Uh we'll get started with the script then. Pursuant to chapter 2, the acts of 2025, this meeting will be conducted via remote means in accordance with applicable law. This means that members of the public body as well as members of the public may access this meeting via virtual means. Participants may access this meeting through the remote meeting
link as posted on the meeting agenda and through the town's online calendar. When required by law or allowed by the chair, persons wishing to provide public comment or otherwise participate in the meeting may do so by raising their hands or otherwise signaling their intents to speak and be recognized by the chair. This meeting will be recorded. Please
take care to mute your microphone unless you have been recognized by the chair. We will now confirm attendance of members. Please respond with present if you are on this call. Uh Elise Mosowski >> present. >> Lucia Lopez >> present.
>> Michael King >> present. Park. Uh Parker Hap is not here. Uh Omna Dewan >> present. >> Uh Peter Mimo >> present. >> Uh Brian Johnson
>> present. >> And Rob Benson not present. Right. Okay. Um we'll come back to board reorganization. uh since we're waiting for Rob to join and we're expecting him. Um so I'll
start off instead by just welcome welcoming Brian to the board. Uh thanks for joining the board and volunteering your time to help shape the town. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um moving on to minutes.
Did uh oh sorry I didn't do staff uh staff Fener uh Patel >> present >> and Lori St. Sean, she didn't see her. >> Uh, nope. >> Okay. Um, all right. So, moving on to minutes. Uh, were there I didn't see any updates to the file. Um, did anybody
have additions that were submitted after it was uploaded? >> No, I did not receive any updates or not, Lori. >> Okay. In which case, I would entertain a motion to approve the minutes of May 11th, 2026 as written.
>> So moved. >> Second that. >> Okay. Roll call vote. Matthew, can I ask a question first? >> Sure. >> I was not a member of the board during the last meeting. Do I vote on this particular one or not? >> You are eligible and Eric, correct me if
I'm wrong. I believe you're eligible to vote on the administrative items >> uh for minutes. No, I would say okay. >> No, because he was not part of the discussion and >> yeah, >> so for a safer side. >> All right. I'll abstain from this
voting. Thank you. But he can take a part on the aial drive discussion and other for continuence. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. In which case, uh, any other discussion on the minutes? Nope. All right. Roll call vote. Uh,
Elise Mleski. >> Sorry. Here. Yeah. Yes. >> Uh, voting on the minutes. >> Yeah. Sorry, my Zoom went away. Yes. I vote yes. Okay. Uh, Lucia, >> yes. >> Michael King, >> yes. >> Parker, Parker Hap is not here.
>> Uh, Amna Dwan, >> yes. >> Uh, Peter Memo, >> yes. >> Uh, Brian, uh, Brian Johnson, we're skipping over. Rob Benson is not here. And I'm a yes. Okay.
Uh so Parker as a private citizen had brought the Ociello discussion. I am assuming that without him present the board probably feels like it makes more sense to postpone this to a later meeting. Do I hear any objection?
>> Okay. >> through through the chair. It's up to the board if board wants to discuss and then also continue or without discussion. If board wants to continue, we can have both options. Since Parker Hap is also the planning board member,
um I just want to point that out for record and for public. >> I I'd like to move that this discussion get moved to the next meeting without further discussion.
>> Um I don't Okay, we have a first and a second. In which case, any discussion on the motion? >> Do we need a vote on administrative items? We wouldn't have, but we have a motion with a second, so might as well go through it. >> Um, Elise Mosowski,
>> yeah. >> Lucia Lopez, >> yes. >> Michael King, >> yes. >> Parker Hap, uh, not here. Amna Dewan, >> yes. >> Peter Mimo, >> yes. >> Ryan Johnson, >> yes. >> All right. And I am also Yes. Uh, the
street acceptance process is interesting information for you to read. It's in the memo. Um, but considering that the select board is going to be discussing this in exactly 24 hours and 1 minute, if their timeline is accurate tomorrow, um, I don't believe that it's prudent
for us to discuss this right now either. Does anybody have objections to just continuing this later or coming back to it if they're relevant? Nope. Okay, then we can move on. Um unfortunately I think the activity
updates were also Parker. Um so we'll have to come back to that again >> for the chair. >> Yep. >> I will uh like to just give a brief update on what economic development advisory group group group is doing. So recently um EDC basically working on
economic de Hopkins economic development plan and we had little u meeting with residents and different group with like a select board planning board members were there um economic development group were there and um chamber of commerce
and we discussed some action plans and strategy like how we can make economic development plan better and all the strategies Uh, I I'm happy to share that information with the board member if everybody's interested. I'm not sure
what else Parker wanted to discuss, but this is the little update I wanted to share with the board members on this. Sorry. Um, if there's any other information that's uh relevant that you want to share, I know that we've been very we've talked a lot about how we can
improve the uh the environment for businesses in our town in terms of encouraging businesses to to move in and help increase our commercial uh tax intake. Uh so if
there's any other information that you would want to share in Parker's absence, I think that would be of interest to the board. >> Yeah. Um >> let me quickly present or show you the strategies which economic development
group is working on currently. Give me a second. Can you see? Can you all see my screen? >> Yep. Uh I can see that it started screen sharing. Now I can see the screen. >> Okay. So basically we under our current uh
Hopkin economic development plan we do have six goal uh and we have different action items uh which we looked into it and who is responsible and how we can come up and the ma main reason for doing
that action and strategy. So the first goal is to support and retain our existing business in the town. There are two strategies like how we can connect and provide different resources and second is the advertise small businesses. uh the exercise we did recently with the
public survey and the opinion we came up with a few strategies like and point of view from different uh town uh boards and committees like how they think which strategies is important to focus on like for example I'm just going to take under
the current um situation of the business's existing situation so the second strategy under first action item connect with the business and provide resources like basically how we can encourage
current uh business owner to come to the town and what are the other options for them to increase their um what we call marketing and opportunities. So that is one of the topic we discussed during that meeting. Um second goal is to grow
opportunity for community amenities and there are two strategies. So each goal has like two action items and different uh purposes like how we want to engage and involve with that under our action
plan. Third is our attract new large businesses to fill the vac industrial and office spaces. There are basically four strategies under that allow complimentary use in the industrial then build relationship with the property
owner. Um the third strategies is the business establishment process like um that is where planning board and the economic development group can work together and when whenever it comes to us like approving or reviewing site plan
or minor site plan depends upon the application and the project and how we can involve that and help the business owner. Uh the fourth strategy is to connect businesses to the program and properties
and the last is in this is support infrastructure investment. The fourth goal is to coordinate econ economic development functions. Basically this is going to be under um town managers and the chamber of commerce and economic development
uh to get involved and coordinate with the business owners. So this also has like two to four strategies under each goal. The fifth goal is to in uh invest in emerging tourism industry. Um again
we have like a center school development project is going on. Then how we can uh increase more tourist by maybe adding few more um like bylaws or something which allow uh
developer to build new stops or the cultural activities if anything is coming to planning side or to the town basically. Um it also has like three strategies and the last one we have is to improve transportation options.
