit the matter next Tuesday night, April 1, but without the recommendation from the Planning Board, the matter is likely to be continued.

The Planning Board will be meeting again on Tuesday, April 8 (meetings start at 7 p.m. in City Hall).

Several area residents were in attendance for Tuesday night's Planning Board meeting. But, because the Planning Board is only the recommending body, the proposal was subject only to a public meeting and no public hearing is required.

The public hearing is ongoing before the permit granting authority, in this case, the City Council.

The current plans, McElhiney noted, are a result of several meetings with city officials and key city department heads.

He noted both parcels (the current Walgreen's parcel and the parcel proposed for redevelopment) were once one lot when owned by the A & P grocery store chain, but split into two when Walgreen's moved in the 1980s.

Curb cuts at the location would be tightened up with only one entrance, exit onto Main Street. Two exist now, he said. One on each side of the Busa liquor store.

A source of much debate Tuesday night was a curb cut off Richardson Street Extension leading to the rear of the new building.

Discussion centered on whether it should be a one way in or a one way out and how much it should be used for deliveries.

McElhiney said the current plans are for a one-way in behind the building with improvements to Richardson Street Extension (located off the south side of the parcel), but noted the applicant is open to the suggestions.

Richardson Street Extension "would be opened up once again in a limited fashion," McElhiney said, noting it was used during the A & P days as an entrance, exit.

When asked about general traffic figures for the new, larger building, McElhiney said traffic counts indicate there would not be a problem, but he said the applicant will upgrade the traffic signal at Main and Fowle street.

Though it operates fine now, McElhiney said the new lights will have several more modern day features and technologies and would cost about $40,000.

Planning Board member John Cashell said moving the Busa building back on the lot would remove a tremendous blind spot for those exiting onto Main Street. Right now, he said, "You have to take your chances."

In general, he termed the proposal "a vast improvement" if the landscaping plan is done right. He also said it is "a shot in the arm for the area."

Planning Board member David Edmonds suggested the City Council, as the permit granting authority, take a more active role in the landscape plans for the site, something which has been the sole domain of the Planning Board in recent years.

Planning Board Chair Michael Ventresca said he wanted to be sure there would be an adequate buffer or screening between the new building and the homes on John Street, and, he said, he would like to make sure the lighting for the lot had a limited impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

Ventresca said he agreed with Ward 2 Alderman Richard Gately, who spoke earlier in the meeting, that the proposal in general was a vast improvement for the area.

Tarallo said that he hoped the drainage figures and calculations could have been resolved before the meeting, but they hadn't, so he suggested the Planning Board continue the matter for two weeks.

"Overall it is a good project," Tarallo said, noting considerable work has been done recently to clean up a few "loose ends" associated with the project.

"The project has merit," Ventresca said. "There is just still a little more that needs to be done."