Taunton planning board approves release of five Gracie Estates lots with added surety

The Taunton Planning Board on April 3 approved the petitioner’s request to release five lots from the surety held for the Gracie Estates subdivision, while requiring additional security to cover remaining completion costs.

City Planner Denise (City of Taunton) told the board the city was holding eight lots and $150,000 in surety and that the petitioner requested five lots be released. Denise said an estimated cost to complete was reported in the communications; based on staff and consultant reviews she recommended releasing the five lots provided the petitioner post an additional $54,105 in surety so that one lot would remain held and the total surety on the file would be $204,105.

The board heard that the city engineer and an outside consultant, Greenman-Pedersen, reviewed the contractor’s lot-release request and the consultant’s cost estimate and had no objection to releasing the five lots provided the additional security was posted. Petitioner John (Petitioner, Gracie Estates) stated he agreed with the amount to complete as presented. Board members asked for confirmation from city staff; a board member identified as Mike (City Engineer) indicated he was satisfied with the documentation.

A motion to approve the lot release with the recommended departmental and consultant conditions was made, seconded and passed by voice vote.

The action leaves one lot held under surety and requires the petitioner to post the additional funds before the remaining lots are released.

Details from the record: the board’s decision relied on written communications from the city planner and the city engineer and the outside consultant Greenman-Pedersen. The transcript records the recommendation amounts and the board vote; some numeric values in the communications were unclear in the record and are recorded in the clarifying details below.

The board moved on to new business after the vote.