The meeting of the Somerville Planning Board for August 27th, 2025 will please come to order. Adequate notice of this meeting as required by the Open Public Meeting Act has been provided. A copy of the notice specifying the date, time, and location was one published at to the Courier News, two posted on the bulletin
board outside of Burough Hall, three posted to the municipal website, and four given to the clerk administrator. This meeting is a judicial proceeding. Any questions or comments must be limited to the issues the board may legally consider in reaching a decision and the decorum appropriate to a judicial hearing must be maintained at
all times. Roll call. Andrea Deair, Chris Addex, and Art Akens are excused. Larry Cleveland here. Jason Kra here. John Manilio is excused. Barry Van Horn here. Mayor Gallagher here. Council member of Vroom is excused. Chairperson Warner
here. Please stand for the pledge. I alsyy and justice for all. Okay. I needed a motion for approval for minutes from August 13th. So moved. Second. Jason Kra.
Yes. Chairperson Warner. Yes. Okay. We have uh next up is our hearing for uh 132 North Gaston for preliminary approval. Good evening members of the board. Matt
Flynn from Savoshock, Corsini, Warner, Gillespio, Grodnik, and Fischer here in Somerville, appearing tonight on behalf of the applicant, Shantaa LLC. Uh the project is to convert the abandoned Wraid building to a liquor saver retail store. The lot is designated as block
43, lot 1.01 in your tax records and more commonly known as 132 North Gaston Avenue. This project is a retail retail change in occupancy that your ordinance uh states require site plan approval. So, we're here tonight proposing limited
changes and requesting approval to continue basically the existing conditions affecting the site as it exists today with some cleanup that our engineer will go through. Um, we are in receipt of Mr. Kohl's review memorandum. We've reviewed his recommendations and
suggested conditions and are happy to report that we can comply with his memo. We will go through that in testimony. with me tonight. I only have one witness, Deborah Diamo, our engineer. Although I do have a representative from the applicant here if necessary, although I don't know how much
operational testimony you would need. It's an existing uh liquor store that's just changing locations and expanding. So, notice has been provided, mailed, and published as required by law. And unless the board has any initial questions, I'd like to get our first
witness sworn in. No issues with the notice publication. Can you turn your microphone on, please? Thank you. Uh, there's no issue with the notice and publication. Um, before we swear in uh Mr. Flynn's witness, I'll just mark for purposes of the record as
A1, the application and supporting documentation. A2, the notice and publication proofs and PB1, Mr. Cole's report dated August 20th, 2025. Thank you, Miss Kazinski. Okay, if you could just raise your right hand. The testimony you're about to give
this board is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Thank you. So, Deborah, why don't you take the board through uh what we're proposing to do with the site? Um, so do we want to qualify her or
Oh, apologies. Yes. Can you can you give the benefit? We get so used to doing this, we forget everybody. I know, right? Uh, can you give the benefit of your professional credentials, please? So, a professional a licensed professional civil engineer in the state of New Jersey, New York, in Pennsylvania, and
I've been before this board in the zoning board and town. I live in town and I work in town. And your licenses are current and good standing. Yes. I would offer up as an expert in professional engineering and they are accepted. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. All right. My initial question, why don't you tell the board
what we want to do with the site? Um, so the site is existing. It is improved. Um, and it's most of the improvements are in good shape. The applicant would like to come in and fix anything that's broken and in disrepair.
Um, move in and change from the right aid to a liquor store. He owns um he is already um a business in town. He has a store across the street. So, he'd be moving to this space. It's a larger space for him and it's better located
for him. Um, so that's basically it. Um, in response to Mike's, uh, Mr. Cole's letter, um, couple of things he wanted me to go over, uh, with regard to um, updates
um, and information, we can um, restripe that bank of parking along the building and accommodate advanced accessible space. So, that um, can be done and will be done. Um, we talked about a solid
wastewater manage uh, solid waste management. The existing dumpsters are adequately sized and located for the use. I spoke with the client about that. Um, and he will continue to use them as they are. He will repair the gates and install the internal ballard of the
garbage the garbage enclosure to protect it. Um, landscaping buffers and tree planting. What the applicant would like to do is um the landscaping plan that was originally approved by the zoning board when write aid came in. I have a
copy of that. Anything that is deficient or dead or diseased, he will remove and replacing kind. So um that that would bring the landscaping back to the standard that was approved by the bureau
1997. So, um, and then once he does that, there won't be much room for shade trees because there's a lot of plantings along that the right away. Can that be discussed later on? Yeah, we can discuss that. Okay,
sure. Um the light fixtures um are on a timer and he is willing to adjust timers and which fixtures come on and go off um for security l uh for security lighting um as needed. And he
certainly if there's something that needs addressing is willing to address it, you know, to uh compensate any issues that there may be with um uh neighbors. storm water management. Um the pipe is adequate for the parking lot
and the downspouts which do tie into the storm water the storm drain and um that has been in existence for 20 years. There's no known and we certainly have had a number of storms go through and there's no known issues with storm water
in that parking lot. um the sign um he will comply with all of the suggestions from Mr. And I think that is oh the HVAC equipment up on the roof. Um
he's willing to screen that um with um an enclosure probably lattice or something so that the air flow can still get to it. Um and that is it I think. So if you have so basically
basically the crux of this application is that it's a permitted use. Correct. Yes. Permitted use for the zone and we're looking to continue andor improve any existing conditions that exist on site today. Correct.
That's really all I have for Mr. MO questions from the board. Yeah. Uh trash compactor or garbage not uh carboard compactor. Is it going to be a compactor? There is that question for someone else, Debbie, or Okay, someone else.
Someone else. Yeah. Come up. Get sworn in. Yep. You state your name for the record. You're going to be sworn in. Prashant mean 131 Morgan Place, Bridgewater, New Jersey. Thank you. If you could just raise your
right hand. Do you swear the testimony you're about to give us board is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Thank you. And Pashant, you're a representative from the applicant. Yes. Um, can you answer Mr. Cole's question. Yes. There is no um trash compactor inside the building. So, we going to use
the recycle dumpster for the recycle. Okay. So, you're not going to have a compactor. No, you're going to use the existing recycled refuge area. Yes. And uh Yes. And if it's you're going to have pickups as needed.
