The Marion Planning Board met Monday night in the Police Department and via Zoom, where it held continued public hearings on two notable developments in town: the Sippican Holdings, LLC apartment complex and the expanded Uncle Jon’s Coffee site on Route 6.
After the board approved minutes from its August 3 meeting, Chair Sean Sweeney announced that the Continued Public Meeting for Sippican Holdings, LLC of 14 Barnabas Road would be continued again, per request from the applicants. The developer said they were awaiting information from the engineers.
Next, the Continued Public Meeting for a Site Plan Application by Uncle Jon’s Coffee of 413 Wareham Road began. Representatives from the coffee shop’s construction team — owner Jonathan Pope and architect Will Saltonstall — said they had provided notes and updates based on comments received at prior meetings, and that talks had begun between the board and the team about parking.
It was mentioned that the width of the parking lot entrance was less than the required 24 feet and would thus require a waiver. After a brief discussion on parking, Chair Sweeney moved on to reviewing the site and its transition to a commercial site from one previously occupied by a gas station. They quickly moved past that to drainage, and it was stated that previous comments had been addressed suitably.
It was mentioned that the board was unable to verify certain measurements provided in the engineers’ study. However, the Planning Board said they were satisfied with the work done to meet the board’s original 16 conditions.
“I’m in agreement with the 16 conditions. Everything looks good,” said board member Andrew Daniel.
The hearing was closed with a unanimous vote. The board then went through the plan section by section and approved the conditions.
A Pre-Site Construction Inspection would be required at 413 Wareham Road, which the town Building Commissioner will conduct with the Planning Board present and an open invitation to other town bodies.
Next, the board moved to Correspondence and voted to offer No Comment to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding a Special Permit for 10 Doran Way.
They then discussed future meeting locations, now that Town House renovations are complete. Will they maintain the meeting location in the Police Department, or move back to the renovated space?
Town Planner Doug Guey-Lee noted the importance of remote access to meetings, especially for consultants across the state so that they can participate rather than commute long distances.
“If we were to leave the Police Station, I would definitely miss the squeaky chairs,” Daniel joked.
He also mentioned it would be advantageous to use the newly renovated space and added, “Why not add remote access there?”
Randy Parker, a member of the Select Board, said they would like to stay in person for their meetings, advocated for the same, but insisted that regardless of whether meetings are remote or in person, they should be held in the same space in the Town House.
A motion was made to maintain meetings at the Police Station until the necessary equipment can be implemented in the Town House for remote access, at which point the Planning Board will move its hybrid meetings there. They voted unanimously in approval.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8 (due to Labor Day).
Marion Planning Board
By Sam Bishop