001[Music] Good evening. Welcome to the planning board meeting of Tuesday, July 15th, 2025. This uh meeting is being recorded. Uh the first thing we got is the minutes of 617 minutes uh meeting. Motion to approve is sent out. I'll second that. >> Moved and seconded to approve the minutes. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Unanimous of three. We got no 81B plans. Uh the uh public hearing for uh this evening for 206 uh ma East Main Street has been uh asked to extend it until the August uh meeting. We got a letter here. So we will not be opening the uh public hearing. Uh next on the agenda is uh site plan continued site plan review. 55 Medway Street. Uh Larry, you want to >> Yeah, this is uh
002listed as a continued site plan review. Uh it flows out of the special permit that was granted uh at the June 3rd meeting. Uh the site plan uh was done separately. Um a copy of the u of the uh decision is in the packet. Um the applicant requests site plan approval uh for the construction of the commercial building and associated parking on the subject property. Uh the proposed development consists of a 2600 ft bank building and associated drive-thru ATM. Uh the special permit as I mentioned for the drive-th through ATM aspect of the use was granted at the June 3rd meeting. Uh the proposal provides for for one two-way driveway on Medway Street utilizing the existing driveway location. Uh the site will provide 19 parking spaces uh eight queuing spaces for the drive-thru ATM are
003being provided uh to meet the provisions of the bylaw as well as the uh bypass lane. uh freestanding signs proposed along Medway Street and a stop signs being proposed at the driveway exit lane. Um all the existing structures on the property are to be raised. Uh the previously submitted storm water drainage analysis that was dated April 25th u prepared by Bowler has been updated uh as of June 11th, 2025. Uh written responses to departmental review letters have been provided, a copy of which is also included in the packet. Uh the firetruck turning plan dated 7125 has been submitted. I think you have a copy in your packet as well. All applicable zoning and site plan requirements appear to be met. I recommend approval site plan that's revised as of 7125 as submitted. uh you have
004a copy of the site plan. You also uh we just came in yesterday have a a copy of the retaining wall design uh in a third set of plans in your packet. So I'd recommend approval uh as submitted. David's uh present if you have questions and the engineers are as well. Okay, we had a question on the sewer. The sewer department supplied us a letter. >> Yes. >> Or they supplied a sewer department letter. Uh the water uh has been answered and the fire department uh has been answered. Any other comments from the board or questions? The only other thing that I remember was we had asked Liz to go down. I mean, I'm looking at the aerial. I think I know the answer, but we had asked Liz to go down to take a
005look at the vegetation in terms of whether there was a need to put additional vegetation or fencing uh to the uh effectively what would be the property to the east. >> Yeah. So, they actually >> they added it to the plan just to make sure. >> They elected to add it to the plan. So, I didn't bother to go down to check if it's necessary. Are they putting in vegetation or a fence? >> Both. >> Suspenders and belt. >> I'm sorry. >> Suspenders and development. >> Oh, I see. Mr. I apologize for my tardiness. >> I mean, I'm looking at the aerial and I just I I it looks like you're going end up having to do more construction to put them in and take down more vegetation than you're probably going to put in.
006is I mean I understand putting him on but I I I I just question whether we end up with anything that's better or not to be totally honest. >> Yeah, we we were trying to be good neighbors if you know the board prefers us not to do it. Um I don't >> Well, I I mean yeah I understand that in terms of being good neighbors in terms of getting it approved. The fact of the matter is longterm fences wear out, people don't repair them. Vegetation that's small now may not pick up and we can't. Whereas we have existing vegetation that looks to be in relatively decent shape and is relatively thick and stuff, which would provide a better long-term solution for what their issue was. >> And I mean, they have a fence on their
007side as well. You know, it's not a it's more of a chainling fence with weave in it. >> Yeah. But I I mean I'm I you know their their whole thing was was because of the light and I'm I'm I'm thinking to myself that protecting us protecting their property from light infiltration we'd be better off keeping what's there looking at this. I don't know that for a fact. >> Um and what's your excuse? >> Yeah. Certainly. >> Josho, trustee for 61 Mayway Road, the the property that this is abiding. Um, we worked with the uh they've worked very well with us over the past couple of weeks and they they've added in the fence there. We very much want to be able to have the fence in there. The rendering that you're looking at there
008is from the top down with those trees fully, you know, cooling cooling leaf belt at this at this time of the year. That's not going to be the case six months of the year. Um, and you know when it gets uh it gets dark earlier, we really want that fence along there. They've agreed to be able to put it there. Please don't >> The board knows how to read a plan. By the way, >> um I I if I were Well, so if I were going to remove one or the other, I would remove the fence for the re for the maintenance reasons that that you discussed. Um and if they want the vegetation then you know it adding into the existing vegetation so that you have some lower evergreens sort of makes sense but
