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Planning board tables 9,240‑sq‑ft Blair Construction expansion at 284 North Street for further review
Summary
Blair Construction’s proposal for a roughly 9,240‑square‑foot addition at 284 North Street was presented; the board voted to table the site plan so staff can review a drainage report and resolve parking and landscaping questions.
The Planning Board on March 4 heard a site plan presentation from Blair Construction and Fabrication for a roughly 9,240‑square‑foot addition at 284 North Street and voted to table the application to allow staff time to review a drainage report and follow up on parking and landscaping options.
Joe Durand of TDK Engineering, representing Blair Construction, told the board the addition would bring some fabrication work indoors and that the site is largely impervious bedrock and slag. "This 1 was...about 9,200 square feet. It's a pretty straightforward project," Durand said. He described the site’s drainage as self‑contained and said runoff will discharge toward the quarry; he also said the project team will add roughly 14–15 parking spaces once updated topography is completed.
Staff told the board a drainage report had been submitted the same day and had not yet circulated to all city reviewers. Planning staff member Ashley Calderon said the board and staff need more time to assess whether landscaping requirements can be met on the largely bedrock site and whether the applicant may donate trees in lieu of on‑site planting. "We're gonna continue to review, and we'll look into what the board is allowed to do with allowances and maybe giving some relief around landscaping," Calderon said.
Board members and the applicant discussed fire access and sprinklers. Durand said the existing portion of the building adjacent to the addition is not sprinklered and the addition is planned as an open, pre‑engineered metal building; the project will maintain and expand the fire lane around the building. Durand also said the site's internal surface is already a well‑defined hard surface and that dust control (calcium chloride) is used where paving is not feasible.
After questions and public opportunity for comment, the board voted to table the application for further review and to return at the next meeting. The motion to table was made by Theresa Walsh and seconded by Amy Sargent; roll call was unanimous in favor. Staff will continue review of the drainage report, coordinate required surveys and topo, and investigate tree‑in‑lieu options before the application returns to the board.
