The Planning Board on Monday decided to continue the hearing regarding the proposed expansion of the UniBank/Starbucks parking lot after listening to environmental and accessibility concerns.

The commercial parking lot at 85-89 West Main Street is located on an acre at the corner of West Main Street and Lumber Street. The small but popular shopping plaza is occupied by UniBank, Starbucks, Verizon and a nail salon.

The original proposal presented in June sought four spaces that would be created by reducing two landscape islands. The Planning Board continued that hearing until after the Conservation Commission reviewed the plan. On July 22, the Conservation Commission voiced concerns about the increase in impervious space on a revised plan for three new spaces.

At this meeting, two new spaces were proposed for the cramped parking lot. Environmental concerns were raised that pitted the desire for infrastructure for electric vehicle charging against the potential impact to the wetland and its buffer zone if installed.

Project engineer Andrew Steiner told the board that the updated plan would move the current accessible space in front of the UniBank to the building’s side to make room for one space. An additional stall would be placed near the Lumber Street entrance.

He noted that the amount of increased impervious space was reduced to about 175 square feet from the 490 square feet previously proposed. The runoff would be captured and conveyed via the on-site drainage system. The new spaces would be outside of the buffer zone, so the spaces would no longer be under the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction. The proposal still will be presented at its meeting on Tuesday.

Steiner explained that the applicant is seeking a waiver from the town’s requirement for EV-ready stalls. Installing the infrastructure, he noted, would cause additional environmental disturbance to the site.

“The costs associated with the chargers or even the conduit make this project unviable from an economic standpoint,” he said.

The spaces were proposed to benefit the nail salon and the Verizon offices, according to Steiner. He previously said these small businesses have requested reserved spaces for their customers.

Victor Teglasi, who represented the property owners, said that when the plaza originally was designed in 2014, it did not account for the need for employee parking. Employees use 10 of the 41 spaces. The applicant tried to mitigate the impact by creating 20-minute parking limits on spaces for Starbucks customers as well as by restriping the lot.

Member Peter Mimmo asked how the delineation for the reserved spaces would be made. Teglasi replied that the spaces would be painted, with possible small signs on the buildings. Vice chair Matthew Wronka, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Rob Benson, clarified that the two new spaces would not be the reserved ones.

Member Lucia Lopez expressed concern that the new space near the Lumber Street entrance would push traffic onto the street. Teglasi, a traffic engineer, said visibility and site distance are good there.

Member Amna Dewan cited the Conservation Commission’s response to the proposal it reviewed. She noted that at the time the plaza was created, a determination was made that no additional spaces be added. Teglasi countered that the commission “left the door open” for project approval at its last meeting.

On the other hand, member Parker Happ initially said he feared losing two small businesses at a time when the town is trying to attract commercial development. He later said the board should wait for the Conservation Commission’s review before voting on the plan.

Geoff Rowland, chair of the Sustainable Green Committee, stressed the need for EV charging capability. He noted that this is “essentially the perfect parking lot” for EV stations because of its proximity to Interstate 495.

Teglasi called the situation “a classic institutional conflict.” EV charging capacity to help the environment would also hurt it by tearing up the lot and causing work in the wetland resource area.

If no EV waiver is granted, “we would pull this project on a dime,” he added.

Wronka also questioned why an accessible space would be moved further away from the two small businesses. Teglasi said the building is small, so it would not be much of a distance for patrons. But Wronka stressed that three accessible spaces are required under the town bylaw for lots of 40 spaces. This lot currently has two. Wronka also called for a peer review.

The hearing was continued until Aug. 18 in a 6-0 vote.

Claflin Street off-street parking hearing continued

The board voted 6-0 to continue a hearing until Aug. 18 for a special permit for off-street parking in the downtown business district that would impact Claflin Street. Abutters expressed safety concerns about the proposed seven parking spaces on an already narrow street that is prone to flooding.

The proposal calls for parking between the principal building and the street for a four-unit development at 3 Claflin Street, off Walcott Street. The Board of Appeals has jurisdiction over the use of the planned townhouse-style buildings.

Abutter Pam Mitchell pointed out that the seven spaces would not enhance the downtown streetscape because they would be in front of the homes.

Sarah Brophy, another Claflin Street resident, said that there also will be three garages associated with the project. She called it “a narrow street at best.” She also worried about snow removal and stormwater runoff. Other abutters mentioned flooding concerns and the lack of sidewalks.

“The issues that the residents raised are significant,” said Lopez. “And my hope is that they are addressed somehow.”

Wronka suggested a site walk on Aug. 16, and board members agreed.

Chamberlain Street traffic mitigation discussed

John Gelcich, the director of Land Use, Planning and Permitting, explained that $10,000 had been allocated for traffic mitigation when the Chamberlain-Whalen subdivision was created. At the time, a speed table was suggested. But a speed bump, a lesser measure, currently costs $14,190.

He added that the Department of Public Works wants to have direction on this matter before the street is repaved shortly. The speed bump would be close to the Center Trail to address safety concerns.

The additional money likely would have to come from the DPW budget, according to Gelcich, and that budget already is tight.