Yes. So that if your business picks up or you need twice a week or three times, whatever it is, you'll comply with that. Yes. To accommodate the the size of the dumpster. So whatever whatever is required will be done. But you're going to use the dumpster. Yes. C can you talk a little bit? We we've had
some issues with other commercial establishments in regards to times that uh dumpsters are being picked up like 3 4 in the morning. Uh c can you have provide testimony to what times they will be picking up? Yeah, it'll be most probably I have a
business and they do pick up after 9:00 in the morning. After 9:00 a.m. Yes. Okay. Same thing for deliveries. Sorry. Yes. Same thing. Yes. We open and uh after 9:00 most of the trucks are going
back the liquor companies. So it'll be done by most by five sometime you know like if is a rain or something they late they go by 6 but I never see that most of the time is happen before 5:00
and that's PM 5:00 p.m. Yes. What were the hours of business? hours of business going to be from 9 to 10. But 9:00 a.m. to 10. 9:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. Um, I wanted to go back to the trees.
The landscaping that you're talking about was from 1997. So that's quite a while ago. I like to joke around. I call that BC before Cleveland. So It's my joke for today. But but the point is that's an old
landscaping layout and I wonder if we would rather have more or closer to the amount of required trees than just simply the landscaping. I don't I I you know I you
see the site for years and years and you kind of becomes invisible to you in certain aspect but maybe we should add because the way I'm looking at it's supposed to be 16 trees. We're only proposing seven total between shade and street trees. So that's less than half
or write a check for the other ones and then we'll plant them in other places that we can do in town. Well, there's there are some trees that are missing that that that we'll put back in and um we certainly can enhance this if we need
to add another tree or two if there's room. There's not a lot of room there now and there are trees that are missing um that aren't there. So what is the total number that would be proposed for straight shade trees as of right now along on the site or along the rightway?
That's what I I need to know. I I I I have this is the planting plan from 1997. Um so I think if we take that and compare it to the requirements in Mr. I'm trying to see what's Yeah. So between the parking lot and the
rightway. So that that area there's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight trees. And that's just along the parking lot area that doesn't go along the building. So there's eight trees that are supposed to be there.
Yes. Yes. So there's let's see a QR is a uh I think she means street trees because she's talking about rightway. So that would be Friday, right? Yeah. So there's a red oak. There's a JC, which is a junip um a No,
I'm sorry, that's not a JC. Oh, there's two existing trees that were there that are gone that need to be replaced. So it it's not just what we proposed to plant. So if there were trees that were there in 1997 and they're not there anymore, we'll replace those with another shade
tree. Yeah. We're just trying to figure out what was there in 97 and what's required now. Five, six, seven, eight trees between the parking lot and the So instead of the nine street trees, we'd be going down to eight. Yeah. Oh, and then there's one on the
other side of the driveway. So that would bring nine, the back driveway. No, the other side of the the entrance, the one entrance exit. All right. So the nine. So that's compliant from the report.
Yep. It says plant four shade trees and five state trees and we will agree to do that and also uh whatever missing landscaping will put it back in. Okay, that's what we need. Thank you.
Comply what what you ask for it will comply that and you know restore the landscaping the way it is. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions from the board?
The dumpster question, that dumpster area that's there now, you're going to have two different dumpsters, one for recycling and one for garbage. Will you be generating more than that or you just do additional pickups? Uh,
we are in a business. We have a two-time pickup and we always is more than enough to do that two time pickups. Okay. Basically saying that two times doesn't work or three or four times whatever it takes
most probably one time will do it right because liquor store do not generate too much garbage regular garbage and those we fold it leave it when the day comes we throw it in there so and most of the recycle when customer comes right
now the New Jersey do not allow the bags so they take the and uh boxes with them. You also going to fix the fencing area? Yes, we do fix the fence, fix the landscaping around this from the report and u we'll make sure the gates get
lifted and we put the bard in the back and whatever need to be done, we will do it. Right. Basically, Debbie indicated that they will comply with the report, which means that there was a cracked apron that Yes, we'll take care of
it. the board on board fence, Larry. There was a slab or two sidewalk that settled. Not a lot. Uh there was the lighting that they're going to provide the photometrics and it's on timer. So, we're going to look at security lighting and see what can be done
and the hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. And the loading area is sufficient where it is right now. We don't use much loading area. Okay. Okay. And then the deliveries are going to be before you said that the deliveries and waste disposal recycling
in the morning. Yes. Right. And with everything. The only thing I didn't hear anything mentioned about was the sign. You're going to make sure that complies as well. Yes. Yeah. So, so two somewhat operational. Um, one issue and it's not it's not relegated to
just your liquor store. It's endemic to liquor stores everywhere. are the the shooter bottles. Um they wind up when people walk out, they'll shoot them down and then toss them and it becomes a problem. They're they they get strewn all over. And again, it's not, you know,
we're not I'm not saying it's your store. It's every liquor store. Yes. How do we combat that? Okay. So, um we going to as a family we running the business for 25 years in we trying our best. We were tenants somewhere but
this is my own. I'll take we take responsibility to keep the whole building and a parking lot neat and clean. We're going to try our best because you do have residential neighbors immediately adjacent and I think that's a concern that they will have.
We will we will do our best to keep the parking lot and everything else neat and clean. 25 years doing the business in Somerville. two businesses. We never have a police came to our store. Will you have video cameras? Yes.
On the outside? Yes. Okay, good. Uh the other is, and again, this isn't relegated to just your store. There there are some liquor stores that there's a proliferation of temporary signs and banners, uh you know, it's it's the Coors Light sale, uh you know,
whatever it may be. Um, can you talk a little bit about that because it does become an eyesore when you have all of these different competing banners and prices and I don't know that that is warranted on that corner. Uh, I think it's an eyesore and
I think it it lends itself to a uh a distraction for drivers, especially when we have a school right up the road. It's not necessary. The way the building looks is so beautiful. I'm going to try to maintain it, not to put any screws in
the building to put those signs in. Thank you. I just had one other thing. I know we talked about deliveries and pickups after 9:00 a.m. I just wanted to also, you know, it is a residential area, we try to restrict also no later than. Um, normally in a residential in that type
of transition area, we usually say nothing after 8:00 p.m. Would you be agreeable to everything after 9:00 a.m., but before 8:00 p.m.? Yes, dear. I do. If there is a delivery coming, I'm going to refuse it. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions from the board?
Yeah. Um, I didn't hear much talk about the uh proposed condensers that are going to be in the roof. Given that it's a residential area, is the applicant favorable to a post construction sound study to ensure compliance. I think that during
compliance, should the board approve this, they'll provide the data. It's in the report that Debbie said they will agree to and they have to show compliance with the state and noise code and I that will be addressed prior to construction. Okay, that that's works for you.
Yeah, I I agree. I agree. And the same thing with the screening. You had the the architect said that the the proposed new AC condensers for the walk-in coolers refrigeration units will not be in
public view. And I the I said should it be found to be in public view that they will recommend screening it and the applicants agreeing to that. Plus the applicants agreed to screen the existing AC units which are visible from parking
lot and union. Okay. So it's not visible from the parking lot but it is visible from the from the sidewalk. Yeah. So we will put some kind of is a little bit visible is not much but we'll
make sure uh we'll put some kind of talis or something to make it look good. Our our police department just started a program where you can those who have uh video cameras on the outside of their buildings or their homes can register. Not that the police would have access to
it, but they then have a database. So if there is an incident, they have the ability to understand who has access to video. Would you be willing to to register with the PD with that? Yes, we do. and police always comes to us when there is accidents and they're always looking for a video and we
Thank you. Anything else from the board members? Just Mike, I was going to say, can you just make sure that um go through and make sure that you don't have anything open from your report as well? No, the wheel comply covers it all, but the board has to be one of the ADA spots
has to be van accessible. And I I thought they're going to do that and show the accessibility the accessible route to the store. There's a ramp there to bring that on to compliance. Uh the report talks about having the wall sign have LED, making the lights dimmable so
we don't have to deal with how bright it is. We can do in the field and adjust the lighting and that would address that. They're going to maintain the landscaping so the board knows when a board approves landscaping, there's no sunset, but you have to maintain that landscaping for the indefinite future.
And the testimony is that the street trees and the landscaping street trees and shade trees will comply with the numbers in the report and they will restore the landscaping to what was previously approved which some of it's a little bit overgrown. So they're going
to cut that back, deal with the board fence and basically I'll call it property maintenance. Maintain the site back to what it got approved in 9697. Okay. I just had a couple questions. Um,
can you I know you indicated that you will comply with the street trees, so we don't need relief from that at all. Um, there's certain items on page six of Mike's report regarding lighting and the uh I guess lighting and then the light pole. Uh, information wasn't provided,
so he wasn't sure if we needed relief. Um, will you comply with the requirements? Are you looking for relief? How are we going to address those four? Debbie, can I jump in here for a second? Yeah. I I think the the approach would be to
do a photometrics in the field and demonstrate that the lighting complies. That doesn't the lighting doesn't comply. I'm talking about light trespass that screening or the heads it'll be addressed so the lighting will comply and once the photometrics are done we'll
look at security lighting issue which the ordinance talks about reducing lighting but we don't know to what extent uh should the board approve this I think allow a little latitude there because I don't know in a corner like that how much you want a certain amount of lighting yes
so security lighting might be only one or two uh uh lights being reduced, but there's going to be some in my opinion. No, and I think normally we've done that where it's done out in the field once it's because we really can't make that determination until it's there are no shields on them right now.
So, there is the ability to improve what's there to the best of the ability of the applicant. Um, and certainly they're not they're on timers, they're not on dimmer. So, I don't know if those lights from way back when are dimmable,
but if they are, that's another that we can do to help bring it closer to or into compliance. Right. I do there's three light polls to do foot full cut off heads. There's things that be canon to address this but there's no information right now. So I
suggest that we get the information in the field and address it at that time. The board's comfortable with that which is fine. So the approach will be we won't grant any relief from those items. They'll do the study in the field and do whatever is necessary to make it compliant with the ordinance.
Or else we need really further relief. Correct. But I think you can make I think I don't see that happening. But should lighting become a huge issue have to come back to the board. Whatever that relief I just don't see that happening. Yeah. Okay. Yep. Anything else from you, Cara?
Nope. All right. Um I am going to open it up to public for comment or questions concerning this hearing. Please come up to the microphone. State your name and your address, please. Good evening. My name is Jeff Lamour, 32
Lisa Terrace. Um, like Mayor Gallagher mentioned, I actually live close to the current liquor store and uh I'm coming up for two items. First one is uh the shooter bottles that end up on the street as as litter. It's something that frequently happens uh on in our neighborhood. Um I I would like to see a
little more effort or maybe an adopt a adopt a street program that is sponsored by the liquor store to help clean those up would be nice to see. Um the second item that I think would be beneficial is uh to update the storm water uh attenuation beyond 1997. I think we can
do better than that. Uh there are best management practices especially for the uh the drainage that comes off of the roof. um if that's tied in directly to um it's a question. Is it is it tied directly into the storm drains or does it end up on the property uh surface
level first before going down tied in? Okay. Is is there is there an opportunity for uh some green infrastructure practices to be placed in particular uh some rain gardens would be nice or uh even going so far as underground infiltration would be nice uh to see better attenuation. uh our
storms are getting better uh are getting uh greater and uh in part on the agenda today is to talk about that as part of our master planning process. So I think we can do better than just what 1997 did. Our storms have increased by then. Thank you.
Anyone else? Come on up, sir. And just for the record, this is for questions uh of the witness or comments as well. Thank you. My name is Louisis Silverman. I live at 12 Union A. I'm directly next
to the Wraid building. Um I have a serious concern about litter. And historically, like if you guys look today at the fence that's between the liquor store and the graveyard, it's disgusting. And the graveyard is full of
liquor trash. Not to mention our streets. I appreciate you bringing up the shooter bottles. It's an absolute epidemic. I'm concerned that trash the fence along our properties is dilapidated and I'm concerned that they will
I'm concerned that trash will be blown either by the wind or by their lawn people. And what tends to generally happen is it all gets pushed into my yard. And I think it'll be made even worse with the liquor trash now being directly in the right aid parking lot. So, I'm hoping that part of the plan can
be to create a wall that will prevent trash from going through as well as fixing all the messed up trees in between our properties. Um, if that could be included in the plan, I would appreciate that very much.
I want to guarantee that my yard's not going to be trashed and I don't I don't trust my potential neighbors to respect my property. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else?
Okay. Hearing Oh, go ahead. Hi, my name is Asa Buchanan. I live at 441 Bartine Street which is caddyy corner to the uh right aid right now. Um I I think the applicant had mentioned
that there would not be significant improve or um I'm very sorry trying to get all organized that um first I'd like to say that not all retail spaces are created equal. Um there are significant
improvements that would need to be done to the right aid in order for the liquor store to be in place and um I think it's burrow code section 10228B says that any changes in the use of a
building site shall be treated as new use. So this is not a retailto retail spot. Um, pharmacies uh drive a lot of community. Uh, they're needed for medicine and also just other minor
groceries. Um, I personally walked to Write aid probably twice a week. I talked to Romero all the time. He brightened my day. Um, also, um, the New Jersey municipal land use law says that,
uh, any new development must meet an identifiable community need. Um, we have five liquor stores within a mile from 132 North Gaston Nav, uh, including the current liquor saver. Um, I just wanted
to ask or make sure that everyone kind of understands that there's to me there's no need for another liquor store within our little community. Um, and then
hold on one second. Very sorry for this. Okay. And also within the development plan, um we are prioritizing community um as mentioned the uh the shooter bottles are over in my yard. So they they make their
way a long way. There's trash everywhere. Um and there's already litering with the the smoke shop around my house as well. Um there's an increase of rats lately as well. Um, so I'm also
not confident that this will uh prevent uh or stop the the litter. Um, and I would just want to ask like if there's a a way that the design uh of a
retail liquor store uh can create a more friendly, social, engaging, and walkable space in the neighborhood more than a pharmacy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mike, do you want to just um comment on the really quick in your response to that on the zoning
briefly? The liquor store is allowed in the redevelopment zone. So, it's a permitted use. Uh it's the change of use is questionable depending on substantial you look at the change of use. It's you could you could argue it's retail to retail, but you have to look at the
intensity of use. It's very similar. That's why pointed out in the report, it's either a C or a V on some of these things. It's the question of if the hours are similar and the traffic is similar. It's a it's a different retail, but retail's allowed in the zone. So,
you run into that rub whether it's truly a change of use from a standpoint of intensity. If it's not a an in my opinion, if it's not in does not increase the intensity, then it's really
similar use being that the intensity of truck traffic cars is roughly the same. Uh then you don't really have a mechanism there. So but it's it's it's I would point out that it's not an increase in liquor stores. It's the same number of liquor
stores just moving it 500 or 800 feet. So we're not increasing the liquor stores. We're maintaining the number just the locations being moved. So if you if the burough has five liquor stores in that area of the mentioned
it's been that way for many many years and that's this application is not proposing to change that. Yes sir. You need to come back up. I really appreciate your comments just now because I I when I bought my house,
I read over the Gaston AB redevelopment plan and I was kind of trying to stay aware of what it's about and there's a piece of language in it that I thought is really important here and that's that we want to increase property values through development that enhances
Somerville's economic vitality as well as create an environment that increates interaction between residents, encourages walking, outdoor living, and is aesthetically attractive. I don't think that having a bigger liquor store, a larger alcohol presence
in our neighborhood accomplishes any of those things. I think that the change of use is it's a significant difference versus a grocery store and a liquor store. And there was one other piece of language that I thought was really good
here. Um, I'm sorry. Just give me a second. The gas in every development plan states that planning should take into account the community context of every site and encourage the economic development and reuse of properties that is focused to
act as a service for the surrounding neighborhood. Making a liquor store larger is the opposite of that goal. having a grocery store and a pharmacy where we've spoken to each other in the right aid before where we just bumped into each other. Many of my neighbors
here I bumped into at the pharmacy. We don't bump into each other at the liquor store. We stay away from the liquor store because it's a little scary. I I thought I heard the applicant say earlier in 25 years the police have never been called to the liquor store. I have a photo of the police letting a
drunk driver go in front of the liquor store on August 18th because they couldn't prove that he was driving. Even though I'm sure that there's probably cameras that they could have used from the owner that would have proven that he drove up, parked right in the front. The community members actually stopped this
person from getting in their car and leaving. And because the police didn't have the evidence at the time, he walked off. that kind of behavior is coming to my backyard and I'm just really I'm hoping that the board can do something about it.
So, I will just reiterate for the public um one of the things that is not before us here as a vote or whether we're approving or not approving is the use. It is an approved already approved and acceptable use within this redevelopment plan. Legally, we have no say in that in
this hearing. This hearing is for to ensure that they will conform in this use change to anything that is now more relevant to which was not when writed was put in to the redevelopment plan. Okay. So just understand that we have no
there is no that is not before the board tonight on whether this use is acceptable or not acceptable. It is already approved. Okay. Anybody else from the public? I promise I'll be quick. Um Avery Heyman, 16 Union Avenue, right next to
Lou. So one over from Wraid. Um just wanted to ask some questions, voice some concerns about the security measures that are being taken with cameras. Um I personally myself have installed a security camera outside of my house because of things that happen in the parking lot, fights, um screaming at 3
in the morning. I mean, it is a safety concern for me. Um, and I'm just wondering as far as what is going to be at the new liquor store location at Writeight where they're going to put those security cameras because there have been uh unhoused different folks that or or people that are just drinking
and and hanging out by the dumpster area that is like a darker corner that's not as well lit. So, I want to make sure that the cameras are going in all directions um at the place. So, thank you. Can I jump in there? Sure. Good. If anybody sees anybody doing anything illegal at any time
anywhere in this burrow, call the police. You know, it's I I can't impress it upon people that enough. That's their job. You know your neighborhood better than anybody. And if you see something out of sorts and you know something's just a
little off, call. Their job is to determine whether they're uh doing something illegal or not. That's their job and they will gladly do that. Call. If you see anybody doing anything wrong, call please.
Anyone else from the public? Yes, you can. I know. Mel Peody, 25 Reamer Street. Uh my only comment in the relocation of this is that on the south side, and she brought it up also, it's the dark part. uh by
that dumpster. There's dead dead zones against that fence. Uh the trees go around it. Also, the gentleman to the to the south, he rebuilt that whole wall. He's got new trees in there. He's got a wire fence. People cross through his property, that parking lot. Now that we
have dance studios there, I was just wondering if he could if he has the point and there's a problem with that fence being destroyed to the south to build a better one so we can't cross at all there. That's my point. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else from the public?
Yes, ma'am. Completely unprepared. Sherry November, 200 North Gaston. Um, I just wanted to thank you for everyone who spoke and I agree with you. Um, I am concerned about this. Uh, I'm disappointed to hear that
it's already approved, but since it is, um, I just to voice that we have a vape store, a gun store, we will now have a larger liquor store, and now I have a dispensary up on the highway just a few
blocks from me. It's starting to feel less community-like than I originally thought. And I think that that will eventually hurt my property values. Having said that, um I never want to stop a business from
thriving. So, I just would ask that the people who are now going to occupy that space that they please consider everything they heard today and maybe try and do a little bit better than 1997 to try and see that we care about our
community and that we would like them to try to be part of it. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Yes, ma'am. All right. Hi, good evening. Uh, my name is
Jeannie Mark. I reside on 39 Field Fieldstone Drive. Um, I am a resident, um, a wife with my husband and I am also a business owner. So, my house acts as my residency and also my business, um, my consulting business. I want to
reiterate and I also want to thank all the people came out um from our surrounding area and spoke about their concerns and I want to reiterate the same concerns not only as a resident but also as a business owner. Um it I cannot fathom or understand how in a burrow
that is only 2.37 square miles how it makes sense to cluster um to reiterate again a gun store, a smoke shop, and now a liquor store all within within 100 ft of one another down the road from a dispensary off of Route 22 and walking
distance of an elementary school. Um, decisions like these make residents, not only residents but business owners, uncomfortable. They undermine the character of our community, and they send the message that Somerville has stopped prioritizing families in favor
of quick revenue and poor optics. I am very concerned about the reputation that the town will have um after creating a very particular looking zone. Um, in a time when ma so many main street
businesses are struggling to stay afloat under astronomical rents, when what they need most is foot traffic and familyfriendly community investment, the town continues to um approve businesses that detract from rather than build upon the vision of a thriving, safe, and
welcoming Somerville. Um, again to reiterate the points already made, the liquor store already creates um, significant problems within the neighborhood from loitering and drinking outside to several other concerns that have been raised. Um, I don't see how expanding the the store can help anyone.
