Returning to the Marion Planning Board on Monday evening with a formal application, Patrick Kelley was rewarded for his perseverance with a Special Permit to operate his candy store within Rooney’s Barber Shop on Route 6.
The board listened as Kelley’s brother Michael gave an impassioned statement regarding the challenges for individuals with autism as they enter adulthood and the work force. He noted that there are over two million adults with autism in the country.
“The vast majority are unemployed or under-employed … and they deserve to be employed in appropriate settings … where accommodations can be made.” He added, “Many small businesses and entrepreneurs are looking to support autistic individuals and recognize [their] special skills such as focus and repetition.”
Kelley’s associate, who he described as his ‘work buddy’, spoke briefly, as did Kelley, thanking the board for their consideration and recognizing that this already had been a great experience starting and sustaining a business.
The board then weighed in with their thoughts about the application, with Vice Chairman Steve Kokkins first clarifying that the application this evening was strictly for the candy store and that a proposed ice cream truck had been removed from consideration.
Kokkins reflected the consensus of the board when he asked for a vote for the change of use, saying, “The store inside the barber shop is good.”
Chairman Eileen Marum noted that with the Minor Site Plan Review, the issue of parking and traffic and the separation of pedestrians and cars on the site was not relevant if there was going to be an ice cream truck. With the truck removed from the application, the issue that remained was an email Marum received that afternoon from Lynn Peterson Read at the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering regarding the floor plan of the barber shop.
The board wanted information from Rob Rooney, the owner of the barber shop, regarding a glass door that allowed access between the barber shop and the candy store. Rooney addressed the issue briefly, saying that his shop was inspected in June and there appeared to be no problem.
Rooney will call them immediately to confirm that there is a separate entrance for the two shops, and that he will prevent anyone from passing between the barber shop and the candy store.
After the board voted to approve the Special Permit, contingent on the approval of the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering, board member Will Saltonstall raised some questions regarding the site plan.
He said he agreed with the use of the site, but after going through the technical requirements of the application, he noted there were “holes in the submission.”
“But since the project is in place and we can visually see what’s there,” Saltonstall said, adding, “I’m not worried about it. I think things are moving in the right direction in terms of hardscape, stormwater [etc.]…”
Kokkins observed, “If we approve the site plan for the candy store, uses beyond that will trigger another site plan review.”
The board approved the site plan, with board member Chris Collings exclaiming, “Patrick! Go get those shelves stocked!”
In other business, Tabor Academy came before the board with a Site Plan Review of their proposed dormitory on Spring Street. Susan Nilson, of CLE Engineering, presented an overview of the project. The proposed two-story dorm with a footprint of 7,260 square feet will be located on Spring Street across from the fire station.
The 3.6-acre grassy site lies in Zone X outside of the 100-year flood plain as described by FEMA. The building will house 25 students and four faculty apartments to encourage student and faculty interactions. There are nine proposed parking spaces between Spring Street and the dorm, and two others adjacent to the building, which are for faculty and visitors, since Tabor students cannot have cars on campus.
There are five light poles proposed, and town sewer services the site. The stormwater system is designed to address runoff from additional paving and roofs, with the water intended to recharge on-site. The roof runoff will infiltrate directly into the groundwater, while the pavement runoff will be treated to slow velocity and to remove oil and other contaminants before entering the groundwater.
Nilson noted that the biggest concern raised by G.A.F. Engineering, the consulting engineer for the board, was the question of the infiltration rate of the soils at the site. Since the specific site is not mapped by the Soil Conservation Service, CLE used adjacent soil types for their analysis and test pits that were more sandy than those mapped nearby. G.A.F. asked that the applicant perform perc tests to more accurately represent the infiltration rate at the site, to which the applicant agreed.
Board member Jennifer Francis asked if the applicant had considered permeable asphalt, which Nilson said they had, but she was concerned that the depth of the material would likely run into groundwater separation issues.
Christopher Winslow, Tabor Academy’s chief financial officer, told the board that the students will be moved from dorms near the water, and those buildings would be used for administrative offices and better space for academic use.
Project abutter Ray Cullum expressed concern regarding the use of a shared driveway over which he has a right of way. He noted the drive already has considerable wear, and Nilson assured him that while there is a connection to the drive, it is not intended to be used for access. Kokkins asked if there could be signage addressing Cullum’s concerns, to which Winslow agreed. The hearing was continued awaiting stormwater results.
Board member Norm Hills brought before the board the task of more bylaw codification. Most of the changes were unremarkable; however, the definition of ‘Home Occupation’ raised some concerns.
Within the bylaws there is a list of allowed home occupations, about which Francis suggested that it might be more efficient and durable to list what is not allowed. She noted, “Ten years from now, there will be a new set of uses. I’d rather list what is prohibited.”
When asked by Collings what she would prohibit, she responded, “Things like manufacturing, making chemicals, things that are potentially dangerous.”
Saltonstall recognized Francis’ concern, but thought it strange not to list anything. As an example, Francis noted, “There’s ‘art studio’ listed. [This] could include making an eight-foot sculpture out of steel, with welding and banging – we don’t want that sort of thing.” Hills said he would return this issue to the committee.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for July 24 at 7:00 pm at the Police Station Community Room at 550 Mill Street.
Marion Planning Board
By Sarah French Storer