The final hurdle to jump before shovels can dig the ground for Max's Place is the special Zoning Commission meeting set for next Wed., Apr. 24. at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

At the special meeting at Town Hall, the Commission will weigh whether or not to close the public hearing and then rule on developer "Max's Place"'s application to modify a previously-issued project permit.

If the Zoning Commission rules in favor on the permit modification, the devloper could soon begin construction. Planned for the site at Spencer Plains Road and Boston Post Road in Old Saybrook is a 127,600 sq. ft. shopping center to include a a 54,100 sq. ft. grocery store, a separate 54,000 sq. ft. retail building, a 8,000 sq. ft liner building, and a 10,000 sq. ft. liner building.

At the Zoning public hearing of Apr. 15, architect Patrick Moore of Pepin Associates spoke of project's design plans for the windows, doors, and gables of the buildings. In this discussion, future tenants were discussed including a Kohl's Departmetn Store, a Panera Bread restaurant, and a Big Y grocery store.