Um, I am hoping for the for Somerville to become a safer, stronger, and more appealing towns to families. Um and again and I am speaking from not only a resident of but also a business owner and I am concerned about the longevity um that this particular zone will have
on the reputation of the town, the value of not only the um local resident um properties, but also um what other businesses will want to open within Somerville and what this could potentially turn the town into. Um I've
always come here as a child. Um, I came with my parents. We would go and watch the bike race. We would grab ice cream. We would sit on park benches and talk to families who share the same sense of community. Um, that's why I moved here with my husband to start a family, thinking back on those memories. And it's very hard to reconcile those
memories with what I'm currently seeing just blocks away from my door. So, um, thank you for listening. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Terry Snider. I live across the street in Bridgewater from the Ammons. They are
wonderful neighbors. Their yard is kept beautifully. The family is a wonderful um neighbor. They own another piece of property in Bridgewater, the Manhattan Bagel, and they restructured that and made it into a gorgeous piece of property. They have
no issues there. It is it's in Bridgewater, but it is maintained very well. And I just want to speak to the character of them. They would support anyone. They're wonderful people, and I just I don't see how moving a liquor store across the street is the same store
across the street is going to be that detrimental. and what they've done to the other store in Bridgewater is a testament to how good they were with the community, with the township to comply to all the regulations that they needed. Thank you.
Thank you. Anyone else? Bill Marzaco, 582 Loca Street in Bridgewater. uh 30-year friend and neighbor of Persant and Joy. Uh I reiterate what my other neighbor said. If you look at his businesses right now
in East Main Street in Bridgewater, it's a coffee shop, dry cleaner, uh eye doctor, there's not a straw, there's not a a cup lid, there's nothing on the property. Uh I was at the board meeting when they had to go to Bridgewwater to
get approved. They brought the same questions up relative to dumpsters. He took care of it. Uh, no more complaints to the neighbors. The guy's a stand-up guy. Thank you. Anyone else?
Okay. Hearing none, I'm going to close public session. Any other comments from the board? Go ahead, sir. Make sure your mic is on. Mike's report indicated in the
applicant also agreed that they would fix the fencing all of the fencing. So that should address what Mr. Peabody talked about and also gentleman. Yeah. On on the on the the the house right next to it.
Ideally a solid not something like Okay. If you can could we just the board member is speaking please? No, he was not. Well, no, I was just saying that your comment about having a a solid fence that should be something we should look
at to ease the neighbors concerns. We can make that as part of the um think it kind of already is. Well, we can specify specifically not just fencing, but solid a board on board. It's not a stockade, which means if you look at it, there's a board here and a board here. There's a
gap. Yeah. the board should desire we could do a more like a stockade or with no gaps. I just don't know how the board feels about that. I'm finding I like the board on board look better. That's what Yeah. Aesthetics aesthetically better for
Yeah. I think we I think the intent was to stay away from a chain link. The board on board I think is fine. I think it's just more of the the staying away from and not allowing chain link to come back into that. I also think that maybe a couple of wellplaced garbage cans out by
the driveways for people who are walking. Put it here home. One at each driveway or at least outside of the door. Well, no, by the driver because they don't drink it right outside the door.
They walk. Come on. Hey, I've been around the block, you know. So, I'm just saying maybe a couple Hopefully garbage cans could also help in collecting of that garbage. Yes. Doesn't cost that much.
No. Anything else from the board? I guess just a a couple of comments. Um and you had mentioned it uh very briefly. Uh Madam Chair, that Somerville we don't
have a proliferation of liquor licenses. We have a set number of liquor licenses. We're not increasing. Um, the store is moving across the street. It is going to be a bigger store. But I think you also have to take a look back in history. Gaston Avenue has been a uh a small
retail area for Somerville, for the for the eastern neighborhood for decades, and it's seen its es and flows. Um, some good es and flows and some really bad es and flows. Um, it wasn't too long ago
that where the dance studio is now was a liquor store. It wasn't too long ago across the street where the Shell station was, where the vape store is now, uh, was a bar/packaged goods store.
It wasn't too long ago where across the street where uh, a restaurant hopefully will be reopening soon, was not a very good bar. It was a really bad place. Um, bucket of blood rich is is that what they called it? Yeah.
Um, so, you know, there are changes. Um, did I like the fact that a a a store was going in at the top of 22? No.
Uh, a weed store. I I just it to me it doesn't fit with Somerville. Um, but those were the rules I was given when I came back. And the goal now, as a woman said before, is is to have success. Um, and
I think probably everybody up at this board has been in your store. I would venture to say a whole lot of people in the audience have also been in your store. Um, I've known you for 20 years, uh, just by coming in and out. Not a
whole lot. Uh but but you have always treated everybody who came in professionally. Um and and you try to run a good store. If there are characters that misbehave,
that is the applicant's job to call the police. It's a resident's job, if they see something, to call the police. Um, I came to this town in 91 for the very reasons that you came because I could
take my kids downtown. Because I could go to the bike races. I could get them ice cream. And you know what? I now do that with my grandkids. Because Somerville has changed. And in the co in the words of Mr. O'Neal, it's gotten better.
So, you know, you take a look at change and and nobody wants change. Everybody wants to they want to move here because it's changing and it's a really cool place to be, but but now once they get in, they're like, "Well, don't change anything now that I'm here." Things are going to change, but that's what keeps
the town alive. Um, we have a gentleman, a family who wants to reinvest in Somerville. That reinvestment has a positive impact on
every one of us, on our taxes, on our community, on our ability to provide for schools, for parks, for fire, for police, a little bit of everything. As soon as we have we stop having entrepreneurs investing in Somerville,
that's when you move out because that's when you have a town that will not be successful. We don't have that. We have people clamoring to get in. And every application that comes before
this board, every application that comes into town, I don't necessarily agree with every single one of them, but I have to try to figure out how to make the best out of of of what's coming. You're going to see if you stay long
enough. We're we're actually beginning to address the master plan. 20 years ago we did this and we started to shape how the burrow of Somerville will look in 20 years. That was 20 years ago. We're 20 years forward. And that's
what we created. This board is about to do that again. We're going through that process now. We're beginning that process tonight of reshaping what will Somerville look like in the next 20 years. I encourage you to be a part of it.
