By Jami Badershall,Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – The Planning Board approved Franklin Memorial Hospital’s site review application for a three-story medical office building Monday night.

The board also approved a soil erosion control and storm water management application for the project.

Board member Craig Jordan toured the office building site. “Everything that they’ve got done so far for preparation work looks good,” he said.

Nathaniel Smith of the engineering company Harriman Associates spoke on behalf of the hospital. When questioned about leaving trees around the building, Smith said that some trees would have to be removed. “But we are planting a lot more back,” he added.

“It fits in with the area very well,” board member Lloyd Smith said of the building plans. “It’s well laid out.”

In other business Monday, the Planning Board was asked to extend the business hours of Putter’s Bar and Grill/The Golf Club to 1 a.m. Originally, the board approved 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Selectmen then approved a live entertainment permit to allow the establishment to have entertainment until midnight.

Neighbors Bill and Barbara Davis attended Monday’s meeting and complained that they have seen an increase in noise since the permit was approved and an upper deck was added to the establishment.

Carol Timberlake is the administrator for the long-term nursing facilities Orchard Park and Edgewood Manor. Edgewood is located across the road from The Golf Club. She said she had some concerns about noise and traffic when the business first went to the Planning Board for approval, but she saw it as a possible activity for the residents of Orchard Park and Edgewood.

“We went into this as good neighbors,” Timberlake said. “We were told it would be a golf club with a side of a little food and alcohol.”

She has also seen the noise level go up and said that many residents at Edgewood cannot sleep. She said patrons leaving Putter’s are using an access road that travels close to the nursing home and into Edgewood’s back parking lot. People also walk on the lawn near residents’ rooms.

“It is disconcerting when, after dark, the residents know someone is on their lawn,” Timberlake said. “We have residents who are recuperating, residents who are rehabilitating and long-term residents. This isn’t fair to them.”

Averill told owner Greg Roux that just because the selectmen approve an amusement permit for midnight does not mean the business can extend its hours. The Planning Board did not take any action to extend Putter’s hours, which means they remain 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.