Currently we had a little discussion that we are uh we or there's a talk going on in the DPW side and the planning side to increase Marta route they are changing um so how that can
help into our Hopkin economic development plan um and our MBTA zoning how that can help to increase and in economic development. So these are the six strategies. Um we are
I mean economic development group is working on and yeah um if there's any other updates Parker will cover in the next meeting but this is the other main thing which recently town did
happy to answer anything. Should >> you go back to row 332 please? Mhm. You said 33 >> 3.3.2 I think is the one I saw
>> cuz that one I think the planning board was mentioned. >> Uh is it 33 33 >> 332 includes specific steps for so I think there's a lot of here that is going to be of interest of to us. Um,
one thing uh especially as we start thinking about uh the town master plan which was last updated in 2017 um and that had been updated before in 2007 and taken a few years of planning and research before publishing it. So the next update is
probably going to be a little bit longer than 10 years since we haven't started that work. Um one of the things that was in there was also micromobility um improvements which is mentioned here. Um, and so I think it'd be really interesting to see to
read this later. Um, is this available? Can you put this as a PDF in our folder, Aneri, so we can have access to it? >> I think I added and if it's not there, I can add after the meeting. Yeah, I was curious what the specific steps for the planning
board were for um how that would involve just >> um it may be too early to get into specifics, but I was wondering what you what the board was thinking about here since they specifically mentioned the planning board. >> Yep. Uh it is also available on our economic development website, but uh
happy to add in our shell folder so everybody can access this. >> Is that still being developed? Is that a draft of what they want to produce or are they still working on it? >> So it's still um currently like we are
working on this. It's not the final version. We just had our meeting on our this action item like how we see and the different group as I mentioned uh like what is main priority as a town
perspective in like under each goal and for example strategy two is important or strategy one to look into and what are the actions we can take. Yeah, I was just curious in the online what role you thought the planning board had in that.
>> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions for Okay, then we'll move on to uh our continued hearing uh 75 South Street. Um I see that Mr.
Lefave is on or was on. Um, so do you or uh do you have an update on where we are with that? I Yeah, probably just hand over. Do you have an update on uh where we are? >> Absolutely. Joe Micro here, folks. Uh bear with me. I've got I'm suffering
through seasonal allergies, so I'll I'll do my best. First of all, I want to start off uh by thanking the board. Appreciate your patience uh while we work through this. Um, I anticipated syncing up uh the different board reviews. Uh, it would be a little more
easier than it's turned out, but it has worked out. We were at the conservation commission at their last public hearing and they approved the um site plan that you have in front of you now, the 5126 revision. They have issued in order
conditions for that. Um, the bulk of the discussion was down in the southeasterly corner. They wanted some um additional storm water mitigation down there. We aren't changing the flow characteristics, but they wanted us because we were a redevelopment project
to add something down in that corner to improve the situation. So, we added a stone um crush stone strip um a vegetated filter strip with natural uh grasses and then a rain garden, specialized uh soil media and plantings
down on that corner. um updated all the calculations based on changes there and um the operation maintenance protocols were updated for things like snow removal, uh mowing, uh what to do with the grass clippings. We got pretty specific with all that stuff. And then
finally, um we the boundary line um there is a an overlap where parking hangs over southerntherly side to number 77. We have to simplify this process. We have moved the limit of work to the boundary line. So we will not be operating outside the bounds of the
parcel at number 75. So that was the focus of our discussions. Uh the rest of the plan um resembles uh what you saw before. No other changes except in those two spots. Um I do have the site plans. I can share my screen if if folks want
to dive into that in more detail. >> Uh that would be helpful. think to share the share your screen for where you're you were mentioning and while you're pulling that up um man do is there any uh additional comment from staff
>> um no we uh I'm all set from my side the revised plan meeting all the site plan conditions just to remind board that applicant did request a waiver for um condition M and there are no further comments from any other department as well. So okay from minor
>> conservation is h is is >> yeah they they got their order of condition I mean comcom issued the decision so >> and every would it be possible if you would allow me to share >> yeah send me the request sorry
Uh, and also to the chair, just for the record, uh, Vice Chair Rob Benson joined the meeting at 7:20 p.m. >> Thank you. >> Um, and while that's coming up, uh, Brian's eligible to discuss but not vote, right? >> That is correct.
>> Okay. And I believe everybody else here is also eligible to vote. Okay. There are messages the host has disabled attendee screen sharing. >> Do you mind sending again Joe because I
did not receive any request. Do you want me to do you want me to share the plans? >> Yeah, if you would. >> Yeah, sure. >> It's the uh erosion and sedimentation control plan. Yep.
>> G6 maybe. Mhm. US C6. >> Yeah, keep quite a bit of info on that sentimentation control plan. Yeah, that one. Yes, please. >> Okay. And you were talking about the parking lot in the southern side, right?
>> Yeah, the southern side. So along that silly boundary line, the common line was 77. That is now our limit of work. Even though you can see the parking places hang over the boundary line, it allows us to move forward without involving that property owner. And then to the
east, uh, parallel with 495 down that same corner, there's a stone strip at the edge of the pavement to filter to the water, travels over a a grass strip, a native grass, and falls into that rain garden, and then u leaves and heads
easterly towards the highway towards that wetlands area. So those are the changes down in that corner. The rest of the site plan is unchanged. Any questions or comments from anyone on the board?
>> I don't see any comments, questions. Uh, Lucia, um, I wasn't here at the last meeting where this was discussed and I apologize for that. Um, had a an unexpected situation to deal with. Um,
But I know the discussion and watching back about the sidewalks happened then and it sounded like most people were in favor of granting the waiver or the sidewalks. And in listening to
the discussion, I think I agree some of the comments that were made in terms of a sidewalk to nowhere in terms of the Hayward Street side because I don't foresee 495 disappearing anytime soon. So that would be um a sidewalk to nowhere in my opinion. Um I do think
that there is an opportunity to do what comes up at these meetings often in terms of being more forward thinking rather than reactionary on the south street side. And I don't think it requires um the
applicant to build the sidewalk, but I think this was something that initially was suggested by Carrie is potentially providing an easement for in the future if we're looking to uh do a sidewalk on that side of South Street. Then DPW
could not only add the sidewalk, but then also add a crosswalk to get from those businesses to the other side of South Street. uh and the businesses on South Street and Hayward. So, I just wanted to bring that up as a possible
option for the board to discuss. >> Thank you, Lucia. Any other comments from the board either on what Lucia said or this current application? Joe or Lance, do you have any feedback on the idea of including an Eastman as
part of the this project? Is that what's your thought on that? >> Joe, you and I have talked about it a bit. Um, I will defer to you, but
the um, Luchia, I I hear you. Um I'm I'm from Vermont. I'm from a very um generous neighborhood. Um what I've witnessed out there is that across the street is a perfectly viable sidewalk
where the bus actually goes and I've seen a crosswalk that already exists to where the food bank is now. And I mean, I'm I'm really excited to be part of this
community and I'm I'm really excited to contribute to the community. I'm excited to improve our property. Um, one thing we haven't talked about in these meetings and maybe this is the right time is that we're spending over seven
figures in environmental and cleanup to clean the former sins of the frier owner. which um we're optimistic that it's going to make the property better and the whole area better. Uh I don't see
how a I mean an easement isn't that big a deal to me. However, I don't under I don't see how conceding an easement would improve the area. We have a beautiful sidewalk across the street.