I thank you for coming out because you've raised some great concerns and I think the applicant uh has taken some of those to heart. Um I think they're valid and I think I share them with you. I live a block and a half, two blocks from there. I live in the neighborhood. I get
it. I have people walking up and back and you know what? For the most part, it's somebody going to get a six-pack and going home for the most part. Do you have a couple of yahoos? Absolutely. But you have that in any store you go into,
any downtown you go into. We're a very special community and we're lucky that we have people who want to reinvest in our town. So, thank you for reinvesting in our town. Um, and
thank all of you for coming. I I agree with a bunch of stuff that you said. I really do. Uh, and what I can tell you is I'm in the neighborhood. I jog by there almost every day. If there's something wrong, you know what? I'm
going to pick up the phone and call him and and I'm going to I'm going to You said, and I'm going to hold him to it. And you know what? I think he'll hold to it. So, um, anybody else? One one more note that I didn't get um
to touch base on. As far as the lighting goes, are you open to adding lighting in that back area where the dumpster is? Because there was multiple people who discussed that. I was going to suggest that as part of the field testing with Mr. Cole that they can look into that as part of that condition of approval. Yeah. I don't want to flood the
neighbor's yard with light, but if we can get something, but it needs to obviously be illuminated a little bit more. Yeah. We will investigate that as part of resolution compliance. And I would suggest if there is that the lighting be lower so the fence shields anything that might spill. Absolutely.
We'll look at the the lighting to make sure it meets minimum safety standards back of the loading area and that we don't have a lot of trespass under.5 and the shielding. Yes. We just don't have the data here tonight. Yep. Anything else from the board? Um I just
want to make one last comment just um on the heels of the mayor. Um I do appreciate I know the board appreciates all of you that have come out from the public for this. Um, I will encourage you, the reason we're all up here is for, you know, we all started probably out there in the audience, at least I
know I did 20 some years ago almost. Um, she was horrible. And I would encourage you, this is, you know, we all kind of commented tonight. We haven't had a crowd like this in a while. Most people don't pay attention to what we're doing here until it
affects them literally as a neighbor. What I would suggest is continue to watch and look for our agendas on the on the um website. We are going to be re-examining our master plan. We are going to be looking at every single redevelopment plan that happen that we have in uh this in Somerville as well as
all of our zoning. We do this on a continuous basis. We want your input. That's why we do this in a public forum for full transparency. We actually do it probably more transparent than I know any other m uh municipality within Somerset County.
So, we encourage you to please be a part of that. Don't think that just because if if this uh uh process gets approved tonight, this applicant gets approved tonight that we don't hear you. There are certain restrictions, like I said, it's already an acceptable use. We're not voting on that tonight. But that
doesn't mean we don't hear you and that we don't want you to come back and please be part of our process. Okay? So we do appreciate that and I you know me as the chair I would like to extend that and I know I'm saying this on behalf of every board member here. So thank you for coming out and thank you for having that courage to because most people
don't they do it behind the scenes or they do it on social media instead of actually coming here and actually having a voice. So thank you for that. Having said that can we uh reiterate what will be in our motion motion? Yes. So, the application is here
tonight for preliminary site plan approval along with the relief outlined in Mr. Cole's report. Um, with the exception of the items that the applicant has indicated that they will comply with concerning the trees, landscaping, and the lighting. Uh, so
one of the conditions will be they will comply with all the comments and recommendations in that report. Uh they will remove and replace any dead landscaping in order to comply with the landscaping requirements of the ordinance. Uh the HVAC will be screened with lattice or other appropriate
enclosures to the satisfaction of the board engineer planner. Uh the recycling dumpster will be utilized in lie of any compactor indoors and pickups will be scheduled as needed to accommodate the necessary recycling. Uh, those pickups
will be after 9:00 a.m. Deliveries will also be after 9:00 a.m. Uh, I just want to have in there the hours of operation will be 9:00 a.m. to 1000 p.m. Uh, the applicant will register with the police department so that they are able to view their video footage when necessary.
There will be a phototric study in the field u upon uh at what time when you want to do that? I'll just coordinate that with Debbie when her convenience sometime. Um hopefully during compliance in the next week or two depending on our schedule of
course summer but uh we get out there. Okay. So we'll do the phototric study in the field to determine whether or not the lighting complies with the ordinance requirements. If not they will take whatever action is necessary to make sure that it does. Uh safety lighting will be installed again to the
satisfaction uh of the board engineer planner in the area by the dumpster. um at a height as the mayor had indicated that would not enable it to exceed the fence and uh the applicant shall place garbage cans near the driveways in
location again to satisfaction of the professional. Do we say the van striping? Yeah, that was in there. It's in the report. Okay. And and no deliveries after Yeah. I want were the hours for deliveries after after. So I had after 9:00 a.m. and before 8
p.m. and before 8. Yep. Okay, I'll make the motion with all that. I'll second it. Larry Cleveland, yes. Jason Krasco, yes. Barry Van Horn, yes. Mayor Gallagher, yes.
Chairperson Warner, yes. Thank you. Thank you. All right. We'll take a twominut break. Remember, you're still being recorded and live streamed. Good to see you, too. Yes. Thank you for
the other night. I appreciate minute. Yeah, absolutely. All right, I bet. Oh, yeah. Yeah. All right. So, we are going to move forward. So, under pending business discussion items, this is just for
everybody's awareness. The uh improvement coverage and residential zone conversion resolution did go through from to council on Monday. No questions, no comments. So, that will be moving forward. Um that it's taken us a
while to put through, but um council has it's was introduced. Thank you. It was intro I was I was thinking of the word and I don't know why I couldn't think of that word uh introduced so with no and no questions or anything comments for us. So so the planning board's recommendation
is to adopt what was introduced in between first and second correct obviously originated here but the the planning board maintains the position of this is the recommendation what was introduced in the first reading. Yep.
Yep. Go ahead. I happened to be at the um board of adjustment meeting last week and they have already started moving in that direction but use those standards. Yeah, I think it's going to be extremely helpful to our residents um and remove some barriers that
residents including us any of us setting up here have had in the past. So all right uh moving on to um as I stated earlier we are in the process of beginning to hold on really quickly. We need to determination of consistency
and do a vote to send it back to council with that recommendation. I'll make a motion to send it back to council. I'll second. Mayor Cleveland, yes. Jason Grasa, yes. Barry Van Horn, yes. Mayor Gallagher, yes. Chairperson Warner, yes.