009it it's I mean I can I can bring I can >> I can probably bring up >> where's the line of where's the line of the fence just >> if I may for the record we just set up another poll where what we did is we extended the fence off of the trash enclosure by about 35 ft uh closer to the street. So effectively it'll look like an extension of the trash enclosure and then we added about 32 rubber bitey uh both around the trash enclosure and then extending again from the trash enclosure towards the road and we really at the end of the day didn't have to really modify our limit of work. We know that was a concern that we would be extending into existing vegetation. We're not really doing that anymore than
010we were under the existing condition because it's really >> developed portion of the property today. >> Okay. >> So, we just felt that uh I believe as the butter indicated, you know, a lot of times during the fall winter, some of that vegetation that's there today is leafless and you could see right through it. So the arbor light in the fence will provide a nice understory for lights that obviously for cars are only going to be about 3 or 4 feet off the ground. So for 12 months out of the year they should have solid light pollution protection both you know in general up above that 6t height level and then below which we think was the main concern. So we feel it's a nice compromise and it does result in full elimination of any
011light trespass from the site. Okay. Any other comments from the board? >> No, I don't have anything. >> Yes. >> No. Okay. Uh what's the pleasure of the board then? >> I'll make a motion we uh approve the uh site plan as submitted. >> Second. >> Been moved and second. We have uh approved this amended site plan. uh part of site plan review. Uh any further discussion here? None. All those in favor? >> I I >> opposed unanimous of four. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next, we've got uh 204 East Main Street for a sign. This a site plan review submitted by NH signs. Uh August. >> The applicant requests site plan approval to allow for the relocation of the existing freestanding sign. Um for the existing freestanding sign on
012the subject property. Uh the special permit for the gas station was issued by the ZBA back in 2021. Copy of that decisions attached in the packet. The proposed relocated pylon sign is shown on the site plan is properly located outside of the line of sight triangle for the entrance drive. The proposed sign is a double-faced internally illuminated freestanding pylon sign. Uh the new location is centered on the lot frontage being approximately 116 ft west of the easterly property line uh or 107 ft west of the existing sign. The existing pylon sign then is to be removed. all other applicable zoning requirements appear to be met. So, I recommend approval subject to the applicable department comments. Um, after the uh special permit, we have a favorable from um from fire, have a favorable from water, and
013I don't recall that we got any others. and the copies of the U plans are in the packet uh showing the location. So, it's pretty straightforward. Sign's going to be very similar to what's out there. Now, it will include u a changeable copy electronic message panel on both sides. Uh but that's not something you need to worry about. Uh John regulates that with his permit, so should be ready to go. Um, is there something that shows how deep the of the foundation? >> Yes, I have drawings that >> um >> for the record, by the way, uh, Mr. Chair, my name is Fred Pino sign. >> I can't hear you. Do you have a card? >> I do not. I'm sorry, but I can get one. I can run out to my truck. You guys
014one? feel relatively certain that there is uh an infiltration basin under there. >> I didn't think >> Yeah, it's just after the the site plan. It's um it's the uh last uh plan >> that show Yeah, the >> Yeah, it's 4 foot for that. >> Yeah, 4 foot. That's I'm I'm pretty certain that >> the original site original site plan approval. >> There was a sewer line up the side there, too, but that only goes up so far. >> Yeah, that's along the side of the building. So, >> Oh, there's one that goes along along the side of the >> East Main Street. >> Yeah, we saw that. Our setback should put us beyond that. >> Yeah, that's got to be that's got to be in the rightway. No, babe. The one that's there. >>
015The sewer line. >> Yeah, I think they're close to it. Yeah, >> I think it is. >> No, cuz that went into that property. That's the the line that went into that property. Uh Joe, >> well, we can confirm it. >> It's It's deep anyway. Yeah. >> Yeah, that one should be I would imagine I wouldn't describe that one's deep enough, but if you got an infiltration base in there, that's a different story. >> Yeah. >> Or not an infiltration basin. And >> do I have >> Okay. Uh you can make it subject to that. >> Any comments from the board? >> No. decision. >> I can't complain. My daughters is worse than that. >> My daughters is worse than that, so I can't say anything. >> Make a recommendation we approve subject to the
016fact subject to uh verification that the sign's not being placed on top of an existing drainage. U structure. [Music] Second. I moved and seconded we uh approve the uh site plan review uh with the uh stipulation to be checked to make sure it's not going on the >> storm water. I mean we can check right this has the site plan got something pulled up on her screen. Here we go. So the >> it's going to be in front of >> it's going to be in it. What's the depth of them? I doubt that it's 4 ft of cover. >> I highly doubt it's 4 ft of cover. >> Well, I think it's going to be in front of that. >> Can't be too much, Larry. Cuz the rightway is I mean, you might have enough
