The Marion Planning Board met on Monday in the Police Department’s conference room and along with the approval of payment to Toll Brothers, Inc. for a Field Engineering Peer Review, held a Public Hearing for the expansion of the existing structure at Sippican Holdings, LLC’s site at 14 Barnabas Road.
Following the approval of minutes from their June 15 meeting, Chair Sean Sweeney moved to approve paying their invoice of $1,354.20 to Toll Brothers, Inc. for a Field Engineering Peer Review, which the board quickly approved.
Next, the Public Hearing for the Site Plan Application for the Expansion of the Existing Structure at 14 Barnabas Road was opened. The applicant was Paul Downey of Sippican Holdings, LLC.
Jeff Couture, Senior Project Manager at SITEC Engineering, began by speaking on behalf of the applicant and explained the project’s scope. The site at 14 Barnabas Road was originally commercial office space with two separate buildings connected by an entry vestibule. The building is hooked into town water and sewer systems, as well as having natural gas hookups.
The proposed plan would see the removal of the conjoining vestibule and the creation of two distinct buildings which would be converted for residential use, totaling in 20 one-bedroom units and 30 two-bedroom units. The buildings will also be made ADA compliant. Couture noted 327 parking spots would be required per zoning bylaw, though the project would see 488 total spots made available.
A Peer Review was deemed necessary. It was also noted that the site must be inspected, that being by multiple officials including a building inspector, environmental specialist, engineers, and the Fire Chief. The Peer Review will encompass stormwater, a traffic study, and construction phases. There were questions on whether the hearing should be continued to the board’s next meeting, though a motion was made to allow Chair Sweeney to unilaterally approve the Peer Review. The Public Hearing was then continued to the board’s August 3 meeting.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, July 20.
Marion Planning Board
By Sam Bishop