The Saltworks Marine property development project slated for 291 Wareham Road made some progress on April 6, even with the revelation that the project would require a special permit in addition to the site plan review process with the Marion Planning Board.
Saltworks owner Daniel Crete and Engineer Douglas Schneider, standing in for David Davignon, were caught off guard by the Planning Board’s advisement that the project would require a special permit application because the square footage of the proposed buildings on the site exceeds the 5,000 square-foot aggregate. Crete expressed surprise that the board was only now just informing him of the requirement.
“We’ve been pretty forthright through this process, so we’d like to get all this figured out now,” said Crete. He asked how difficult the special permit application would be at this point in the process, and the board determined that, under a tight timeline, the matter could be resolved by mid-May.
“You have to forgive my ignorance, but I clearly missed the 5,000 square-foot aggregate,” said Crete, adding, “All of this has been right in front of everybody … almost seven months ago already.” Continuing, Crete said, “I’m happy to do whatever we need to do to get the special permit…. Clearly we missed it, and now we have to fix it.”
Planning Board Chairman Stephen Kokkins told Crete “both sides could have done better,” and Crete thanked Kokkins for his understanding. “Normally it’s not the Planning Board to anticipate every detail,” said Kokkins.
“I’m not pointing any fingers,” said Crete, “I’m just saying that this has all been clearly lying on the table for seven months.”
Needing the site plan approval, delayed by the special permit requirement, in addition to the approval of the Conservation Commission, Crete said construction logistics all hinge on several elements that form a Catch-22 conundrum, while the clock ticks away. Crete said he was planning for completion of construction of Phase I in November.
“We can’t set improper precedents here, either,” said Kokkins.
Planning Board member Norman Hills brought up the Phase II Quonset hut, which is currently placed temporarily within a velocity zone that Crete is trying to have undesignated as a V-zone with FEMA.
“Until that’s changed, you don’t want to hear about it and I don’t want to bring it up,” said Crete.
Engineering consultant for the board, Bill Madden of G.A.F. Engineering, addressed the matter of the groundwater mounding analysis waiver request from the March 2 meeting, which Madden, in his letter to the board, recommended the board not approve.
Madden, in attendance, went through the 64 recommendations point by point, saying Crete had addressed most of the concerns, with just a few remaining, including the groundwater mounding analysis waiver.
Madden said groundwater mounding calculations show the northerly stormwater recharge system adequate, but the southerly system, according to the calculations, shows an 18-inch mound, which must be rectified by enlarging the system before a waiver for the analysis can be granted.
Contrary to the prior concerns stated in his letter to the board, Madden recommended the board issue a number of the other waivers requested as well, including the one for a side yard setback on the recharge unit, now saying the risk of an impact on neighboring basements due to mounding was minimal.
Although Schneider voiced his continuing concern over the groundwater mounding analysis waiver, he said he was confident the outstanding issues could be addressed to move the special permit process forward.
The matter was continued until April 21.
There was more strife over meeting minutes before adjourning just at the two and a half-hour mark in the evening. Hills and Planning Board member Eileen Marum both voted against acceptance of the November 17 and December 1 minutes written by Planning Board Clerk Robert Lane in a 3-2 vote. Another set of minutes was deferred for a later date for modification and acceptance.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for April 21 at 5:00 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry
