Image courtesy of Market Square Architects

A proposal to build hundreds of apartments and a grocery store-anchored retail plaza in Newington now have the town’s initial blessing.

The town Planning Board has unanimously approved a Planned Unit Development designation for Grossman Development’s plan for a vacant 25-acre site at 3333 Berlin Turnpike, according to meeting minutes. The property used to be an Eversource training facility.

Massachusetts-based Grossman still need other regulatory approvals for components of the project, but the approval of the PUD framework signals officials’ support.

The Grossman project includes 269 apartments in three 4-story buildings and a connected retail plaza anchored by a 43,228-square-foot grocery store. Other retail tenants will include a brewpub, a fitness center, a drive-through ATM kiosk and small specialty shops.