Where am I looking for? 543. >> Oh, I can start. Okay, it's time um to open the planning board meeting for Thursday, March 5th, 2026. Um let's do a quick pledge of
allegiance. Where's the flag? Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nation. this justice.
Thank you. Okay. Agenda. Uh we have minutes from February 12th. Have people had a chance to review them? And if so, are there any comments? I have no comments on. In that case, can I have a motion?
Motion to accept the minutes of February 12th, 26. Second. >> All in favor? I >> will accept the minutes of February 12th. That was a big meeting, a lot of work for Cooper. Um the planning board
membership uh as um you maybe not you guys but anyone else we have a vacancy and we are having a meeting uh a joint planning board select
board meeting on Monday to discuss and or appoint um someone to take up the last few months of this term before the election.
And uh so uh we have several people have come forward. Uh several people have filed to run for the remaining two years on Anna's term. So I think we're uh good to
go on that. Um, is there any Oh, and I do want to make a general comment about tonight's meeting. There is there is some weather coming up, so we'll try to move it along. Um, the library closed early and um anyway, um
public input on matters not uh related to our hearing. >> You keep >> Okay. Are there is there anyone who needs to speak to any matter apart from our continued public hearing?
Right. So, we have a 640 uh agenda item of continued public hearing and planning board vote for the 550 King Street, King Street Common. We have two votes. One, well, we have several votes. want to
um to vote on the definitive subdivision changes for phase one commercial mixeduse development. We've had a we've had a hearing concurrent hearings on this. There hasn't been any input on you
know it's it is what it is. And then a continued public hearing and planning board vote. 550 King Street, King Street Common, storm water review and site plan. Uh, and I should also mention that our 7:00
agenda um continued public hearing, uh, JB will not be presenting tonight, uh, but will be at the March 19th meeting. And do we need to vote on accepting the continuation? >> Yeah.
>> Okay. So, I'd like to hear a motion to allow JB um >> make a motion to continue the public hearing on JB King Street residents 5 King Street until March 19th at
>> 6:45 >> 645. >> All in favor? >> I. So, anyone here who uh wants to participate in that hearing, please uh come March 19th, we have like five
minutes. Um and uh is there anything I can talk about in this five minutes? It's not related to the to the >> um so I we got a new letter today. um got notice from um let's see uh
engineering company for working for Mascot um that the bridge deck replacement uh bridge deck on route 495 on route 119 over 495 that that bridge deck is going to be widened and replaced
and they're looking for town input on scope of that project >> in terms of what >> um let's see so they have uh in terms of the um the layout that's proposed. So, we will ask for the
detailed um uh plans that they have, we shared those with BPAC and town administrator's office and gather whatever comments may come in on that. Um so, they have a plan to, you know, widen the bridge deck to allow um for
sidewalks on one side, bicycle lanes. Um I think they said on both sides, but I haven't at all. >> Okay. I mean the plans >> what I've heard from various comments is there's just an interest in widening it to allow for more back and forth uh
safely and it impacts your development in a way because it's connecting the point to um or yeah you want the point people to come to your place um so uh anything else
>> so anyway that's we'll be in front of the the town Um, >> okay. >> For short discussion, >> how long till they're going to do it? >> Um, I couldn't read that into the information that I got, but I'll certainly ask. >> Are they going to widen the little bridge, too, while they're doing that
one? Cuz doesn't it make sense to do both of them at the same time? >> Little bridge. >> They're going to replace it. >> They're going to replace the bridge deck. >> No, I'm talking about the little bridge afterwards. That >> Yeah. No, that's not within the the scope of this. But it doesn't make
capitalize the road and make more travel and make it easier. >> Oh, you mean that little tiny? >> Yeah, we can make that bigger so we can make it four lanes to give people a chance. >> Right. But understanding how masked out funding works, they separated sometimes sometimes projects are separated in
order to u move on. >> Hopefully it's on their radar. >> Yeah, >> I believe it is. Thank you. >> That was reported at the town meeting last time. the state was going to replace it. It had a lot to do with that.
