Millis Planning Board approves NextGrid solar amendment; continues cell-tower hearing and recommends FEMA-driven zoning map changes

MILLIS, Mass. — The Town of Millis Planning Board on Oct. 7 voted to approve a modification to the special permit and site-plan approval for the NextGrid/Millis Solar installation at 1073 Main St., took public comment and continued a separate cell‑tower amendment to Oct. 21, and recommended a zoning‑map amendment to conform the town’s maps to updated 2025 FEMA flood insurance rate maps.

The NextGrid approval will allow the developer to seek lifting of a stop‑work order and to resume construction after the board’s decision is filed and the building commissioner is notified. Benjie Bora, a contractor with CSG who presented the application in lieu of NextGrid’s Michael Patterson, said a Sept. 22 letter from the town consultant (Beta) indicated the consultant’s comments were “resolved” and that the applicant planned to install a fence next week. “We would like to request to lift the work stop order and resume work as soon as possible,” Bora said. Camille (Planning Board staff) said she would prepare the decision, file it with the town clerk and email an electronic copy, and she said she would notify the building commissioner, Robert Fogarty, the next morning. The board approved the modification by voice vote; the meeting record does not show a roll‑call tally.

Why it matters: The amendment updates the project plans to reflect a carport‑mounted solar array and relocations of drainage structures; it clears a procedural hurdle the developer cited as necessary before work can resume on the town‑parcel site owned by A. C. Millis, LLC.

At the meeting the board also continued a public hearing on a modification to the special permit for a proposed personal wireless communications facility at 121 Norfolk Rd., submitted by Wireless Edge and presented by James Fitzgerald of Chapel Engineering. Fitzgerald said geotechnical work found bedrock roughly 34 feet below grade and that drill rigs and other equipment would face safety and access constraints on the originally graded surface. To address that, the applicant revised the internal compound grading to flatten the center and moved contours; the change reduced the compound footprint, kept the tower and access road in the same locations, and added an additional swale and a drop inlet to the stormwater plan.

Fitzgerald described the tower’s foundation as a caisson (drilled shaft) and said the grading changes were intended to “make the construction safer” and to improve access for drilling and installation. He told the board the applicant had worked with the town’s consultant (GCG) and incorporated comments into freshly revised plans submitted that day. Resident George Dealey of 120 Norfolk Rd. asked whether the orange stakes marking the layout remained in the same place and whether the 150‑foot height the resident cited had been considered for aesthetic mitigation. Panelists discussed color and finish options; Fitzgerald said Wireless Edge has been using an earth‑tone “Turkish coffee” brown intended to reduce visual contrast.

Because GCG’s final review and a written signoff were still pending, the board voted to continue the hearing to Oct. 21 to allow the consultant time to issue a final letter and to give staff the notice needed to post the meeting. The board said it would not vote until GCG confirmed in writing that its comments were addressed.

On zoning matters, the board opened a public hearing on draft zoning‑map amendments prompted by the updated 2025 FEMA flood insurance rate maps. Richard Nichols, planning board chair, said the town plans to appeal the FEMA updates but must, in the meantime, amend the zoning map to comply; if the town’s appeal succeeds, the board would update the map again. The board moved to recommend the zoning‑map amendment as a warrant article for fall town meeting and approved that recommendation by voice vote.

Other board business and votes: the board voted to postpone the special‑permit item for an accessory dwelling unit at 36 Meadow Cartway to the Oct. 21 meeting; it appointed Robert (Bob) Fogarty, the town building commissioner, to the zoning‑bylaw review subcommittee; it approved minutes from the Sept. 9 meeting; and it confirmed a short special meeting for Oct. 21 and its regular November meeting on Nov. 18.

What to watch next: The NextGrid modification depends on the building commissioner lifting the stop‑work order after the planning board’s decision is filed and distributed; the 121 Norfolk Rd. hearing is contingent on a final, written GCG review expected before Oct. 21. The zoning map change will move forward as a warrant article to town meeting and may be reversed or amended if the town’s pending appeal of FEMA’s maps succeeds.