Attorney Catherine Broker Adams presented a revised project for 56 Chapel St. — a 9,480‑square‑foot lot the applicant proposes to convert to 19 parking stalls and roughly 2,300 square feet of green space, plus a new rear retaining wall and landscape improvements. Adams said the applicant had already planted trees on adjacent lots, installed EV chargers on a nearby lot and added pollinator gardens, and argued the plan addresses committee suggestions and neighborhood concerns.

Planning (Kat Kimmitt) described the relief needed: allow non‑accessory parking in a residential district, permit portions of the parking facility more than 150 feet from the manufacturing district boundary, waive perimeter screening and lighting requirements, and allow a retaining wall over 4 feet (revised plans show a maximum wall around 9.5 feet). Engineering has reviewed the wall conceptually and found no major design concerns; final engineering review will occur at permit stage.

Public testimony was mixed: several neighbors praised the applicant’s stewardship and urged approval, while Ward‑1 councilors (including Lisonbee Leary and Councilor Oliver) and other councilors strongly opposed turning a residential lot into more surface parking in a part of the city they described as a heat island. Ward‑1 members and other objectors noted the Chapel Bridge Park campus already controls hundreds of parking stalls (applicant stated total campus parking at 669) and said the parcel could instead be greened or used for housing. The applicant offered to explore a trade — removing parking on Bridge Street in exchange for the Chapel Street stalls — and the committee agreed to hold the hearing so ward councilors and the applicant can negotiate possible alternatives.

A motion to keep the public hearing open and hold the item passed unanimously; the applicant said it will consider ideas raised and meet with ward councilors. The committee emphasized the applicant may proceed with repairing the deteriorated retaining wall regardless of the parking decision.