>> Okay. >> Have they abandon the rotary at Beaverbrook? I haven't heard anything about that like >> that's still >> it's still on the works. Okay. Um, yeah, because I I would like to see
like a highlineesque uh garden um sequence across that bridge, but I don't think there um although you know the landscape architect in the group in Littleton I don't know
>> tra little dedicated tram right to the middle of it. >> The original one of the original consultants on the first phase that was Um, pine and swallow. >> And now, are they landscape architect? >> No, they're soil scientists.
>> Soil scientists. Yeah, I thought that was pretty interesting. >> Okay, one minute, guys. We're almost there. Um Um, wait. >> Yeah. So, we were talking uh earlier this year, we had um information session on ADUs, and we were thinking about
bringing ADUs to town meeting. Are we planning on doing that at this point or we going to postpone that to a future town meeting? That's a good question and I think we haven't strictly speaking decided but have been working the assumption that we're postponing it
until >> fall. Okay. >> Yeah. And we were told and Henry's here uh that um we have a present bylaw. We have to comply with the state. Um, our bylaw is
not in conflict with the state except we want to make some decisions about ownership. You know, we identified a few things. We have not opened the hearing. Okay. So, one of the you know, Darl was
concerned that well, we had we opened a hearing and you know, we haven't opened a hearing. We've had severalformational sessions. So we will at some point in the future open air. We are looking forward to getting more
work to do from the LOI companies in the next couple months and uh we'll do that later. Okay, we're ready. Um this is a continued public hearing and planning board vote. Oh, I've already read. So
I'm going to invite companies to make any statements. um presentations that they want to at this point. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the board. Um thank you for having us. Again, I um as you may have heard
through, uh town planner um Tuhill, we don't have a formal presentation this evening. Um but I just did want to say a few things uh including just expressing our appreciation for the process thus far. I think those of us who have been to every meeting acknowledge there's
been a a ton of input that's been uh heard and implemented through the project. So really at this point we're we're excited to um take whatever steps necessary to move forward and and keep moving on the project. Um, as you've heard us say before, it's very complex
and um, and we kind of look at it as a bit of a marathon, but um, like any marathon, it takes the first step. And this is this is uh, you know, where we're here tonight hopefully to talk about. And um, we've brought our entire team um, I won't do the the usual intros, but everyone's here from from
the design um, engineering side as well as the Lei companies um, more broadly. So, uh, we're here to answer any other additional questions and, uh, and discuss anything the board thinks is, uh, appropriate and necessary. But again, very excited to to take this big
step. >> So, we, uh, we, uh, have more or less completed our peer review and Martin, do you have a something to say about that? The what what remains is minor,
>> if anything? >> Yeah. Um we were um getting some input on um the traffic peer review side of it on some of the wording of the conditions because traffic is so the terms used in traffic are so far outside of my
knowledge base. I was asking uh traffic viewer just for um some words on uh two of the conditions that are in the draft decision uh for uh just waiting for a response from Karine
and Sergio on those details but the concept is is in the decision. >> We have we have agreement there's no disagreement on and the resolution of any of those open items. >> Correct. >> It's just a matter of formalizing it in the document. Correct. >> Okay. Yeah. No, I think that's important
in terms of where we're at with the process. >> The the other uh issue that has been worked on and I'd like to acknowledge the work with Maren and Jim Dugen and um our traffic consultant and Mass DOT about the parking on King Street. And
the disposition of that was that um if we want parking on King Street, we would have to forego uh some of the bike, pedestrian, and landscaping amenity at least in front of
it looked to me like from the site plan the the first two buildings on King Street. I mean, the the the farthest one there's more room, but anyway. So, and it would also um
be a time frame and so we can discuss this among ourselves but we we don't think it's a priority. Um and it might it should be a priority in
further phases. Uh we would like to leave open the possibility of a potential bus pull in um in front of the farthest building where there seems to be room. Um
and uh Martin you have put something in the you made a condition of that. >> Yes. Yes. Um um and what I was hearing from you was that um you felt that the board was okay with um the building locations as on as they are on the site
