Planning board approves temporary 237-space parking lot for Concord Coach Lines with partial stormwater waiver

The city and Concord Coach Lines proposed a temporary, leased parking lot on a city-owned parcel near the Stickney Avenue bus terminal to ease seasonal congestion at the state-operated terminal. The applicant requested a 10-year lease (subject to earlier termination if state highway projects proceed) and sought waivers to limit upfront capital expense because the use is temporary.

Engineers proposed a 237-space paved lot with seven ADA spaces and circulation aisles sized for passenger vehicles; presenters said the design seeks to maximize capacity while minimizing permanent infrastructure because the site may be redeveloped when the state advances the Store Street North project. The engineering team identified potential constraints including existing monitoring wells and a narrow panhandle access owned by a private abutter (U-Haul) that will require a license or easement for a primary access point; applicants said they have engaged the abutter.

Staff and the board negotiated a partial waiver on the 100‑year peak-rate stormwater requirement: rather than building a full, costly stormwater system sized for a 100‑year event, staff and applicant agreed to collaborate on a mitigation approach acceptable to city engineering that reduces downstream impacts while limiting upfront capital costs. The board granted the CUP to allow payment to the city’s Urban Tree Fund in lieu of planting perimeter trees and approved architectural design review and the major site plan with precedent and subsequent conditions (including final coordination on access, stormwater, license to cross the U-Haul panhandle if required, and standard maintenance obligations).