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Planning Board approves minor modification for Arnold Street industrial park with conditions
Summary
The Planning Board granted a minor modification to planning board file 2002A for the Riverside Park/Arnold Street project, changing one large warehouse into smaller contractor bays and adding conditions including compliance with a May 7 peer review, submission of a revised grading plan within 30 days, and monthly schedule updates.
The Town of Braintree Planning Board on June 10 granted a minor modification to planning board file 2002A for the Riverside Park/Arnold Street industrial park, approving a reduced building footprint and a redesign that creates contractor bays in place of a single large warehouse. Approval was conditioned on timely compliance with items in a May 7 peer review, submission of a revised final grading plan within 30 days, and ongoing monthly construction schedule updates.
Director Machek introduced the item and noted staff had visited the site. Deb Merrill of Merrill Engineering presented a peer review and identified several remaining items that could be attached as conditions, including an updated Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWIP/SWPPP) for phase 2, updates to the long‑term operation and maintenance (O&M) plan and BMP maps, and minor plan clarifications for grading and pavement transitions.
Sean Hardy, professional engineer with Hardy and Mann Design Group, summarized the modification: "This modification is the request to make 30 contractor bays and a smaller warehouse unit." Hardy and other members of the applicant team told the board they would submit the requested plan clarifications, update the SWIP once a new contractor is procured and provide an updated construction schedule.
Project consultant George Clements said the project team had met informally with the Conservation Commission, which had determined the change did not represent a substantial change requiring a new filing. The applicant also reported recent environment‑related submittals: administrative use limitations (AULs) filed with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and new flood certificates submitted to FEMA.
Board members discussed parking and site restoration: the applicant reported a revised parking table showing a total of 218 identifiable parking spaces under the modification (179 surface spaces, nine loading spaces and 30 contractor garage spaces), versus 231 spaces in the original approval; the zoning minimum cited on the record was 155 spaces. Members and staff discussed snow storage, riverwalk parking (five dedicated spaces), and the practical need for paved areas on a capped site with low‑level PCB material rather than converting those areas to open green space.
Member Connolly moved to grant the requested minor modification subject to timely compliance with the peer review letter dated May 7, 2025; provision of a revised final grading plan within 30 days; and monthly phasing updates to the construction schedule. Member Cain seconded the motion. The board voted by voice; members present responded "Aye." The chair closed the public discussion.
The board’s decision requires the applicant to file the updated plan documents and documentation that the outstanding peer review items have been addressed before certain phase‑2 permits and SWIP updates are finalized.