plan with no jeopardy um to move those as the discussion goes forward with Mass Dot. >> Yeah. So there may be room for a few parking spaces, but um with the stipulation that none of the um buildings would move and that the um
pedestrian and uh landscape and bicycle amenities remain a priority. >> Um in terms of the decision, we do have a draft. I understand you haven't seen
it. Uh there's I've seen it. I think we've all seen it. There's nothing in it that is untored with the exception of the four affordable units in building 1300. Do you have something to say about that? >> Yes, I mean we are uh in agreement on
that piece. >> Great. And I want to explain to um the room in the community that under our bylaw uh this is this is you you aren't
required well how do I put this it's hard to yeah that it's the timing the hard the hard part about this is that it's being considered in a phased manner and uh we have specific um allow
allowances for phasing that basically um loads the affordables in the middle of the phases. And in this phase, strictly speaking, you are not required to provide a um
uh affordables. In the next thing before us in the apartments, the first phase of the apartments, you are required in the amount of eight >> nine. >> Nine. >> It is. Yes. >> And uh because the number of the
apartments plus the number of the units you're providing in this phase uh meet the threshold for that. So our concern was as a board and we've said this time and time again and this is our bylaw so we have to live with it but we
asked you to consider uh doing essentially 10% uh in this first phase so that we can accelerate the creation of more affordables than the than we
otherwise would have and um I think um just recently Hopefully, we came to that agreement and I I think we're gratified with that. >> Same page. What what I would just add and and you've heard me touch on this in
the past when we've made changes to the design of the buildings, but same theme, which is um it's a meaningful move for us. I I think that's probably been conveyed. It's it's a substantial uh has a substantial impact on the the
economics of the of the project. So, we we certainly don't do it lightly and I think my understanding is the the board and the staff and and this town understands that. But it it is a it's a very real um we hope indication to the community that though we are committed
to working with this board and with the community to to do what's right, what the board feels is best for the town and for the project. So, um again, we are in agreement >> and we we acknowledge that. So, um, anything else?
>> That's it for for now, Mr. >> For from our point of view, that was the biggest sticking point, and we're gratified that we got that. I I hesitate to call it concession because these were units that you would owe us anyway, but they may not appear for three or four years, >> right? We're accelerating a delivery.
Yep. >> Um, and I want to just keep on hitting this. From the beginning, this has been a housing project. So that's the uh and um anyway, so >> can I
>> since we're not going to really touch talk about the the residential section of this until the 19th, are you going to come in with >> what's going on with the residential I think by that time hopefully all your peerreview stuff because there's only a couple of outstanding issues, the uh drainage and traffic which is going to
be addressed in all of it. But um we had always talked about offsite affordable units is um >> yes. So so that's I appreciate that. Um our intention right now and plan and and we fully expect it to happen is to be
submitting uh next week for um the 410 project. Um I will I will caveat that the first submission will be um a very necessary sort of a change of use application because we're looking at uh potentially introducing some retail over
there which is complimentary to the housing piece. the main focus and um you know as I presented to the board as they may you may recall back in I think it was December December 15th um our intention is to put a substantial number of affordable units over at 410 and
that'll be part of that uh that submission um and discussion going with the going on with the board. But um I think as part of that also we would love to sit down with the town planner and and staff um to to preview some of that in in the coming week or two as well. But again, the the the first step is
that change of use, which will go in next week. >> Well, the reason I say that is because it's always been a concern that we weren't getting up to the >> right >> 10% >> and and that's part of I think one of the shifts we we made um is to again substantial affordable units over there
to accelerate the delivery of that in response to that concern by the board and and the community. So that remains uh exactly as as we descri described and and promised on this on the December meeting. Darl, you have any comments? >> Um, no.
>> Barrett. Um, >> Barl. >> Bartlet. Barrett. Bartlet. Okay. Uh, anyone in the room who would like to speak? George. >> There's a surprise. >> You might as well just call on him. >> Yeah, I should just say >> without asking.
