Commission grants Chelsea Groton Bank special permit to operate downtown branch on first floor

The Commission on City Plan on July 22 granted a special permit for Chelsea Groton Bank to operate a first‑floor retail branch at the Mercantile Exchange building in the Chelsea Central zone, a move described at the hearing as a zoning housekeeping item to reflect how the bank is regulated by the state.

City staff said the bank already occupies the space and that the zoning officer had initially categorized the use as a customer service/retail establishment. Chelsea Groton Bank representative Lisa Frio told the commission the facility operates as a retail financial branch and requested formal recognition under the zoning category “financial institution,” which requires a special permit on the first floor in that district.

The planning staff recommended waivers for a bond estimate, drainage calculations, color elevation renderings and a new survey, noting the occupancy is inside an existing commercial space and no site work is required. The commission voted to waive those submission items and approved the special permit; the decision requires that the special permit be recorded on the land records prior to finalization.

Dan (city planning staff) said referrals to other departments produced no outstanding objections and that the application conforms to the applicable sections of the zoning regulations. The commission approved the permit with the planner’s recommended conditions.