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Planning Board meets briefly as applicants request continuances

by | Sep 24, 2024 | Featured: News, News

The Planning Board met for less than a half-hour Monday night due to several applicants requesting that their hearings and discussions be continued.

Vice chair Matthew Wronka chaired the meeting in the absence of chair Rob Benson. During the meeting, the board heard brief updates on several agenda items.

Wilson Street road damage discussion postponed

The discussion regarding damage to Wilson Street that the Department of Public Works claims was caused by faulty stormwater management practices at The Trails was continued. The Trails, currently in its fourth phase of development, has been plagued by stormwater management issues that have negatively impacted Ashland’s water supply and prompted the Conservation Commission to assess fines. It is currently a 127-unit open-space mixed-use development (OSMUD) off Legacy Farms Road North and Wilson Street, near the Ashland border.

Principal Planner John Gelcich told the board that project engineer Peter Bemis contacted him late Monday afternoon. Bemis explained that he wasn’t able to coordinate a time with BETA Group, the town’s peer review consultant, to discuss concerns. Bemis requested through Gelcich that the discussion be held at the next meeting.

At a July meeting, Vin Gately, the owner of The Trails, said that while The Trails is liable for some damage, it is “not the sole and only cause” of it. Bemis presented a plan at that time to resolve what damage he and Gately believe The Trails may have caused.

Charleswood School hearing postponed

A hearing that was scheduled for the Charleswood Elementary School’s major project site plan and stormwater management permit was continued in an 8-0 vote after the board received a project update.

Gelcich explained that he received two letters from Tighe & Bond, the town’s peer review consultant, earlier that day regarding the traffic and civil engineering plans for the new school, which will be located at 147 Hayden Rowe Street.

Gelcich said he had “a number of proposed conditions that resulted” from the letters. One element was a proposed traffic study after the school is constructed. The board expressed concerns about the proposed traffic plan at the Sept. 9 meeting.

Wronka said he did not want the board to vote on the project at this meeting because not all members had a chance to review the letters.

Steve Powers, the project’s civil engineering consultant, said there was “a handful of comments” contained in Tighe & Bond’s correspondence, but the firm “seemed very comfortable” with the most recent plans presented. He expected the hearing to be continued in order to give Planning Board members time to review the letters.

Chris Rokos from Tighe & Bond said “some minor comments” were related to the stormwater management plan. A few comments were made about the traffic management plan. In particular, Rokos said a traffic analysis was requested after the building is constructed and potentially adding a traffic island to prevent vehicular traffic from turning left when exiting the property.

Vertex project manager Chris Eberly said his group did not want to propose a traffic island at this time “for flexibility.”

Benson Road proposed subdivision hearing continued

The hearing on the proposed subdivision of 0 Benson Road was continued until Oct. 7 in an 8-0 vote at the request of the applicant. The proposal was discussed at the last two meetings.

Attorney Donna Wolf, who represented property owner Wayne Comeau, said she asked for a continuance because the parties involved “are still in negotiations on a piece of land.”

Hearing continued for proposed apartment building

A new hearing on the proposed apartment building at the site of the former Hopkinton Drug/Hopkinton Card and Gift Shop building at 48-52 Main Street was continued until Oct. 21 in an 8-0 vote.

The proposed three-story, mixed-use building called for the demolition of this building as well as a home at 6 Cedar Street to construct a 60-unit development.

Gelcich noted that the civil engineer will be consulted in the meantime to try to get a “clean letter” before the new meeting date.

New England Laborers Training Center hearing continued

The hearing for the New England Laborers Training Center, located at 37 East Street, was continued until the Oct. 21 meeting in an 8-0 vote at the request of the applicant.

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