Do you want to sit in front with the >> We'll get you a name tag. >> You can sit up there. >> Sit in front of the >> You can sit up front with the rest of the class. >> I know you didn't pay premium money for the seats, but you can sit in front. >> Short walk up to them.
>> Anybody want to get on that board? They looking for punishment. >> Uh Mr. chairman, members of the board, and the team of soul, I just want to say
thank both the board and the team for working so close together to accomplish this first phase that we definitely need get going with because
S wants to get going. He wants to start billing and I want to see some income coming in tax-wise to get the people off of paying taxes on that property over there, which is very important to me.
I also want to point out that with the DOT, uh, I've been on this over a year and a half about replacing that bridge over 495 to include sidewalks on both sides and
four lanes. U Jim Merial, Representative Jim Maser, uh, I'm working with him on that. Um they I got six items they're supposed to be giving me an update on and one of
them is the DOT with the bridge and I'm going to be sending a letter to the governor as well because uh I think she needs to know how important this bridge is to the point and to the new development that's going
to take place at 550 and 410. Also, I would like to say that we as citizen here in the town of Littleton really appreciate the work that has been done here and
changing to the buildings on King Street by putting the storefront on the front and s told me George I put it on the back as well. So, I think that is great.
The only question that I have is that I know one of the ladies here, she said, "Well, I'm looking for public um restrooms to be up there somewhere." So, I don't know if that's something that uh y'all have taken into
consideration. Um hopefully uh the disability commission uh will address that when you come before they're going to be coming before the disability commission on uh March the 13 at 1:00. So we will address
uh the bathrooms uh with regards to that. And other than that, I just hope that uh this project get going and that uh y'all give them the blessing to go forth with
it. And I thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> I'm glad you brought up the um bathrooms. How do you want to handle that? Do you want to handle that as part of the town green or as part of the retail? >> Yes, we we've been looking into that and actually before that comment was made, we had been discussing it already. It's
not it is not part of this phase as as the board is aware. But our intention is that uh with the town green and the hotel project and the related retail um on on the ground floor of that which we are also looking to submit in the coming months to this board uh as soon as
possible. It'll be incorporated into that piece of it. >> Okay. Thank you. Um anyone else? That being said, >> um, that being said, no other public input, um, here, I'd like to make a motion to close the public hearing
to a decision. >> I'll second that. >> All in favor? >> I'm I'm going to I have to roll call. So, Bartlett, >> yes. >> Darl, >> yes. >> Mark, >> yes. >> And I'm a Yes. >> So, the hearing is closed. Well, we we
need to make two motions. One for the storm water permit. Let's say that we just closed the hearing for the retail site review. Now, let's have a motion to close the >> a motion to close the >> storm water. >> Well, that the subdivision, I'm sorry. Yeah,
>> sorry. Which one am I closing out? Sorry. >> You're or the defin to amend the definitive subdivision. >> Make a motion to close the definitive subdivision um public hearing. >> So moved. >> Bartlett? >> Yes. >> Daryl, >> yes. >> Mark,
>> yes. And I'm Yes. Um, that being said, let's vote on the amend the definitive subdivision for phase one. Uh, can I have a motion? >> Yep. So, um, you have the draft decision in front.