Thank you, Cara. Sorry, I just like to keep trucking along. I'm I'm fine with that. Um, also, uh, so as I stated earlier, we are consistently going to begin to review our redevelopment plans, master plan, and our zoning. Uh, one of the topics that we're going to start about tonight is
our master plan. Before I get forward to that, uh, get to that, uh, the board you guys did receive. This is not anything different in our scheduling. It's just that thank you, Ryan, for reformatting it so that it fits onto a page a little bit better for us. Um but nothing has
changed on the scheduling for that. Okay. Um tonight we are going to begin that process as according to our schedule of re-examining our master plan. I'm going to turn it over to Mike. He's going to give a little bit more insight as to why some of you have been
specifically asked to be here tonight. Go ahead, Mike. Um the master plan was last uh prepared in 2019. The one before that was 1990. We did some re-exams and uh the real
kickoff meeting to be here tonight was to go over uh the various departments and groups to say that they're going to be getting it the copies of the various elements. For example, the Oh, yeah. Hey, Mike. Yeah, your head's blocked by the TV screen.
That's a good thing. I know you you keep trying that, Mike, but there we go. Yep. And Cara moved the other way. So um I mean so the the various invites went out to the various members historic
committee environmental to go parks and recreation to go over uh that these elements that are part of the master plan. Uh you can have a fresh look at to see what needs to be tweaked changed to to match the current uh 2025 needs of
the community bur and its hall. So, it's on the table to look at this. Uh, I know that Larry brought up that he would like to see the national re resource inventory added to the master plan and I know the environmental uh group had
comments about amending that to make it more inclusive which is this is why we're all here. Yes. So, I know the historic element the commission had ideas to change some of the master plan on the historic element. So, I'm sure we're going to discuss this
along with traffic. So, we're all here tonight and you're it's wonderful that everybody showed up. many showed up to go over that. The master pan will be broken down into the various sections and those sections will be given to the groups to uh to the old days you would
say to uh redline take a look at it, redline it and come back to uh the planning board with comments, suggestions of how this can be uh updated to match the current setting. Yeah. And I just want to make a comment too. So any of you that were not in the involved in the process the last time we
did the master plan reval in the past and traditionally in most areas it's done kind of the opposite. The planning board is the one that looks at it. We review everything. We make our comments and then we send it out to the committees and the and the areas for comment. We've opted to do it the
reverse. We want to hear your thoughts, your comments. You're the experts in those areas. You're the ones that serve in those areas. We want to hear those first. Um the one thing we are going to ask is as you're doing this, we need track changes. Um because we do have to keep a record of what we're changing and
why we're changing it. Um it's not just to see, oh, let's see what they redlined. It really is. We do have to keep that as a matter of record what those changes are. Um so as you and Mike can walk you through any of that if you have questions and when he sends out your pieces to you. Um, but I I know
that us up here are very um excited in the fact that you guys get to see that first. You're going to be get that first crack at the re-exam versus us, right? We have other areas that we'll begin to look at, but like I said, we really want to hear what you guys have to say first. You look at it and then we'll look at it
to make sure that, you know, if there's other ailments that we need to add uh for compliance issues or anything like that, we will. But really want to hear your voice first. And just so uh some communities master plans are 10 inches, 15 inches uh deep, thousands or hundreds
of pages. Some of them in the past has done its best to make it readable and not 700 pages. So keep in mind that this is a 30,000 foot view of the community and the actual nuts and bolts will be in the ordinances. This is the big guidance
that everything is based on. So, uh, we're not stormwater management would be in concept. The actual layout that needs to be said would be on the ordinances as dictated by DP, but just to say that we're looking at the 30,000 foot view to
make sure the policies and guidance match the community. And that's true for all the elements. Yeah. And actually that's a good point because many many might not know and for the public who might watch this um the master plan is that overall document that guides and what permits and does
not permit certain things moving forward. So when new resolutions, new ordinances get put into place, it can't be in conflict of our master plan. So that master plan is actually you know it is a vital document. everything done over the last 20 years had to be in
compliance or within scope of what the intent of our master plan was. So that does, you know, it really is an important document that most people don't realize really does shape your community because you really can't go outside of that. Um, and you know, somebody may say, well, I want to do all
of a sudden I want to, I don't know, build another school, blah, blah, blah. If it's not in compliance with what our master plan says, it can't be done. So keep that in mind. You know, I know many of you old folks here who I've grown up with have definitely know that, but many
not might not know that. That out in the public that whole side of the room's going I know. I know there's a whole side of the room that knows it. The other side might not. Minus Phil over there. Um, so, but I and I think it's important to point that
out, especially for the public who might watch this afterwards, is that there there is a reason we do the master plan. And it's not just this, you know, erroneous document that we like to put together and say, "Oh, it's a vision." It is a vision, but there's also it does shape what we can and cannot do moving forward. So,
yeah, it's it's it's a legal vision. And, you know, as as the chair said, we're we're doing it very different than we have in the past. And you know, typically we would put subcommittees out of the planning board together and they'd go sit in a room for a few hours
uh and start tackling different pages and different parts of the document and and we all felt it it let's let's reverse it. Um it's it's giving the stakeholders the first crack at how
this development takes place. One of the things that we have to be careful of when we do this is, you know, everybody's got their personal opinion on what they think is good or not good and what they want to see in recreation or downtown or whatever it may be. And
you kind of have to take a step back and and look at it through the lens of Somerville, not through a personal lens. And and you look at it, as I said earlier, you have to look at it. What do I want to see
Somerville be or not be over the next 20, 30, 40 years? And that's the guiding principle as you as you craft this, as you look at it. And you may look at it and say, "Looks great." You know, we're going to change a few things here and
there, but otherwise, you know what? We want to develop this area. We want to preserve this area. We want to encourage uh recreation in this area. We want to do uh that it really is it it's driven by
the committee that you pulled together. Um we're going to act as the oversight because that's our job. That's the planning board's job. And uh but but we want the committees, the stakeholders to have that first crack at it. And and you
know, think a little bold. Uh but think bold for Somerville, not bold for from a personal conviction. Uh and that's sometimes a challenge for all of us. Um right, Phil? Sure.
