Planning Board clears demolition at Center 79 Brunswick Road, schedules public hearing

The Planning Board on Oct. 21 declared a negative determination under "Seeker" and set a public hearing for Nov. 18 on an application to demolish an unused caretaker/storage house at Center 79 Brunswick Road.

Neil Palone, an architect representing the owners, told the board the house sits on a small parcel adjacent to roughly 57 acres and is now vacant and becoming a nuisance. "They're hoping to remove an old building that's no longer in service," Palone said, adding the owners plan to leave the nearby pavements and have no current plans to develop the adjacent acreage.

A board member asked whether the parcel would be used for gravesites; Palone answered, "Not to my knowledge." The applicant provided a post-demolition property-condition assessment and a draft easement for the board's review.

The board voted to treat the application as complete and to declare a negative environmental declaration under the board—s referenced "Seeker" process. The chair explained the board—s rule that a matter must be presented at one meeting and then a public hearing at a subsequent meeting; the item was scheduled for a public hearing on Nov. 18.

The board recorded no conditions beyond procedural requirements; staff noted the applicant may have to obtain additional approvals such as a special-use permit or variance depending on future decisions.

Next steps: the applicant is scheduled for the Nov. 18 public hearing; staff will circulate notices required by the board—s review procedures.