BANGOR – City officials have authorized an option agreement with a Portland developer seeking to build a Tim Hortons on Main Street.

The site of the proposed coffee and doughnut shop, at 440-460 Main St., now houses the former Gosselin’s-Henry’s Bridal store and a two-story apartment building next door.

Little Wood Island LLC of Portland acquired the parcel in 2006 and now wants to redevelop the property as a Tim Hortons restaurant, which would include a drive-through window.

While the site could accommodate the restaurant as is, a Little Wood Island representative and an official from its parent company, Atlantic National Trust LLC, said late last year that the project would work better with the addition of some city land on the parcel’s back side.

To that end, Little Wood asked to buy a 0.17-acre piece of the city’s waterfront. The city land, which slopes steeply down toward the river, would be used to accommodate a retaining wall that the developers said would look much like the one built as part of the nearby Hollywood Slots Hotel and Raceway project, though on a much smaller scale.

Instead of selling the land outright, city councilors have agreed to provide the developer an option on an easement to the city property.

The developer has been granted an option agreement to that end through Oct. 30, though the term can be extended through Dec. 30 if the developer has received approval of all preliminary and final plans.

In addition, construction of the restaurant would have to begin by May 1, 2009, and be completed by March 30, 2010.

dgagnon@bangordailynews.net

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