Mattapoisett sells old fire station

MATTAPOISETT — The vacant fire station on County Road in Mattapoisett has a new owner and a new purpose.

Marion-based Sky Development Ltd., which is owned by Michael and Katherine Sudofsky, purchased the former fire station for $675,000, said the Mattapoisett Select Board during a Jan. 10 meeting. 

Sky Development Ltd., was one of two applicants who responded to a request for proposal put out by the town. 

The Sudofsky’s also own a number of properties in Mattapoisett including the Walrus and Captain Restaurant and the “Ropewalk Shops and Cafe.”

Town counsel Matt Thomas has said at a previous meeting that because of the way the fire station sits diagonally on the property, he does not think the new owners could do much if they knocked the building down – in fact, it would add more restrictions.

“There’s zoning bylaws and setbacks based on frontage to the roadway,” said Mattapoisett Town Administrator Mike Lorenco. “The building that’s there is grandfathered in because it was built before those bylaws were set. If someone were to tear the building down, building something similar wouldn’t pass current bylaws.”

According to the Select Board, this new property will follow in the footsteps of other properties owned by Sky Development Ltd. in Mattapoisett. 

“It’s going to be a grocery store-bakery set-up,” said Select Board Chair Tyler Macallister. “That’s their thoughts on it.”

Sudofsky’s plans are subject to approval by the town, including the planning board, noted Lorenco. 

“My very own concerns are parking, it’s a very small parcel. I think traffic-wise, it’s going to be tricky pulling out of there,” said Select Board Member Jodi Bauer. “If it’s going to be a food kind of business it’ll need to have a dumpster and a loading dock. I’m a little concerned but we’ll figure that out.”