So, um, could you tell me how you think an easement on our side would enhance the existing sidewalk that exists on the other side of the street? So, I think the DPW's feedback and previous
commentary uh from people in the area um have been that it's they haven't felt safe walking along that that side to get to project just because for instance and so people are driving even if they just live over near the lake or acello because it's there isn't there isn't a
feeling of of that it's safe to walk along the side that project just because it's on um from the traffic light on. >> Mhm. That would be the the thought that's going into that. >> Okay. I I hear that. And I mean, I'm not going to belabor it, but um
I don't I don't I guess I don't understand. When you walk in front of Dunkin Donuts, there's a there's a that's where the bus goes. That's where the sidewalk is. So I can I mean, I'm not a resident, although we have a business just down the street. Yeah,
>> cuz you >> so I think people have thought or I'll defer to Lucia who's has a comment. Um, so actually when I was on Hayward and South Street for a separate hearing that we had >> um to go look at a house that burned
down, as I was sitting at that light, I actually saw um I I'm assuming it was one of the employees from one of the businesses there jump across as the light was switching. And that to me felt very unsafe. I do agree that I think it
makes sense to have a sidewalk there if there are people from the neighboring businesses who are, you know, having to like dart across the street in order to get to the restaurants. Uh, and I think just thinking towards the future, if there are more businesses there and
there are more sidewalks along that side in the future, then people would be able to travel between businesses more easily, more safely. And I don't think this is an immediate, you know, in the next year or two, >> but just in terms of a possibility for the future,
>> right? I I guess I don't So we have a landscape company. Yeah. And we have us. Yeah. And then we have the food bank who's a lease
for a period of time who has a crossing sidewalk there. Uh, and I'm it's not an argument. I I think we're going to be fine either way, but I I tell me again, I don't see it.
So, who's who's jumping across the street? >> So, presumably it was workers in that area, but I >> sure like >> I don't think >> past us or >> coming from Hayward. So it would have
been uh from 135 area from Main Street >> on the so north. >> Yeah. >> Um any I'm I'm going to bring it back to the board if anybody has other thoughts on either the sidewalk discussion or anything else about this project from
the members of the board. So, um, this is Brian. I'm just >> Johnson. Yeah. >> Thank you. Um, in the very short term, there's probably not much of a difference. I do know that
in a longer term, I think the goal is to have an unbroken sidewalk on that side of the street. And I think, you know, part of that goal is that as changes are made to each property, the goal is to put in the sidewalk at that time. Um, I
understand that there is a issue with a grading and that's why the the um the permit or the waiver, I forget what it's called, is being sought now. And so the eent would let the town do that later. So, if the town's doing that, I
believe that's at no cost to the business if the town is going to use the east and do that later. So, um that I you know, from the short-term issue, it's it's either either or and it makes not a whole lot of difference. But I think from a larger term perspective, I know one of the things is there is a
plan to have more sidewalks on both sides of the street at some point in the future. And I'm going to ask you is what is our options in terms of conditioning an easement here for the waiver? Is that something that would be a potential
>> first for the easement? We also need to take a look if town is ready to take a easement or not. Not just the on thought of planning and what are the DPW's plan for the sidewalk in the future if they are including or not. uh the plan Lucia and Brian just mentioned I did not see
anything it's just yes Carrie did mention about the sidewalk in her initial comments she suggested that if applicant is willing like let planning board know that if applicant can do it uh from applicant standpoint and the
document they presented they requested waiver on the minor site plan requirements so for the easement specific I cannot say that I mean we can add the condition unless until we clarify with the town manager's office like if town is ready to accept any
ement or willing to do the work because even with the easement we just going to have that part of the property under the ement not from the other business owner next to it. So,
>> so to the applicant, sorry, was there other >> No. >> Okay. To the applicant, I assume that given that you've resolved everything with conservation that you're looking for a decision tonight, right? >> Um I mean, we um we're excited to be in Hopkin.
We're excited to um advance our business. Uh we'd like a decision. >> Okay. And Joe knows the process in Hington better than I do and you all do for sure. Um,
>> so >> any any any com comments from there haven't been a lot of comments from from the board uh from voting members in terms of questions about the waiver or not. Um, Rob,
>> thanks Matthew. Is is there any new information? I know I I I joined late. Uh but is there any new information tonight? >> The update is that they've there's been some plans. I think that's when you joined in uh that were updated in the discussion with the conservation
commission. Um and that they have uh gotten sign off from Com. >> Okay. And from my uh one more through the chair. Uh from my recollection, we took a a straw pole uh that we were
okay, generally okay with the waiver of the sidewalk. >> I believe that was the case. Yes. I'm checking to see if anybody has any other comments on it or if people feel like we're ready to move to a vote on the waiver or if any of the discussion that's been raised changes that.
>> Okay. And so, uh one more one more comment through the chair. It'd be it'd be I don't think it'd be in good faith if we uh we reverted our thinking. Um unless without any new information. >> Uh Lucia wasn't here for that and she
raised the discussion point. So that's what's changed up. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Does anybody else on the board have anything any anything discussed or should we go to a vote on the waiver? I'm not really hearing a lot of other comments.
Okay. So, I probably make sense to start with the waiver motion if somebody would like to make a waiver that the board grant the applicants requested waiver from site
plan standard 210-136.1M which requires sidewalks along the full frontage of the subject property upon finding that sidewalk construction is not feasible or practical based on site conditions. >> So moved. >> Second, Pat. Okay. Uh, with a first with
a motion and a second, we'll move to roll call vote. Uh, Rob Benson, >> yes. >> Elise Mosski, >> yes. >> Lucia Lopez, >> no. >> Michael King, >> yes.
>> Parker Hap is not. >> Oh, you're okay. Um, uh, were you here sufficiently long enough to to vote on this, do you feel? No, I I abstain. >> Okay. Uh Amna Dwan,
>> yes. >> Peter Mimmo, >> yes. >> Uh Brian Johnson's not eligible and I'm a yes, which puts this at uh was that 611 and so that the waiver is granted.
Are there any uh any other discussions on the on the project or I will I can read the the findings. >> No, no discussion here. >> Okay. Uh so proposed I'll read the findings and the conditions. Uh proposed findings
in 2.1 9.1 uh minor project site plan. The proposed minor project site plan meets the applicable site plan standards set forth in 210136.1 of the zoning bylaws with the exception of standard 210-1361m regarding sidewalk construction along the full frontage. The applicant has
requested a waiver from the standard and the board may grant such a waiver upon finding the sidewalk construction is not feasible or practical based on site conditions. The proposed work to the proposed work is limited to previously disturbed areas results in no net increase in impervious surface and meets
the applicable criteria related to site disturbance utilities circulation screening lighting and storm water management. All other site plan standards are satisfied. Moving on to conditions 210.1. Sure that's the right section right.
