Developer defends plan to rehabilitate site, open used car lot on State Street

Mark J. Bonner wants to know why the Watertown City Council has been lobbing criticism at him for the past two weeks. After all, he wants to develop a property no one dared touch for almost a decade.

"I'm not pointing fingers here or criticizing anyone, I've just heard a lot lately that needs to get straightened out," said Mr. Bonner, who also owns Franklin Street Market.

He is requesting the city grant him a special-use permit to develop the site at 804 State St. into a used car lot. The permit is needed because the property is zoned for neighborhood business, which doesn't allow such use.

At least four council members have publicly said they oppose Mr. Bonner's proposal because it does not mesh with the neighborhood, and some have said it falls short of promises they received when they sold the property in March 2008.

"You have to look what's around it, there's (Ryan's) Jet Gas next door and Cheney Tire across the way," he said. "How could it not mesh with the neighborhood?"

When asked about the promise he made that a franchise restaurant or coffee house would be developed at the site, Mr. Bonner said: "I don't want to look back at the past. What was said then was said, but this is what I'm doing to try to develop that property no one touched for 10 years."

Mr. Bonner said the property will be leased to Gerard DeRouchie Jr., who will operate a used car lot and perform auto detailing in the one-story garage. A message left Thursday with Mr. DeRouchie was not returned.

Without any debate Monday, the council set a hearing for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 for public comment about the special-use permit.

Based on the plans outlined in Mr. Bonner's application, approving the special-use permit will be the only governmental hurdle before the business can open, said Kenneth A. Mix, city planning and community development coordinator.

Mr. Bonner said since acquiring the property, he has painted the building, removed debris from inside, installed new plumbing and a water heater, and removed overgrown trees.

"My two main points are that no one touched that property since I bought it and I was the highest bid," he said.

In March 2008, the council sold the property to Mr. Bonner after a contentious meeting that involved other prospective buyers verbally submitting bids as high as $70,000 to the lawmakers.

At the time, the council chose Mr. Bonner because he submitted an offer of $35,125 and told the council he would match any larger written offers. Mr. Bonner also stated in a letter to the council that he was negotiating with franchises such as Tim Hortons for the site.

"Look at what I did on Franklin Street," he said. "I took an unused building and made it into something useful. I'm just a guy that wants to do something that makes the city of Watertown a better place to live."