017space. Well, between >> No, I It might be past the It might be It might be far enough west. >> Yeah. >> Well, you could probably get it in there right where it ends. >> Right here. >> Oh, yeah. Between the structure and where it ends right in there. >> Well, if it isn't now, it >> Yeah, it's going to have to be >> Yeah. You're just more so You're going to want to make sure you don't hit the drainage system because >> Yeah. I I know I talked to the person that previously put the sign in on the other side originally. >> Yeah. >> And he told me it there was ledge. >> You hit ledge. >> Yeah. >> So I was more concerned about you know my engineering like that changes when I
018get to the ledge and my pinning to it and you know that that was more my concern. I didn't realize. >> Well that's you're going to have to >> Yeah. If I got to work around that, it is >> Yeah. If you if you hit ledge, you're lucky. You can just pin it in probably. >> Exactly. >> Going too far too deep. >> You know, as long as I'm prepared for it. >> Yeah. >> All right. Hard to believe you let your mouth, >> especially there considering it was uh >> right in front of a good gravel quarry hole. >> Well, send me send me your email and we'll send you that plan and you can verify it. >> Okay. Sounds good. I'll run up and grab a card and come back down. >> Well,
019we'll be gone by then. Larry Larry will be anyways. You can give them >> Do you um do you guys want to just have it in the decision that it it can be relocated outside of the >> Well, it's subject to setback. >> Well, no, it's subject to the location of of the drainage. Yeah, it can be it can be. >> I just want to make sure that the building department doesn't >> doesn't think that they it they have to come back through site plan because they're moving it 25 ft. >> Yeah, we'll west. It can it can be slid slid further west if necessary. It's part of my part of my >> motion. >> Yeah. Sorry. >> But somewhere to the west it will fit. >> Yeah. Yep. So they all everybody voted for
020it, right? >> No, we haven't voted yet. >> What you just said? >> Yeah, Larry Larry. >> Any further comments? >> Hearing none. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Unanimous of four. >> Thank you. I'll be right right back. >> You have to take a second. >> Thank you. >> I'll be here even if he's here. >> Okay. So, you want me? I'll give it to you. >> Yeah. >> What's the pleasure of the board? Could I ask the town engineer to just give us a two-minute update on the Central Street project? >> I can't hear you. >> I said, could I ask the town engineer I was talking the chair that the um to give us a two-minute update on the Central Street project cuz um man, it's messing up the traffic in
021town. >> So, I met with um uh I met with Rick uh both deputy police chiefs. Um, uh, Scott, trying to think, there was at least one other person there. Um, and we are going to move forward with hiring a, um, traffic. We're actually hiring TEC um to just do an analysis of at least those two intersections uh at Beach Street and um and North Bow um to see if there's something. You know, we're not sure that there's something that can be done, but because the traffic pattern has changed, it it seems likely that we should be able to do something. some. >> Plus, there's definitely something going on with the Beach Street um lights. I sat there >> um for almost an hour today. >> No, >> because No, no, no, no, no. Watching
022the light cycles. >> Oh, you were stuck in traffic. >> I know how to get around. I would not have sat in traffic. Um but it's it's it's acting erratically. >> Oh. >> Um so, thank you. So, I'm going to I may look into um having once we get a hold of the signal uh company, I may have them just take a look at what it's set up as of right now. Even even without the cuz there's definitely >> Yeah, something wrong with going it's running it's running cycles that are >> that are actually way too short. It's like it's like it calls the cycle >> and it's got a it's probably got a minimum cycle and it's running at that minimum because it it quickly changes again. It's like a there's no way that's
023>> Yeah. And then there's a long there's a long red at Beach Street, like five minutes, literally five minutes at Beach Street. And then it runs the short cycle which allows like two cars to get in, but then >> when it goes through the next cycle, it it all >> it all normalizes. So there's definitely something weird going on there. So we're we are continuing. We understand that there's an impact. There's, you know, we're not going to be able to get rid of the traffic. there's a lot more. You know, there's always traffic in downtown. Oh, yeah. >> Um and you're adding more cars, so you're not going to make it um a lot better, but we're just trying to um we're trying >> Yeah. We're trying to see what we can do to to
024make it better and um >> and we'll continue to do so. >> Thank you. That's much appreciated. What um how about how long is the project expected to take? Probably >> the end of construction. >> Definitely. Um I I I would say definitely through the middle of October. >> Yeah. >> Um based on uh cure times for the concrete and um and some of the lead times on the um structural pieces. Um you know, it I I tend never to believe that uh when you're doing underground work like that, you never know what you're going to bump into. And so, you know, I I would say o I would say November is probably a better guest of it, but >> it's a heck of a project. I was I utilized that salon and I was
025over the edge the other day and it is >> Yeah, >> that's a project. >> It's impressive. >> Yeah. >> But things are moving along pretty well. >> Good. >> So far, >> thank you very much. Appreciate that. Thanks, Mr. Chairman, for that liberty. >> No problem. Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded to adjurnn. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? I I oppose. Unanimous of four. Good evening. Thank you. >> Thanks, Mr. Chair.