Yes. Uh administr administrative preconstruction one. The proposed development shall be constructed as depicted on and consistent with the approved materials unless these materials are required to be amended or modified as part of the decision which
includes a plans entitled construction plans site improvements at 75 South Street Hobbiton Mass 01748 prepared by JD Marquina and Associates Inc. updated 1012 2025 and revised 3:30 2022, 415
20226, and 512026. Two, the Director of Municipal Inspections inspects projects under construction for compliance with the approved decision of site plan review. This includes the driveway/roadway and infrastructure construction based on the
plan, if applicable. If the director of municipal inspections determines at any time before or during construction that a registered professional engineer or other such outside professional is required to assist with the inspections of the storm water management system or any other component in the site plan. The applicant shall be responsible for
the cost of those inspections. Three, the applicant/developer shall provide the principal planner with a project point of contact and contact information prior to the issuance of a building permit. This point of contact information shall be kept current through correspondence to the principal planner until the final certificate of
occupancy is issued or construction is otherwise considered complete. Four, a completed signed construction management plan shall be submitted to the planning board prior to committing of any work. The applicant shall also submit a complete final revised plan set which incorporates all the modifications made
during the public hearing process and any required in this decision. Five. A completed signed long-term operation maintenance plan dated 11:05 2025 and revised 410 20226 and 4282026 shall be submitted to the planning board
prior to the commencement of construction. This can be combined with the construction management plan if preferred by the applicant. Six, assigned elicited discharge statement shall be provided to the planning board prior to construction. Seven, the planning board shall receive a sign off confirming that the site
contractor and any major subcontractors have received the construction management plan prior to the commencement of any site work. Construction period 8. All construction activities shall adhere to applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations regarding noise, vibration,
dust, sedimentation, and use of interference with or blocking of town roads. Nine, the applicant shall be responsible for mitigating all construction related impacts, including erosion, facilitation, and dust control. The applicant shall maintain all
portions of any public way used for construction access free of soil, mud, or debris deposited due to use by construction vehicles associated with the project and shall regularly sweep such areas as directed by the director of municipal inspections in consultation with the Department of Public Works
director. 10. The applicant shall regularly remove construction trash and debris from the site in accordance with good construction practice and the construction management plan. No tree stumps, demolition material, trash or debris shall be burned or buried on the site. 11. If construction is not
commenced within 3 years of the date of filing of the site plan decision with the town clerk, approval shall be automatically rescended unless such time is extended by the board. For the purposes of this condition, the term commenced shall mean commencement of site work. 12. Construction may occur
only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. pursuant to chapter 141, article 1 of the Town of Hopington general bylaws. 13. Erosion and sedimentation control measures shall be implemented during the construction period in accordance with
the approved site plan and the construction management plan. If they are found to be inadequate, the applicant shall immediately correct any deficiencies. Post construction ongoing. 14. All exterior lighting with the devel within the development project, whether shown
on the approved site plan or required by Massachusetts state building code, shall be shielded, directed downward and not upward or outward, and shall spill onto and shall not spill onto adjacent property. 15. All fixed mechanical equipment on the site shall be screened
from the view from the ground. Such screening shall be sufficient in the opinion of the director of municipal inspections. The applicant shall sub 16. The applicant shall submit final asbuilt plans to the planning board prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. This asbuilt submission shall include an
asbuilt drawing that depicts the asbuilt mean grade and the elevation of the highest point of the roof. This plan shall be stamped by a registered land surveyor. 17. The applicant shall provide the principal planner with an asbuilt plan prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the
facility. Having read that, I would entertain a motion that the board accept and approve the findings as previously read aloud for the minor site minor project site plan application. >> So move. >> Second.
>> Okay. Roll call vote. Rob Benson, >> yes. >> Elise Mosowski, >> yes. >> Lucia Lopez, >> yes. >> Michael King, >> yes. >> Parker Hap, >> yes. Amna Dwan, >> yes. >> Uh, Peter Mima,
>> yes. >> And myself is a yes. And Brian's not eligible. Okay. And finally, we get down to wait. Yes, there we go. Um, finally, we get
down to uh approval. Um, so I would mo I would accept a motion that the board approve the minor project site plan with the conditions as they were previously read aloud by the meeting chair. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Okay. Roll call vote. Um, Rob Vincson, >> yes. >> Elise Mosowski, >> yes. >> Lucia Lopez, >> yes. >> Michael King, >> yes. >> Parker Hop, >> yes. >> Amna Dewan, >> yes. Peter Mimo. >> Yes.
>> And myself is a yes. So I believe that is it for this hearing. Anything else from the applicant? >> No. Thank you very much. >> Okay. In which case I would entertain a
motion to close the public hearing. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. Rob Benson. >> Yes. Elise Mleski, >> yes. >> Lucia Lopez, >> yes. >> Michael King, >> yes. >> Parker Hop,
>> yes. >> Amna Dwan, >> yes. >> Peter Mimo, >> yes. >> Uh, Brian Johnson's I don't think is eligible to vote on that. So, myself is also a yes. Okay. Um, let's go back to the top of the meeting then. Now that we have a
full board, let's take advantage of that um and deal with the reorganization. Do we have nominations for chair? >> I'd like to take this opportunity to nominate Matthew Rocker for chair. >> Do we Thank you. Do we have a second?
>> I second. >> Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. Hearing nothing, nobody else, I would entertain a motion to
uh appoint Matthew Bronco as chair for the planning board. >> So moved. Yes. >> Second. Uh is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Roll call vote. Rob Benson, >> yes.
>> Elise Mosski, >> yes. Lucia Lopez, >> yes. >> Michael King, >> yes. >> Parker Hap, >> yes. >> Amna Dwan, >> yes. >> Peter Mimo, >> yes. >> And Brian Johnson, >> yes.
>> Your uh actually not your first vote, right? Because we did one for the administrative item earlier. >> That's correct. >> All right. Um do we have any nominations for vice chair? >> I would like to nominate Lucia for vice chair.
>> I'll save it. Okay. Uh, any other nominations? Okay. >> Uh, nominate Parker. >> Do they have a second for Parker? >> I'll second that.
>> Okay. Anybody else? Uh, Lucia and Parker, are you both willing to be vice chair? >> Lucia? >> Yes. >> Okay. Parker, would you be willing to be vice chair? >> I definitely am honored for the
nomination. Thanks. >> Okay. So, let's do a poll, I guess. If there's no other nominations, um, go around and either pick Lucia or Parker or Abstain, I suppose, would be a
third choice. Um, Rob, >> uh, I'm going to go Parker. >> Elise. >> Lucia. >> Lucia. >> Lucia. >> Michael. >> I think both would do a great job. I'm going to go Lucia this time.
>> Parker, you going to vote for yourself? Uh, I didn't expect the nomination. I was honestly going to vote for Lucia, but some folks say if you don't think you're good enough for the job to vote yourself, then you shouldn't accept the job. So, I'm going to say myself.
>> Okay. And Brian. >> Um, boy, it's a tough one because I'm brand new, but I thought I'll go with Lucia. >> Okay. Um, I would also go with Lucia. Uh, >> do I get a vote? >> Oh, how did I skip over you? I don't know.
>> Me and Peter don't get a vote. Peter, >> I I I I share Michael's sentiment. Um I think it's an embarrassment of riches, but I would I would go with Lucia. >> Yeah. And I I appreciate that we actually have a contested vice chair election uh this year. Um and people
that are very interested. Um I'm sure there's a lot that we uh have to manage this year. Um so let's let's keep all that energy and and excitement uh going throughout the year. Um but it sounds like Did I Oh, did I just go? Oh, okay. Just
went from Parker to Brian on the >> Yes, Lucia. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. This isn't starting right. So, well, this is what happens. We got a order. All right. So, the the the numbers were were for Lucia then. So, I'd entertain a motion to of uh to
appoint Lucia as vice chair of the planning board. >> So, Oh, second. Sorry. >> Uh was Elise the the one who made the motion? I think so. I heard a female. >> Okay. And Michael was was second. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, so roll call vote. Uh, Rob
Benson. >> Rob Benson. Yes. >> Elis Mowski. >> Yes. >> Lucia Lopez. >> Yes. >> Michael King. >> Yes. >> Parker Hap. >> Yes. >> Anna Dwan, >> yes. >> Peter Mimo, >> yes. >> Brian Johnson, >> yes.
