The Marion Planning Board on Monday met briefly and expressed concern about the Zoning Board of Appeals’ (ZBA) split decision to allow an industrial building to turn into housing – Sippican Holdings LLC at 14 Barnabas Road.
Board members at the Police Station meeting room acknowledged that the ZBA can issue a variance if the developer shows evidence of hardship.
For that project, it received a variance that would allow for the conversion of an existing commercial building in a limited industrial district into a multi-family dwelling with no more than 50 dwelling units.
The surrounding area is commercial zoning and is part of the larger former Lockheed Martin site.
At a recent Select Board meeting, ZBA Chair Cindy Callow said the ZBA had concerns about reusing the building, which is old and has never been used in a residential capacity.
The developer cited a financial hardship if the building were to be demolished.
Board members noted that Marion’s unique zoning, which allows for mixed uses in many areas, is part of the problem.
Planning Board Chair Andrew Daniel said other applicants have sought similar variances and have been rejected.
“The bylaw allows for use by variance. We are out on an island,” Daniel said, noting that the town’s zoning can allow loopholes for these types of mixed zoning.
“I think it is a shame,” he added.
The board also discussed a committee that has formed to update its municipal separate stormwater systems bylaw – also known as MS4. The bylaw is mandated by the state and the federal Environmental Protection Agency to update stormwater systems.
Board member Eileen Marum expressed concern over whether the town could meet the deadline by the November Town Meeting.
Town Planner Doug Guey-Lee said a draft is in place and as long as it goes before voters in November, the state Attorney General’s office would take no issue with it. Guey-Lee said if the state AG has any issues with what is passed on Town Meeting in November, the bylaw could be altered at a later time to appease state and a federal scrutiny. Guey-Lee added there are a handful of other bylaws that will be reviewed and possibly revised at the Fall Town Meeting.
The board also approved an applicant, David Pina, who wants to build a home on Point Road. The proposed home does not meet frontage requirements by only a few feet. The board said such a small issue should not prevent the project from moving forward.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for 7:00 pm, July 21, in the Marion Police Station. It is also available on Zoom.
Marion Planning Board
By Jeffrey D. Wagner