Norwich ― The two-story former Norwich Grange stands amid the dense commercial development, highway entrance ramps and gas stations on West Town Street.

Now, the owner of the grange property at 174 W. Town St. plans to tear down the 164-year-old structure to make way for a drive-thru Dunkin’ location on the elongated, one-third acre property in front of the Norwich Bowling & Entertainment Center.

The Commission on the City Plan on Tuesday unanimously approved the plan following a public hearing on issues related to designated flood-prone areas of the property.

Project engineer Brandon Handfield, owner of Yantic River Consultants of Lebanon, said a Dunkin’ drive-thru inside a nearby gas station will move to this location.

During the public hearing, city Historian Dale Plummer objected to the plan. He opposed the demolition of a historic building and reminded the commission that the West Town Street area frequently has experienced hazardous flooding. Plummer said he was caught in a flash flood a few years ago on his way to work and had to flee his car “and practically swim to shore.”

Plummer said the grange building is a significant historical site. It was built in 1860 as a schoolhouse for the Bean Hill area. In 1926, it closed when the Samuel Huntington School opened down the street, and the Norwich Grange took over the building. It closed in 2021, when the grange sold it to its current owner, 174 West Town Street LLC for $22,000.

“It’s not just a building,” Plummer said. “It’s a building that has significance in this historic area of the city.”

Resident Joanne Philbrick, who lives in the nearby Norwichtown Historic District, agreed. Philbrick said economic development should mean “new and exciting projects.” She questioned whether the city needs another drive-thru restaurant and answered, “no,” in her opinion.

“You cannot simultaneously promote historic tourism with a drive-thru Dunkin’ donuts,” Philbrick said.

At the start of the hearing, Handfield called the grange building “outdated and vacant.” He described the property as being in the middle of the already densely developed area in a General Commercial zone.

Handfield said the project calls for a 923-square-foot, take-out-only restaurant, with a drive-thru lane encircling the building and a pedestrian take-out window in front.

Because of the busy West Town Street traffic, the driveway will be right turn only both to enter and exit the property.

Handfield said the property would have two depressed areas planted with native Connecticut vegetation to serve as stormwater storage basins. He told the commission the project would not exacerbate flooding in the West Town Street area.

c.bessette@theday.com