Commission refers Chipotle site at Shaw’s Plaza (651 Belmont) to peer review, continues hearing

The Brockton Conservation Commission voted to send the notice of intent for 651 Belmont Street — the corner of the Shaw’s Plaza parking lot where a Chipotle restaurant and drive‑through are proposed — to third‑party peer review and to continue the hearing to the Oct. 15 meeting.

Consultant Scott Faria described the planned freestanding restaurant at the plaza corner and said the property owner was pursuing site‑plan approvals and had obtained a board of appeals decision for a drive‑through special permit. Faria and other applicants noted the site is partially shown inside a FEMA flood zone layer on mapping, but historical filings include a Letter of Map Change (a FEMA document) from the 1980s and an apparent 2004 FEMA letter that may have removed all or part of the property from the floodplain. The applicant requested any historical FEMA materials be provided; staff said MassDEP had not yet acknowledged receipt of the filing and the commission would require a DEP file number before issuing an order.

Agent Kyle Holden said the commission’s review is focused on bordering lands subject to flooding and that the applicant should provide cut/fill and compensatory‑storage information if filling is proposed in the floodplain. Holden recommended referral to a peer reviewer, including stormwater review if needed. Commissioners voted to send the proposal for third‑party review and to continue the hearing to Oct. 15.

Faria said the applicant would also pursue any FEMA map materials and coordinate stormwater review with the city.