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Board grants preliminary site-plan approval for 325 College Avenue redevelopment
Summary
The board opened and closed a public hearing with no public speakers and gave preliminary site-plan approval for the 325 College Avenue redevelopment project, subject to conditions and standard final-review requirements.
The Planning and Development Board opened a public hearing on the 325 College Avenue redevelopment on March 25, received no public testimony, and granted preliminary site-plan approval, with the understanding that outstanding technical approvals — including fire department sign-off and final construction details — would be resolved before final approval.
Applicant representatives said they had coordinated with Casella (solid-waste service) and the city engineering department on trash handling and curb-cut width, and that engineering had suggested limiting the curb-cut width as little as necessary. The applicant also described a proposed vine/trellis screening system and said they would provide a final fence/trellis design before final approval. The team said the rear setback and egress areas had been sized to meet fire-department access and that they would provide any additional lighting or egress-lumens details requested by staff prior to final sign-off.
Board members asked several detailed questions: whether the building will provide interior bike parking and how demand for bike spaces will be handled for future buildings; whether the trellis/vine system would grow successfully in a shaded alley (applicants cited similar installations and plant choices such as Virginia creeper); lighting and safety in the rear alley under wells; and asbestos abatement and demolition timing for the existing building on site.
Staff and the board said remaining issues (e.g., final fire-department sign-off, lighting and fence/trellis drawings) could be handled by conditions at final approval. A roll-call vote approved preliminary site-plan review. The board encouraged the applicant to return with final details addressing the trellis/fence, lighting/motion-sensor ideas for safety, and any required IFD sign-offs.
Vote: Roll-call preliminary approval recorded unanimous yes from members present.
Ending: The applicant said demolition (once tenant vacates and asbestos is abated) is planned for mid to late April, and the board and staff agreed to address remaining technical items prior to final approval.
