The planning committee reviewed a site plan and wetland‑setback variance application for 816 Seasons Road (about 3 acres, I‑2 industrial in the Mudbrook overlay). Planning staff described existing onsite features — a 1,600‑sq‑ft office and an existing 3,600‑sq‑ft storage building approved in 2023 — and explained the new application proposes a second 3,600‑sq‑ft storage building to the rear of the lot. Staff indicated that a Category 1 wetland on the site would be removed and a Category 2 wetland would remain; Category 2 wetlands normally require a 50‑ft building setback and the proposed building would sit about 30 feet from the wetland (a 20‑ft encroachment into the 50‑ft setback), meaning the applicant requested a variance of approximately 45 feet from the required setback when accounting for other dimensions explained by staff.

The applicant, who identified himself in committee as Adam Grama of 822 Seasons Road, told council he had "put in for the permit through the Army Corps of Engineer already... we did get the permit for it. So basically, it goes into a wetland bank. So we pay into it. So they take the wetland and put it somewhere else. Essentially, they rebuild it." He said the Army Corps permit authorizes mitigation by purchasing credits from a wetland bank rather than attempting on‑site replacement.

Planning staff and the applicant answered questions from council about mitigation and wetlands categories and the planning committee moved the application to the full council agenda. On the council floor the item was adopted on Jan. 8 after suspension of rules; the record shows the planning and council review and that city staff will record and rely on the Army Corps mitigation approvals as part of final project conditions.

Why it matters: A local land‑use decision allowed a developer to place a building closer to a Category 2 wetland than typically permitted by the Mudbrook overlay, relying on federal wetland permitting and mitigation through a wetland bank to satisfy environmental review and mitigation requirements.

What's next: Implementation will require compliance with the Army Corps permit and city site‑plan conditions before final construction approvals and inspections.