>> Matthew Frona, yes. All right. And I caught everybody that time. Thank you. All right. Moving back on the agenda, we have a new public hearing to open. Um, I put all my notes away. Okay, so we
have two public hearings, both for Eversource. Um, so I would entertain a motion to open the public hearing for 55 Wilson Street, Eversource Storm Water Management Permit, LG Empoundment Resilience Project. >> So moved.
>> Second. Okay. Uh, roll call vote. Rob Benson, >> uh, yes. >> Elise Mosowski, >> yes. >> Uh, Lucy Lopez, >> yes. >> Michael King, >> yes. >> Parker Hap,
>> yes. >> Amna Dewan, >> yes. >> Peter Mimo, >> yes. >> Brian Johnson, >> yes. >> And myself is a yes. First public first new new hearing. And then I would entertain a motion to open the public
hearing for 55 Wilson Street Eversource Earth Removal Permit LG Empowerment Resilience Project. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Roll call vote. Uh Rob Benson, >> yes.
>> Elis Mosowski, >> yes. >> Lucia Lopez, >> yes. >> Michael King, >> yes. >> Parker H, >> yes. >> Amna Dewan, >> yes. Peter Mimo, >> yes. >> Brian Johnson, >> yes. >> And I am a yes. All right. Uh, do we
have the applicant on? And would the applicant like to share an overview of the project? >> Hi everyone. Tim Grace, excuse me, from Tai Bond. I am here on behalf of Eversource in support of the storm water
management and earth removal permit for this project. Um, can I share my screen? Is that okay? Request sent Okay. Can everybody see this? >> I'm there slowly on myself.
>> Yeah, I see that it's starting to share. Seems like it takes a second. There it goes. >> Perfect. Okay. So, like I said earlier, um here on behalf of Eversource, um this project is located on 55 Wilson Street. It's
their existing LNG facility um just west of Wilson Street and just south of Rafferty Road. Um the project in and of itself is essentially a climate resiliency project. Um you know, as climate change gets worse, public
utility providers are forced to um you know, safeguard a lot of their infrastructure from the increasingly frequent uh rain events that are happening at these facilities. And the scope of work is essentially limited to within this existing disturbed area where the tanks are um basically
regrading and armoring the existing slopes. So peeling some of the fill material away and putting down a geog grid or a geocell product. For those that are familiar, I can pull up a picture real quick. Um you know, this is
essentially what a geo cell looks like. It's a woven uh or nonwoven. They make both. Um geocynthetic material that you put down and then you can fill it with, you know, grass, gravel, stone products. And it's meant to basically mechanically
stabilize embankments. And so on the existing site, I'll pull up the site plans. Um the storm water runoff basically runs in any direction it can. Um there is no centralized storm water management system to deal with runoff from this
area. So this >> excuse me something >> Oh >> yeah it's currently showing like a just a pattern background with a hand. Interesting. All right, let's try this again. How about now? Let me know when you
folks can see it. Yep. Beautiful. Um, sorry, I've got that annoying cold that's going around. Um so essentially this is the um project um regrading around the existing tanks and
then the installation of perforated pipe and a few storm water control features. Um under existing conditions all of the storm water runoff heads into the existing earth impoundment here. It's going to continue to do that under proposed conditions as well. What we're
basically doing is installing perforated pipe and storm water management features within the existing disturbed area. And then rather than putting down just regular gravel, we're going to mechanically stabilize the um the earth
um around the tanks to, like I said, mitigate increasingly frequent and stronger storm events that we're seeing in this region. Um the only comment we've received from the town thus far was from the fire department and they um they wanted to make sure that their
apparatus, their heaviest apparatus, so their their ladder um could get out there and potentially do a a rescue if somebody was stuck on the top of the tank. And so their concern was that the material that was going to be put down there was structurally sound enough so
that they could navigate one of their heaviest pieces of equipment out there. And it can um that's basically one of the the reasons people install these geocynthetic stabilizers is so that you can disperse you know heavy vehicle weights. Um fire departments a lot of
the times will require a subdivision is being put in. They'll stabilize the culde-sac or the front yards of the people that above the culde-sac with a product like this to make sure that their apparatus can navigate and not you know get stuck or or rut out any of the
areas. And that's basically what we're doing here. Um, I can show you on the next sheet. I think it's the next one. So, you see on this sheet anyway, there's a series of perforated pipes and perforated drains that are going to run throughout the site to better collect
and manage the runoff so that essentially it's not a free-for-all when it rains. Um, there'll be discrete areas that can uh collect the storm water runoff. there'll be some measure of TSS treatment as well from the sumps on a lot of the um um drainage structures
that are being installed. Um and the other piece, this mechanical stabilization you can see in this image here, these hatched areas are basically all geocell reinforcement.
So, like I said, before the um you know, once everything's buried, um the final cover, before they put any of that material down, they put the geocell down first and then they back fill with um uh modified rock fill, I think is the mass
DOT term. But it's basically a heavier chunkier stone that can accept the weight of of heavy vehicles. Um like I said, at its core, this is a climate resiliency project. We're not adding any impervious area. Uh we're not really building anything. Uh we're essentially
just regrading the area around those tanks. But uh because the threshold for a storm water management permit is 1 acre and we are disturbing more than that. Um we're here for the storm water management permit. Um the earthwork uh removal threshold I think in Hopington
is 500 cubic yards. To be honest, I don't think we're going to be anywhere near that as far as net export. Um, but we decided to seek a earth removal permit in case something does come up. We'd rather have one than find out that we need one later on and have to come
back to the board. Um, I will say the intent here and the intent usually is on Eversource sites and Eversource facilities is not to export any material. They like to reuse it on site. Eversource has a very very strict um
testing procedure for soil export. so far in excess of any of the regulations that the state or the federal government has for for testing soil. So it turns out to be a very expensive process if they want to export anything due mainly to their own rules and regulations. So
what they typically do is when they do a project like this they try to lose the earth elsewhere on the the parcel. Um there there's are tons of areas. I mean this is a 51 acre 51.5 acre parcel. Um, I don't think they're going to be moving
much uh because like I said, it's a regrading, but um they're going to do their best to keep everything on site. But like I said, if if the time comes that they need a earth removal permit, we will have one. Um, hence the reason for our application here. And that is
basically it. That's the long and short of the project. Um, happy to answer any questions the board may have. >> Thank you, Ner. Do we have a staff report? >> Uh, yes. uh team already mentioned about the comments from fire and uh from
planning side uh I already mentioned and he covers as well it's in the existing regrading uh involves and slope stabilization and when it comes to the earth permit they are applying for a safer side so they are good from staff
review uh park corporation is our peer reviewer for this project for SNP as well as for earth permit They're going to do their site visit. Are we going to get their report after that?
>> Okay. Do we know what the timeline looks like for that? Just sometime before next meeting. >> Yep. So, we're meeting PAR out there. I think it's Wednesday morning. >> Yeah. >> So, we should have a report from them within a few weeks after that, I'd expect.
>> Usually, they are pretty quick chair. So by next meeting we're going to have PAR report. I'm guessing >> any um questions from the members of the board.
