LIVERMORE FALLS — The Planning Board unanimously approved a site plan review application on Thursday for a new medical arts center to be built downtown, Code Enforcement Officer James Butler Jr. said Friday.

The Franklin Community Health Network, parent board of Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, plans to build a $4 million, 13,700-square-foot center on Main Street. It would replace the vacant building connected to the Chuck Wagon Restaurant that formerly housed SAD 36/Jay Adult Education programs, and years ago a shopping mall.

The plan is to demolish the existing building and construct a new one. The facility would be separate from the Chuck Wagon building but abut it, Butler said. Kenny Jacques’ building on Depot Street, which is also connected to the former mall, will also remain intact, he said.

The new building would be one-story but have the appearance of a two-story from the outside due to facade enhancements.

It would be sit back 5 feet from where the existing building is on Main Street to allow for some greenery and trees, Butler said.

There would be 56 spaces in the parking lot, not counting on-street parking, he added.

Two public entrances to the building are planned, one on Main Street and another — the main entrance — will be farther down the building from the parking lot, closer to the Livermore Falls Water District, he said.

There has been some swapping of easements with the district.

The application was accepted with no conditions, Butler said.

FMH has two medical offices in town that together are about 7,600 square feet. Those offices, Franklin Health Livermore Falls Family Practice and Franklin Memorial Hospital Outpatient Services, would be moved to the new center.

dperry@sunjournal.com