HADLEY — Recent demolition of a former bank at 5 South Maple St. will make way for a new building housing a fast-food restaurant specializing in Nashville hot chicken.

While the Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise planned for the site last year got approvals to reuse the colonial-style building, opened in 2000 as a PeoplesBank branch and closed in July 2021, representatives returned to the Planning Board Tuesday with revised site plans. Those include constructing a new box-like building, with a flat roof, and new graphics that will adorn the sides.

Ryan Little, a representative and general contractor, told the Planning Board that the 25-year-old bank building was torn down in recent days, leaving just the slab foundation for what had been a 3,219-square-foot building.

Little said the company can build quicker by using the same footprint and studs from the previously erected building. “Working around the shell would have been a little more difficult,” Little said.

The revised plans include exterior modifications to add texture with corrugated metal, combined with artistry paint, and outlining the roof with black break metal “to kind of bring it all together,” Little said.

The business will have the company’s screaming chicken head logo, along with the name on one side, with a mural of a Greek god wearing sunglasses and holding a cellphone at the drive-through window.

Situated between the Popeye’s restaurant and the building with MattressFirm and Orangetheory Fitness, the bright colors are designed to make it stand out, because the building otherwise is hidden from Route 9, Little said.

The business can have up to four signs, not internally illuminated, totaling 64 square feet, said planning Board Chairman James Maksimoski. “We do not have authority to grant you more than that,” Maksimoski said, adding that the restaurant can’t seek a variance since the hardship is only financial.

Maksimoski said exterior covering is no issue as long as it meets the building code, and paintings and murals are fine as long as they are not brand identified.

Planning Board Clerk William Dwyer asked why the company didn’t request this last year. Little said he understands that a companywide summit came up with ideas to draw customers.

“We did mull over it for four months, five months now, before coming back to the Planning Board meeting,” Little said.

Dwyer compared the proposed new building to the Chase Bank across street near Trader Joe’s. “Ironically, you’re making it look more like a bank building than it was,” Dwyer said,

Planning Board member Joseph Zgrodnik said there should be more discussion about the square building looking like a prefabricated Butler building, splashed with “bizarre colors” that might be considered advertising for the business. “If we include all those attractive colors as well as the signs, we’re well over the square footage that is allowed,” Zgrodnik said.

Planning Board member Mark Dunn said the building looks more like the exterior of a cineplex, but understands this will serve as a draw.

Used car dealership across from Hopkins Academy

In other business, the Planning Board began reviewing plans for a used car dealership at 132 Russell St. proposed by HP Realty LLC.

A 340-square-foot office will be placed in an existing 2,000-square-foot building, with a 10-vehicle show area outside.

Planners have concerns that the business is located in an area with a partially residential appearance and part of the historic village overlay district, with Hopkins Academy across the street.

Dunn said he is not thrilled with degradation of fabric of the historic district and blowing it open for used cars. He wondered if there are tools available to preserve the character.

Randy Izer, the consultant for the project, said he doesn’t believe town officials can prevent vehicles from being parked on the property as part of a used car dealership.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.