>> Just one to the chair if that's okay. >> Peter, >> uh just was there a particular event or something that triggered this project that that caused um apart from just the general sort of erosion, was there a particular event or something that triggered this particular project at all
that we should be aware of? No, this is just part of the um I don't want to say regular maintenance. This is um you know, Eversource has a number of uh climate resiliency goals, I'll say um across all of their facilities. And
given the nature of this facility and the size of these tanks that are sitting out there, um this is one of the higher priority areas for uh stabilization against climate change. So I I don't think it's any particular event. Um it's just that the the nature of this
facility and the size of this project um you know they this is one of the higher priorities area higher priority areas for them. >> Thank you. Then through the chair if I if I may um was there when was the last time this was done and when could we expect to have to uh consider such a
plan like this again in the future? Do you have any idea? >> So it was probably never done. Um when you look at the material out there it's I mean none of it's native. It's all fill. Um but it it was put down probably when the foundations of these tanks were
constructed and then over the years if there were wash out in one area another they would just you know do the classic dump stabilization material um you know band-aid after band-aid after band-aid and I think frankly they're just sick of doing it and so they um decided to just
take a comprehensive approach on a number of their facilities but the Hopkinson facility uh specifically What makes it why specifically the Hopkins head one? >> The the size of the t I mean most facilities that they operate have one
maybe two tanks. Uh this is I think one of the few facilities that has three LNG tanks at it. Um and probably the age of the facility. I venture to guess that this is one of their older sites. Um, so it was probably a higher priority site
given that there's three tanks and not just one. I mean, Eastston is one, a Kushnet is one. One or two is is more typical. Um, this is probably one of the largest >> Lucia. >> Um, through the chair, I had two
questions. I think probably for Aneri. Um, there is no bond amount. Is that something that we're going to get after the PAR review? Yes, we're going to get after the park. >> Okay. And then the second question was in reading the materials, it talked about a photographic survey of Wilson
Street and Cedar Street. Is Legacy Farms North not included in that? >> No, because of the acre of the land legacy farm like we missed with the radius 300 uh radius. So, we did not reach the legacy farm.
So >> based on >> that's closer to Cedar Street than it is the Legacy Farms North. >> Yeah, as per our um SSR operator list u we like almost there but we did not touch the legacy fund.
>> Okay, thank you. >> Yeah, >> any other questions from the board? >> So yeah, I just I know there's two entrances to the facility. There's one on Wilson Street and one on Legacy Farms
Road or Rafferty Road, I think, is where it's on the map. Which entrance will the construction vehicles be using? I'm guessing it's Rafferty Road. >> No, it would be uh the Wilson Street. >> Wilson Street. Okay. >> Likely be Wilson Street. Yep.
>> Okay. Um, and in one of the documents that was filed, and I'm sorry I forget which of them because they're all like linked together in the PDF I looked at. Um, there's a phrase that said the applicant shall submit a photographic survey of
Wilson Street and Cedar Street in the vicinity of the project prior to and upon completion of the earthwork. Um, why was Rafferty Street not included in that photographic survey? I would think that with all the vehicles that would be
part of the photographic survey >> based on the plan um I reviewed I only thought about the Wilson Street and S street. So that's why these two street are mentioned if both things that we should add that we can add in the condition. I think uh Brian you're
talking about the one of the condition which I added uh >> under the earth permit. >> Yeah. >> Talking about so if Yeah. So if both things we should add uh we can modify. I
>> I would think adding Rafferty Road or you know would make sense to addic survey. >> Yeah that's all I had. Thank you. Uh any other feedback from the board at this moment? This is a large site. Um
is it safe to do a sitewalk around here? And what do people feel like a for a sitewalk? Probably for the applicant. Um would how what what would a site how would we manage to do a sitewalk around here? >> So I know you guys have done sitewalks
out here previously. Um I'm not 100% sure. I would have to check with the Eversource folks. I think I I'm pretty sure it's okay. Um >> this is within the secure perimeter. So
um besides chaperrons, I think the only other thing we would need would be um to enter this facility, you need to have um FR or flame retardant clothing. Um so I think we would have to coordinate that
um with Eversource as well. Um yeah, I can't um appine on the the specifics of it. Like I said, I know the planning board has been out there before. Um, board of health is out there fairly frequently for septic stuff. So, it can absolutely be done. U, but I
would just have to check with the Eversource team and figure out um exactly the logistics of that. So, I can I can do that and get back to you. >> Okay. Does the board feel like it would be helpful given this is
uh not the type of thing that we usually look at um to take a look at the at the property somewhere between the the meetings. >> Yeah, I think it would be useful. >> I think so. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Um I'm it seems impractical to schedule a sitewalk without understanding Ever Source's schedule. Um would it make sense to if we're going to continue this to um our next meeting uh you could come back get either get back to an area
before then or come back to us next meeting >> and if either of the subsequent two Saturdays would work for a chapron. Does that make sense? >> Yep. So Saturdays are best. Is that what you're saying? >> Saturdays are Saturday mornings are usually when we do our sitewalks.
>> Okay. Yeah. So I'm out there Wednesday morning with the peer reviewer. So what I can do while I'm there is talk to the security folks and the chaprons and figure out logistics for this. And then um I don't know if this Saturday is too
soon. It would have to be the following Saturday, but um I'm sure we can do something to accommodate you guys. >> Okay. If you think we'd have an answer does uh well so the part of it is like we we would need to communicate to the public as well that that might be an
issue with this >> um there isn't a practical way to do that right if we were going to do this intram meeting we probably need to kind of figure out the next between the next two uh when we would do this for the next meeting so it' be publicly available or is there a better way to announce What's
this? Yeah. So, we'd be looking at um was it the 22nd? Is that um a Saturday >> through the chair? >> Yes. Lucia, >> can I suggest a potential solution if we
wanted to schedule that before the next meeting? >> Uh what's the potential solution? >> Um if we schedule it and put it on the town calendar and cancel it. if it's not something so it can be on the town
calendar and say canceled if it's something that can't be scheduled. But it's just throwing out an option. >> 20th would be the Saturday. Yeah. So, one option if we if we had an idea of what time would work for the chaperone would be saying like
9:00 a.m. on the 13th. Um I I think my concern is if 9:00 a.m. doesn't work for them that they'd have to shift shift the time. Um, I leave it to the applicant if it makes sense to kind of pencil in 9:00 am or some other time on the 13th. >> Yeah, let's let's do it. Let's say 9:00
am on the 13th. And I mean, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But, um, I would think I mean, that's a week from this Saturday, we should be able to pull something together. >> Okay. Does that work for everybody on the board? >> I would to the chair. I'd only point out
I believe that's the same day a weekend as the the Timlin race. Just pointing that out. Uh, is there a better time on that Saturday or should we try and do the subsequent week anyway? I'm not sure what the schedule impact on
the schedule there is. Peter, >> there's a >> I I I don't know if there's a better one. And you know, to the extent that the that week works best for the rest of the board, that's fine. I just just terms of logistics or whatnot, I don't know if that's a problem, but it's all
it's a community event. And so, I just wanted to point that out. would, sorry, I'm trying to pull my counter up. Would just scheduling for the 20th work for the applicant that would also allow us to announce it during the next um
next meeting. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Yeah, let's let's do it. >> All right. So, 9:00 a.m. on the 20th and if that doesn't work, we'll reschedule next meeting. >> Yeah, sounds good. Okay. through the chair >> just to point out that's going to be
Junth weekend. >> So I I don't know what's going to be scheduled but I'm just letting board member know. I mean I'm not able to join during that weekend but if everybody all the board members able to um we can
still continue. >> How's the board how's the board feel? Is anybody going away for that weekend? I would I would be able to make it if we did it on the 20th. >> Yeah, the board. Sorry, >> I can do the 20th, not the 13th.
