Planning board accepts Black Belt LLC drive‑through application, continues public hearing after extensive resident concerns

The Swansea Planning Board accepted as complete the site‑plan application submitted by Black Belt LLC for a proposed drive‑through restaurant at the southern corner of Marcy Hill Road and Route 12 (tax map 220 lot 5), then opened the public hearing and took extended public comment before continuing the hearing to the board’s next scheduled meeting.

Mark Bodrey (Civil New England), presenting for Black Belt LLC, described the property as 15.3 acres with a conceptual 1.8‑acre parcel identified for the proposed 3,380‑square‑foot building and drive‑through circulation. He said the owners, Steven and Lonnie Giordano, purchased the land from the town and currently have no tenant lined up; the site plan is intended to enable marketing to prospective tenants. Bodrey said the conceptual floor plans show a potential occupant load of about 30 people and that a conservative parking calculation would require roughly 10 parking spaces; the plan…