>> Okay. >> Um, that's this one here. Very straightforward. Looks eerily similar to the decision that you made on the um, initial definitive subdivision. And this is just the amendment that includes the new lot lines. >> All right. I'll make a motion that we
approve the am I approving the subdivision first, right? >> Approving the amendment >> zoning amendment with amend >> with the draft decision that's included which has been vetted out by the town and town council. Correct. >> Correct,
>> Bartlett. Oh, we need a second. We need a second. Okay. And >> Bartlett, >> yes. Darl, >> um I was going to make a comment, but I I can uh I think we're at the point we can
just vote here. So, uh I vote yes. >> Mark. >> Yes. >> And I'm a yes. Now, the uh planning board vote for the storm role review and site plan phase one commercial mixeduse development. Uh we do have a
um draft decision um and it did hopefully when it was made include the four units >> that was in here >> in the Yes. >> Um so it is in there and that would have
been the only thing that you would have maybe not um known about. Uh, and since we've agreed to do that, that will stand. >> Agreed to do it. >> Since they've agreed to do it, that will stand. Um, I'm once again very
gratified. Thank you. >> My only recommendation is that any motion include um as per final wording of town council to allow any um tweaks that that need to happen. >> Right. And of course, you know, you will
um be able to talk to town council about anything. Uh so, can I have a motion to approve >> storm model >> the storm rider review and site plan phase one commercial mixeduse
development? >> Go ahead. You do. I make a motion to um accept the draft decision on the storm water review and site plan phase one commercial mixeduse development subject to final edits u by town council.
>> I'll second that. >> Bartlet? >> Yes. >> Daryl, >> yes. Mark, >> I'm a yes. >> And I'm a yes. You're approved. Um we can't wait for you to start >> uh tomorrow.
>> Yeah. And uh we are also anxious to go forward with um you know the housing and then so we have it in our mind we have what's next meeting we have an agenda item of
410 >> and then when will we see the town green >> probably the end of end of this month maybe early from a submission standpoint. >> Okay that's only 3 weeks. Yeah, maybe it's a little longer than >> Okay. So, we have we have um the 19th,
the 2nd, April 2nd, and then the next meeting is after the town election, which is and and we will would be willing to open a hearing prior to the town election if Do we have potential
dates for that >> for the a second meeting in April? >> Um yes. Um, >> so it's either >> Well, it would be >> when I'm going to be around. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's right. >> Let me know when. I need a little notice.
>> And you you may not need them, but I I think that we we want to ride the wave of um uh getting things going. >> It's also as the board, we have we intend to submit for the parking area.
Um this what we're calling building 200 which is the IBM building closes to great road. Um just doing some site work around that but we believe it requires a site plan approval. >> Yeah because you're changing the parking. Correct. You're adding parking all the way around it. It looks like
>> somewhat. Yes. Correct. >> What about conditions of approval for the for the residential? Are we even working on that? Then we could have a working draft by the 19th. Um, I would imagine it'll look
eerily similar to >> Okay. I just >> this one. >> Yeah, good idea. Um, so, uh, April 2nd, April 23rd, um, May 5th is a town meeting. So, the first meeting in May is the 14th. >> We have a couple meetings in April.
>> So, if you need an April 23rd meeting, please let us know. We will get back to you with a more definitive answer, but u and more clear. But that's we are we are working to uh hold please.
>> Yeah, Mark's looking at his cruise. >> Checking his calendar there. Um sort of one one um request as you do your presentations moving forward is if you could open with two charts. One is is the overall site plan and what we're going to talk about in your presentation
>> with the other ones there and two an updated master Gance chart that shows this project that we just approved underway when it's doing and then the what all the other timing that you know at this point of like either when you're going to submit plans to us or get
started on uh you know like particularly after we approve you know the housing one goes through the process we'll want to see it schedule and when when we're going to expect that but you got four phases coming and and 410. So that it' be nice so that we can ground everybody at your opening remarks about where we
are and which part of which process. >> That makes that makes sense. >> And and a lot of it's among ourselves even as the labeling because we just refer to it C retail and housing, but it's really phase one this phase one that and um >> so
>> I think I'm away that weekend. I think I'm actually leaving the that's the 23rd. I think I the 23rd. So that Thursday is the 23rd. >> So I'm available the 16th. So we're meeting the second. Is that our first meeting the second? >> Yes. >> I could probably do the 16. I might be able to do the 23rd. I'll let you know
tomorrow. I forget when >> um >> I don't know. >> That being said, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> And uh it's um a halfhour meeting. >> Wow.
>> Who knew? That's what happens when you >> get, you know, do the work. Yeah. >> Uh and we appreciate all the work. >> Thank you all. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? All right.