>> Okay. >> 20th works for me, too. >> Okay. Does that work for the applicant? Do they have any issues with Jeenth weekend? >> Nope. I don't think that's an issue at all. Um, how many people are we talking here? Just so I can relay that back. >> So, we have nine board members. Um, not
everybody shows up all the time. Um, technically the sitewalks are intended to be open to the public, so there could be other people that >> would show up. And so we'd have to understand if there are >> any what the complications are if more
people showed up. So, >> okay, >> let me regroup with um Eversource and see because there are I think there are X amount of people requires X amount of chaprons plus
there's gas monitors um FR clothing for everybody. Um I know they have a finite amount of smoks like FR smoks that you could wear. Um, but I just got to make sure that, you know, if we plan for 9 to 15 or whatever if
that's that's a problem or not. But I can regroup and and get back to you. >> Okay. All right. Let's talk about next meeting if there's issues that we need to figure out logistics for then. uh Matthew through through the chair >> is uh I I don't know if it's technically
possible to have any like any public members from the public if they wanted to join like not go in any type of restricted area or see whatever they can see from some kind of area that's not doesn't require the same
level of gear and uh approvals. I haven't come across this in my time on the board so I I don't know what we can do. >> I would defer to Aneri on that but also I think it would be helpful to understand whatever sources concerns on the logistics are before we figure out what we would need to do to make it
work. Sorry, did you have feedback? >> No to the chair. Uh I will let team talk to Eversource first before um saying that if I mean usually we sometimes public join during the sidewalk, sometimes not. So
um but let's figure it out if 20 works for everybody and then see how it goes for and I think in meantime we're going to have our part uh report as well. So board going to get a better understanding and idea for the site visit.
>> So pencil for the 20th at 9 we'll verify that next meeting based on what uh we hear from the applicant. Uh we need to continue this if there's no other topics to discuss. Anybody have anything else before we entertain a motion to continue and move decision
deadlines >> through the chair? We need to move the um storm water decision deadline. Um we are good with the earth permit removal. So >> what's a good date for the storm water?
Should we just make them both July 14th just for simplicity or is there an issue with that? Yes, I'm I was going to say that July 14 is the best. I'm sure. >> Okay. Um so unless there's any other discussion from the board or the applicant, um I would entertain a motion
to uh continue the public hearing for 55 Wilson Street uh Eversource Storm Water Management Permit and move the decision deadline to July 14th. U continue it to the July uh
sorry the June um 14th is that the meeting >> no June 15th meeting >> through the chair the decision deadline is going to be July 14th and the meeting going to be the next hearing going to be on June 15th. >> Yep. So, I'd entertain a motion to move
the the hearing uh continue the hearing to the June 15th meeting and extend the uh decision deadline for the storm water management to July 14th. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> Uh roll call vote. Um
I'm going to go down my Zoom roster. Brian Johnson, >> yes. >> Lucia Lopez, >> yes. >> Michael King, >> yes. >> Parker Hap, >> yes. Peter's iPhone. Peter Mimo, >> yes. My iPhone,
>> Robert Benson, >> yes. >> Dewan, >> yes. >> Elise Miloski, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes. Okay. And then I would entertain a motion to continue the uh public hearing for 55 Wilson Street
Eversource Earth Removal Permit to the July uh sorry, the June 15th uh meeting. So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Roll call vote. Uh Lucia Lopez, >> yes. >> Michael King,
>> yes. >> Parker H. >> Yes. >> Robert Benson, >> yes. >> Amna Dewan, >> yes. >> Brian Johnson, >> yes. >> Elise Mosowski, >> yes.
>> And Peter Mimo, >> yes. >> And I am a yes. Okay. Uh we'll see you back in the next uh meeting and look forward to the report. >> Great. >> Um
believe that is the end of the agenda since we formally moved to continue or moved the uh OEA discussion till next meeting. Um any topics that people want to suggest
for future uh future meetings while we're here >> through the chair? >> Yep. >> I just want to suggest the board member if anybody uh would like to join tomorrow night during select board u hearing. Uh please if you can please
join uh it's going to be a good discussion on street acceptance. um select board chair and the town manager going to present um updates and the process. >> Thank you. Yeah, it's it's fairly early on their schedule. I think it's
scheduled for 7:10, but I would suggest trying to dial in or show up a little bit before that. >> Parker, >> are we table economic development advisory board discussion too? So Aneri gave an gave an
overview of some some of the update. Is there um so I don't want to repeat everything that she covered. She showed us some slides uh of some of the the topics that were being discussed. Was there something specific that you wanted to
uh convey to the board or do you want to kind of review what was already shared and we could >> uh it's really the topic uh future topics discussion. um a fit without knowing exactly what said the >> you know sitting on economic de
development advisory board what I've seen is that we have an issue with the residential tax base and tax burden continuing to increase while there's been a decrease in the overall commercial tax base and when we had the economic development advisory forum
there was a real uh sentiment at the table that I was at that you know we need to do things in order to grow our commercial tax base. I fundamentally believe that we need to re
uh review our zoning. We need to update our use table and we need to evaluate how we are going to do a better job at identifying pockets and areas within the
town that can allow for organic business growth. I don't see why there isn't a reason we shouldn't have, you know, more commercial over by Legacy Farm or but pick these spots and find ways to um
expand our um map to help offset some of the uh residential tax burden. So, it's something that I believe we should be considering for the future. Were there specific areas that you guys were talking about that would be worth kind of sharing a map of in a future meeting
to kick off that discussion? >> Yeah, could have a map. It's very simple really. We've been looking at South Street downtown and then uh we believe by Legacy Farms as well, the T-top adjacent to South and uh I believe that we should be also looking at Lumber
Street. >> Yeah, took a note. I think that's something that's definitely worth reviewing down the road. >> Through the chair, could I could I ask one question? Parker's on the uh board. >> Uh has the economic development advisory
board looked at how much commercial property would need to be assessed at to impact say someone's tax bill like 1%. Like if the average tax bill is about $14,000 in Hopkin to impact at $140,
how I know the answer, so I'm asking the question, but does the board economic development advisory board know the answer? Uh yeah, so it's we the the answer has been socialized. I think the one way to look at it in pure dollar and cents is
to you know evaluate the calculation as you are quantifying it. I look at it a little bit different way. I look at as the property tax liabilities imagine like one big water bed. Okay. And what's happened is is we've seen the exc we've seen the appreciation in residential tax
rates which means that as a you know raw dollar amount that's going to continue to increase as the competitiveness of our housing market people wanting to get into Hopington continues to go up. Meanwhile, we've seen a appreciative appreciative decrease in the overall commercial liability. And you're seeing
properties like uh along South Street, for example, that sold 10 years ago for 22 million now, you know, reset for 12 million and they're coming back on the market. And what that's going to do in overall cost dollars is continue to shift that inverse. So, we as a board
can only control what we can control and continue to create the conditions for businesses to want to come in. It's not necessarily our scope and permit to set what the overall tax rate is, but I believe that in town there should be a consideration of decoupling the residential to commercial. Uh, but we
should be continuing to find ways to expand. But at the current rate, Rob, you are right. The uh uh the attributable increase or tax relief that individuals would would see just by zoning itself would not be significant. >> Yeah, it's uh
through the chair. This this this topic really I think uh is not well understood amongst uh the people of town. It would require a tremendous amount of commercial development to impact people's tax bills in a
meaningful way. Like we need some something on the order of about $70 million in commercial uh assessed value to impact people's uh property taxes by 1%. So, if you want to reduce someone's $14,000 mortgage by 10% by uh by a
$1,400, you need $700 million of commercial uh assessed property. It's I think the more people understand the better. >> Thank you, Rob. through the chair and I
seem to me that I would agree with a lot of the comments that were made here, but it would seem to me that um increasing commercial development, the the end should not be simply a matter of our calculus of how much we reducing the overall residential tax rate. As laudable as a goal that may be, it seems
to me that if we have available commercial opportunities that we're not taking full advantage of as a town, we ought to take a look at to see whether or not we as a planning board can remove some of those obstacles so we can make the best beneficial use of our commercial space. Um, and I think it's to our to our benefit to do so even
though it may not necessarily, you know, decrease overall resident property taxes by 1%. And may perhaps down the line maybe we are going to town meeting asking for another override because well we've increased the commercial tax rate just a little bit and increase commercial tax revenue because of it.