Um so, but you know what it it is exciting. I mean, this is you're you're you're helping to shape what we look like in in 2045, 2050, and that's really cool. So, you know, uh then we'll be back there and and critiquing what the
next round of folks does. So, it's kind of cool. Um I do want to say so we do have a schedule that we've put together. So, as you get your pieces, are you going to be giving it on flash drives to them at the Yeah, they'll see how big the sections are. I was hoping those be emailable on
me so that no one has to deal with. So, I'll chop it up and if it's under 10 megabytes, I'll try to email everyone. If bounce backs we'll address with jump drives or some other way. All right. So, Mike will take care of that. He'll get that out to all of you. Um the review, we are asking that it be
completed by November 1st. Okay. Um and then we would review um that as well as well as any addend amendments amendments. I don't know why I couldn't say that. Um that need to be done by the 12th. So, just understanding that it is
there isn't an open-ending time. We are looking for you guys to have everything in that review. Um, you know, if you can have it back to us, no later than November 1st and then we can start our process internally as well. So, so just so you know, when once this
is all done, at the same time, we're looking at Gaston Avenue redevelopment, we're looking at East Main redevelopment, we're looking at West Main redevelopment, we're looking at, uh, landfill red, we're looking at all the different redevelopment areas, uh, redevelopment plans at the same time along with the zoning ordinance. So what
happens then is all of this at some point in the future, I'm not going to give a time frame because it'll it'll it'll be wrong, but at some point in the future, they all come together and and that's the goal. So now we have a master plan that is or I should say
redevelopment plans and a zoning ordinance that's all supported by our master plan and and that puts us in great shape for charging forward. Okay. Comments. Any comments? Questions?
Come on up, sir. Greetings. Mike Herwin, 8 drive, Somerville. Uh, this is a great process. I want to commend the planning board for taking this step forward. I go back to the 1969 master plan and that plan how to paraphrase that
plan. It was Somerville was a town where people sleep before they go to work in the morning at Union Carbide John's Mayville and American Cyan. It was done in 1969 right on the start of the transformation from heavy
manufacturing to telecommunications and pharmaceuticals and we didn't see it coming. So in the 1970s we lost 12% of our population. 1,600 people left town and we didn't have a master plan with strategies of effect.
1991 we updated our master plan and really came up with the idea I would say the fundamental premise was we may not have a lot of vacant land but we have tremendous redevelopment potential.
And we outlined the principles that we started with that we had a great future ahead of us. It was also based on the premise that the suburban sprawl model was doomed to fail at some point in the future
that there would be a return to centers and we just needed to kind of develop the playbook as to how to make to give so we're ready when that moment came. And then the most recent master plan which I read skin tonight has held up
really well. And I think we can say those redevelopment strategies have been successful in redefining Somerville. You know, we always tell the story was u you would, you know, meet friends from
outside the area and say, "I'm from Somerville." And they the response always was, "Oh, Somerville is great, but You always heard the butt till a couple years ago to stop hearing the butt
and that's a big change. So now that our So I would suggest for this round of the master plan is to have an overriding theory of the business if you will vision as to where we are in this evolution.
Now that we we no longer have to com we've invented a playbook that's been successful in redefining Somerville and a as a very successful community. Now what? Now we've achieved a success. How do we
move forward and make it something that we can really take it to the next level? So we're no longer playing catchup. We're there. How do we seize the moment? And I think that overriding vision becomes the premise for then the groups
that work on their individual uh elements but without those overriding vision you know the circulation element would be done separately from the recreation from you know all the other elements and I I don't and that's I just
don't want it to become disjointed and want an overriding vision and that's my two cents. It's great, great stuff, Mike. Thanks. Anybody else? Any other committees?
Okay. Um, as far we don't have to make uh anything else for the master plan. Correct. It's just that Okay. Okay. I just want to make sure. Um the only other thing is on the
council meeting on Monday, I am pretty sure that the recommendation was uh made over from council to planning board to re begin that re-exam for the eastern resolution. Correct. Yeah. All right. So
that begins our clock now. Okay. All right. um that begins in on our schedule that we'll begin that review. Just as a heads up, mayor, I am going to turn the um that topic over to you. Thank you. So, and and nothing other
than just a heads up for the board. Um the burough council had some discussion at the last meeting uh which I was not at but um they had some some spirited discussion and it was felt that um that the the board the council is asking the
planning board to look at F again. Uh the council uh believes that it might be time to address F. Um, we've relied on F floor area ratio for those who don't uh don't know what F is. Um, and the
council believes that it might be time to address F and uh see if it is still warranted as a part of uh of of our zoning. So, just a heads up that that is coming
and I know it's it's going to lend to some spirited discussion as it has over the last 20 years. must be a reason for All right, I think that covers for redevelopment, master, and zoning. Um, we did have, again, we've been doing
this for full disclosure and for transparency to the board. ARB approvals. We did have uh 14 East Main Street, Sidewalk Cafe for Bliss C uh Coffee Lounge was approved. Um, go ahead. Yep. Well, has
Bliss been one of the ones that's been removed? Yes, I was going to say because I know quite a bit have been removed already. Yeah, I think most of the southern side of Main Street has been removed. Yeah. Well, yeah. Reply, but I'm saying that you look at this drawing. Yeah. It says there's four feet of space from
there to the sidewalk. No, there's not. There's not four feet of sidewalk anywhere. Come on. Even without the trees, without or without the the tables. So, I'm saying if they're going to talk about it's going to go to 22 feet. That's the front door to the sidewalk.
That's to the curb. It's to the curb line. to the curb to the curb point. But over there there's a light pole at the garbage can show but I think there might be a tree element there. That's okay. It's okay. It's the space between so
that the obstruction can't happen. It's not even though that tree and light pole are there. They have to have that space for walkability between that and that is what they're complying with. No, no, that's what I understand. But I'm saying the side that's closer to the to the street side to the parking I
don't think it's feet if they're counting on that as walking space. No, we can't. Even on the application when we review it, we can't. It doesn't matter if they said it was 10 feet there. The compliance has to be between their uh in that space of was walkability is in between their where the trees and the light poles are and
then where their sidewalk cafe is is uh stopping. Okay. And and this is kind of a hybrid because we had the discussion of moving the seating to the curb side. Yes. And and this is actually a hybrid of that. I actually kind of like this. Yeah. If it's real. That's all I'm saying. If
it's real. Yeah. So, the dimensions the the um construction office when they give the permit, they have to they have to confirm that those dimensions match on here. Okay. Okay. So, we need to vote to adopt the
recommendations of the ARB now. Correct. No, no, that was just with regard to only the quarter fencing. This is just so that everybody's aware of what's current as it currently stands. Hopefully in the future it goes back to
how it used to be that all the ARV goes back to the planning board. We're working on that. I know we're working. All right. Um I have no further comments. I would like to open up the meeting to the public for any questions or comments on anything tonight.
Hearing none. closing colleague and a motion to adjurnn. So move second.