The Marion Planning Board’s meeting on Monday, June 15 was made easy by a mellow agenda. After engaging in a discussion about the board’s pending comments to the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals for the First Congregational Church’s appeal of a proposed abutting housing project, care of Bill Saltonstall, the board held two pre-submission conferences for upcoming construction projects. The first was a continuation for the Tucker Lane Solar Farm and the second was G.A.F. Engineering’s first time before the board on behalf of the gas station located at 439 Wareham Street.
The board concluded the Tucker Lane Solar Farm’s pre-submission conference by agreeing that, although the environmental assessment seemed excessive given the board’s knowledge of the property, it was appropriate given that the solar farm is the first project following the Town’s approval of the new solar bylaw.
“I don’t believe there’s an environmental impact that we’re going to see from this,” Clerk Norman Hills said. “I don’t believe there are any long- or short-term impacts that don’t already exist on that site.”
While Hills initially expressed that the environmental assessment would not be necessary, he pointed out that the project would still need to go before the Marion Conservation Commission.
Planning Board Chairman Robert Lane, however, advised his fellow board members to proceed conservatively on this project.
“I, for one, would like to see an independent professional confirm these views,” he said.
While Lane agreed with Hill’s comments about the property, he stressed that given the new solar bylaw, the board should seek an informed outside opinion rather than base its judgment on board members’ initial impressions.
“I think it’s only reasonable considering it’s the first time since the bylaw,” Lane argued.
Ultimately, the board agreed that the Tucker Lane Solar Farm must work with the board’s selected consultant as soon as possible after submitting the site plan.
The board asked a number of questions during the pre-submission conference for the new gas station, which hopes to operate the existing station at 439 Wareham Street for the 2015 summer season. The owner is currently working with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Marion Fire Department to ensure that the current infrastructure is approved for use, but will be appearing before the Planning Board and Conservation Commission throughout the summer in preparation for new construction that will hopefully be completed by the 2016 spring season.
Along with G.A.F. Engineering, the board heard from the project’s architect, who revealed conceptual drawings of the saltbox-style retail space accompanying the gas station. G.A.F. Engineering explained that the full-service gas station would feature at least 34 parking spaces, two curb cuts on Route 6 and Mill Street, and a footprint less than 5,000 square feet.
“There’s a real desire to make this friendly to trucks and vehicles with boats,” G.A.F. Engineering said.
The plan also features a front porch and extensive landscaping.
“We’ve got quite a lot of green space that would serve as buffer or stormwater management,” G.A.F. Engineering said.
The architect justified her design for the retail space to the board, saying that the saltbox-style allows a larger first floor to house the gas station’s convenience store and the smaller second floor to house Anytime Fitness, a 24/7 fitness center franchise that has already been in contact with the gas station’s owner. The owner assured the board that the fitness center would not be a disturbance to the abutters.
“I love this style,” board member Stephen Gonsalves said. “It’s very tasteful.”
The board voted to conclude the pre-submission conference as G.A.F. Engineering hopes to file by June 29 in order to appear on the board’s target date for the public hearing, which is July 20.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board will be on Monday, July 6 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Anne Smith
