CAPE ELIZABETH — Resident Michael Concannon hopes to build a gourmet market and offices at the corner of Route 77 and the high school driveway.

The Planning Board heard a preliminary proposal to build the two-story business at 349 Ocean House Road at a workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Concannon, the president of Port Printing Solutions in South Portland, said he intends to move his consulting and marketing business to Cape Elizabeth, if the project is approved.

The 3/4-acre property once housed a real estate office and had approval for a fitness center that was never developed. It is a few hundred yards from the Pond Cove Shopping Center, which includes the Pond Cove IGA supermarket, Ocean House Pizza and Local Buzz coffee shop and wine bar.

In 2004, a developer proposed building a “Cape Commerce Center” that included a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise, but the project was scuttled because of high construction costs.

According to John Mitchell, principal at Mitchell & Associates landscape architects in Portland, the proposed market would be about 3,500 square feet on the first floor and about 1,500 square feet on the second floor.

Concannon, a resident of Harriman Farm Road, said he and his wife have wanted to start another business for a while. He said with two small children in the Cape Elizabeth schools, they plan to live in the community for quite some time. 

“I’ve wanted to do a market-bakery-deli with high-end sandwiches, funky food and gourmet prepared meals,” he said.”You see these in other communities and they seem to fit nicely. We’d love to try to do it.”

The market would sell bagels, coffee, fresh bread, meats, fresh produce and wine, Concannon said. There will be no formal table service, but customers would be able to order food and sit at a table to eat.

He said he would bring his 4 1/2 employees to Cape Elizabeth and the market would have a mix of part-time and full-time employees. Concannon said he would like the market to be open from about 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but no hours of operation have been determined.

Given what he expects to be a lengthy approval process, Concannon said he would not expect to open the business until 2013. He has to complete a land survey, and sewer and traffic studies.

Concannon must also ask the Town Council for permission to use the high school driveway as an exit, since the town owns the drive. He is scheduled to address the council on Monday, Dec. 12, in executive session.

“We feel the market will fill a void in the town,” Concannon said. “I wouldn’t consider us competition for the Local Buzz or the IGA. There will be some crossover, but it is different. We are very excited to make this happen.”

Amy Anderson can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or aanderson@theforecaster.net. Follow her on Twitter: @amy_k_anderson