In a recent government meeting, several applications for special permits and variances were discussed, with multiple requests for postponements and continuations.

The board addressed the special permit application for 11 Earl Terrace, which has been continued to August 5, 2024, alongside an extension of the constructive grant deadline to August 27, 2024. Similarly, a variance application for 37 Natural History Drive was postponed to June 24, 2024, with a new constructive grant deadline set for July 16, 2024.

Three additional items were also postponed, including a special permit application for 17 Montclair Drive, which will now be heard on July 15, 2024, and a variance application for 6487 Park Avenue, also rescheduled for June 24, 2024, with the same new deadline of July 16, 2024.

The meeting then shifted focus to a proposal for a new food service building at 79 Pullman Street, presented by Patrick Doherty of Midpoint Engineering. The proposed development, which will house a Chipotle restaurant, includes a drive-through service and outdoor seating. The project aims to replace a former Sylvan Learning Center and is designed to accommodate modern consumer behavior, allowing customers to pick up pre-ordered meals without traditional drive-through interactions.

Doherty highlighted that the drive-through will feature a modified queue length of 180 feet, shorter than the 240 feet typically required by zoning ordinances. The proposal has been reviewed by the conservation commission, which raised no further comments but left the hearing open for potential plan revisions.

City planner Victor Panak noted that the project requires a special permit due to its drive-through nature and modifications to parking requirements. He emphasized concerns from the Department of Transportation regarding traffic impacts, recommending that the board refrain from making a decision until further studies are conducted.

Board members expressed mixed sentiments about the proposal, with some supporting the plan while others raised concerns about the implications of drive-through services. The hearing remains open for public input and further discussion as the applicant works to address the outstanding comments from city staff.