Planning board approves permit extension and partial surety release, OKs two special‑permit applications; continues larger hearings

The Town of Braintree Planning Board on Aug. 12 took a set of procedural and final recorded actions on several agenda items: it voted to extend a grading permit for a residential property, approved a partial release of developer surety for a condominium project while withholding funds for landscaping, approved motions to prepare decisions for two indoor commercial uses, and continued multiple public hearings to Sept. 9 for further review.

Key outcomes

• Grading permit extension (Planning Board file 24059, 99 John Paul Circle): The board voted to extend the permit’s completion date by six months from Aug. 12, 2025. Motion by Member Kent; second by Member McCamey. Voting members indicated unanimous approval. The extension was sought because the homeowner had difficulty securing a contractor and had not begun work despite a permit issued earlier; the applicant has since retained a contractor and applied for a building permit.

• As‑built approval / partial release of surety (Planning Board file 1406, 9‑11 Independence Ave): The board approved release of most of the roughly $120,000 surety the board has held for the project while withholding $4,000 to cover replacement of four dead trees in two rear planting islands. Attorney Michael Monastino represented the property owner/developer; project manager George Clements reviewed the project history and the inspector’s findings. Motion by Member Kent; second by Member Makami; vote recorded as in favor.

• Special permit and site plan actions (400 Franklin Street and 160 Granite Street): The board voted to close the public hearings for two interior tenant uses and directed planning staff to draft formal decisions for approval on Sept. 9. Escapology of Braintree LLC (400 Franklin Street) seeks a special permit and site plan approval for an interior escape‑room amusement use of an existing 3,977 sq. ft. retail space; the applicant said all work is interior and that the operation has similar facilities in Tewksbury and Waltham. Bayshore Athletic Club (160 Granite Street) sought a special permit and site plan review to relocate its fitness center from 14 Plains Street to a vacant commercial building; the applicant said the business has operated in Braintree for 22 years. Both motions included directions that staff prepare standard permit conditions; both items were continued so final written decisions can be circulated for the Sept. 9 meeting.

• Continued hearings and other procedural actions: The board continued the significant Plains Street/Armstrong redevelopment hearing (Planning Board file 2506) to Sept. 9, after extensive public comment and pending peer review of the developer’s traffic, stormwater and fiscal reports. The board also continued a grading‑permit discussion for 55 King Hill Road to Sept. 9 to finalize a plan showing a relocated retaining wall, proposed fence and plantings; the applicant acknowledged some unpermitted earth work and sought to regularize the work.

Votes and motions in the record were made publicly during the Aug. 12 meeting; the board asked staff to draft written decisions and conditions for the items continued to Sept. 9 so the board can take final recorded votes after reviews are complete.

Ending: The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting for continued items is Sept. 9, 2025; several matters were continued to that date to allow staff to draft decisions and for the applicant or peer reviewers to respond to outstanding items.