Planning board signs off on lot split to remove fuel tanks from 99 North Main Street

The Middleborough Planning Board on Feb. 18 voted unanimously to endorse a Form A plan that carves a roughly 2,500-square-foot parcel away from 99 North Main Street to remove a fenced area containing fuel storage tanks before a prospective buyer completes financing.

The decision matters because the split was requested to address a lender’s objection to the presence of fuel storage tanks on the parcel the buyer intends to acquire. John Romanelli of Zenith Land Surveyors, representing survey work for the applicant, said the plan “cuts out a parcel a little over 2,500 square feet, which removes the chain link fenced area and the fuel storage tanks from that property before he purchases it.”

Board members asked where the parcel sits relative to the former police station and whether the tanks are aboveground or underground. A board member identified in the transcript as “Mr. Chik” asked about location; staff and Romanelli confirmed the area is behind the old police station. Romanelli said he believed the tanks were underground. A staff participant noted the building is subject to a 99‑year lease arrangement, though details of that lease were not specified in the meeting record.

The board moved and seconded a motion to endorse the Form A as presented; the motion passed unanimously. The endorsement is a planning-board procedural sign-off and does not itself complete any sale or change ownership; the applicant and buyer must still complete financing and any other approvals required for the transaction.

The board did not provide further details on the timing of any tank removal, environmental remediation, or whether additional permits will be required; those items were not specified in the meeting record.