And on top of it all we're meeting a particular need of the community to have commercial like services repurposing um buildings for instance having a former manufacturing facility now become a man becoming a warehouse and a commercial space which we just approved earlier
this evening. So there's certainly that ch that should not be the end all. But to Rob's point, I mean, I do think that the expectation should be made out there to the residents that yes, we're going to hopefully look at this, but no, you're not going to see a market decrease in your residential taxes. It's not going to happen very likely.
>> Thank you, Peter. Any other comments on the economic uh development advisory board update? >> Chair. >> Uh yes, I'm >> um just a question. Do we tax commercial properties at the same rate that we tax
residential properties? Because I know there are some towns that have different tax rates for businesses versus property owners. I don't again not sure if that'll make a big difference in the grand scheme of things, but just curious. >> Parker, >> we do not have a split tax.
>> It's something Yeah, it's something that that's been raised. it would fall under the select board and then pro I believe it we have to go through town meeting but I'm not 100% sure of the process of setting the tax rate >> through through the chair the the select board gets an opportunity to vote on that every year but they have never uh to my knowledge done a different tax
rate for commercial versus residential >> and through through the chair the assessors have a classification tax hearing every year around November where that topic is raised and ever since I've been on the board it's never been taken up really as a as a viable option by the
select Parker, do you have another all up or is that still the same hand? >> Uh, no. It's a different topic, but Lucy, if yours is pertaining to this topic, then go ahead, >> Lucia. >> So, something that I think is important
is that we're talking about um increasing commercial activity now, whereas in the past decade plus, I feel like we've done the opposite as a town. Uh, Legacy Farms North did have a section of it that was meant to be
commercial and we as a town voted to not do that and instead turn it into more residential. Um, I believe that the condos that are off of Main Street currently were approved for a mixeduse
building and instead became condos. And I think we've had stuff come up at town meeting as well to approve like a car wash and we voted against that. So I think if it's something that we're wanting now to encourage more commercial
then that needs to be a message from town staff, select board, planning board, all the various boards and committees because as a town we've done the opposite for a long time and I think this is something that the town should have been
working to encourage more commercial versus what we have been doing. Thank you, Parker. >> Yeah, I couldn't agree more with that. Before I say the other topic I want to cover, too, the the story I've been saying is is is Hopinson itself, if you go back in history, we absolutely nailed
the shoe boom, just crushed it, you know, and and and had a a great amount of development because of that. And then it all burned down. And if you look at our town history from that, we just went into this stasis, this hibernation for a
hundred years until effectively 495. And by the grace of luck got EMC. And uh folks, got news for you. There's not another 495 or EMC coming around. And you know, we've already missed the biotech boom. So it seems with
attributable office space open. Folks are going to go back to closer in downtown. So you know, we have to look at not only just, you know, what what is it that the next opportunity is? I firmly believe, as morbid as it sounds, that that opportunity is is with baby boomers um continuing to retire and
potentially pass away that we need to have more affordable housing. And that is one thing that Lucia and and I have talked about is the need to explore 40 Y and the ability for folks like Aneri on the phone to be able to and folks in town staff and firefighters and police
to be able to live in town and for us to build and have a a way for that uh class of housing. So the entry level price in Hopington isn't $800,000. We need to be thinking about zoning for that. And we need to be thinking also about 55 plus because that's not going
to add to schools and allow for you know folks to be able to come in bring their potential commercial tax revenue and also seed these different places around town. So I I I would I would posit Matt that we have to talk about 40y and affordable housing that we have to talk
about the zoning and I still want to talk about sidewalks. That was the the other third topic I want to because we should be priming the town uh continuously in cycles to do and create connectivity. There's no downside to that and that's all I got for future topics. Thanks.
>> Cool. That's those are some good ideas. Um 40y is being picked up by Zach right now by the way Parker. So feel free to jump in on some of those meetings. Um it's probably not going the way that you would hope though, but um feel free to jump in. >> I would love to be a pain in the butt there. I'm very good at that. I'm sorry.
Sorry. Sorry, Ted. Anyway, um Matthew, Matthew, chair, could I suggest uh one more future agenda item? >> Sure. >> I think maybe in uh it could be over two meetings. Uh
but as a board, we don't usually have dedicated time where we talk about some zoning modifications. And I think us as a board, we should do spend a little bit more time, especially because we're just re we just reorganized the new kind of
year of our board is in in underway. The year of the Zach board is underway. We should talk uh about potential zoning changes. We want Zach to review, hold public hearings, and bring forward some things because I can think of a few things, and we've talked about them as a
board where some of the things don't make sense. It's like we we previously had a talk about a historic home and zoning like like the what qualifies as a historic home is a home that's 75 years old. Well, every year that goes by, the
percentage of homes in Hopington that are 75 years or older goes up. So there is a lot of I don't know I don't we don't need to review everything but there's probably if everybody reviewed the zoning bylaws uh we probably should dedicate some time
to say hey zoning advisory committee these are maybe five things that kind of come up that we think it'd be good to hold a public hearing on that would be my agenda item ask >> okay
>> I second that there's There's nothing historic about old calls and CVS. Nothing. >> Cool. Um, so that's some good topics. Um, everybody else feel free to think about what else we haven't been talking about or that we should be thinking about as we think about, you know,
future growth of the town. Um, feel free to raise it at a future meeting when we have time to talk about future agenda items. Um, or email me or email Aneri and I could talk with Aner about it u to get it on an agenda or we can talk more about it. Um but otherwise unless
there's other discussion I would entertain a motion uh to adjurnn. >> Second >> I I think I have to move the motion. >> Yeah. Somebody's got to move it first. >> Oh motion to adjurnn for whatever for >> second the motion to adjourn.
>> Okay. Um so motion uh seconded. So uh Rob >> yes. >> Elise. Yes, >> Lucia. >> Yes, >> Michael. >> Yes, >> Parker. >> Yes, >> Na. >> Yes, >> Peter. >> Yes,
>> Brian. >> Yes. >> And I am also a yes. And again, Brian, welcome to the board. Uh, >> thank you. >> Hopefully, they're they're exciting meetings and uh hopefully enjoy your time. Uh, thank you very much. Thanks
everyone.