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Design panel backs 13 Church Street redevelopment, asks ZBA for crosswalk, screening and planters
Summary
The Design Review Committee recommended that the Zoning Board approve the 13 Church Street mixed-use project if the applicant provides specified design work: a waiver of the 10‑foot buffer with matching fence, planter boxes in lieu of bollards, an applicant-designed crosswalk to be installed by DPW, and an optional valet drop-off location to be determined.
The Design Review Committee recommended approval of the 13 Church Street mixed‑use proposal and asked the Zoning Board to make several conditions part of any approval. Committee members moved on Nov. 13 to send a recommendation letter in favor of the project provided the applicant secures a waiver for a 10‑foot buffer strip, matches a decorative fence or other screening for the buffer, uses planter boxes in lieu of bollards and wheel stops, provides a design for a Church Street crosswalk to be installed by the Department of Public Works (DPW), and is permitted a valet drop‑off if the applicant chooses to add one.
The project team presented revised site and architectural plans showing three lots combined at the corner of Church Street and West Main, with a three‑story West Main Street building and retail at grade. Speaker 3 explained that the revised footprint is close to earlier plans and noted efforts to relocate service areas so garbage pickup is less disruptive. “It’s a nice, cleaner, more park‑like environment,” said Speaker 5 when describing the relocated dumpster and the intent to screen it to match building finishes.
Committee members pressed on pedestrian safety and access. Speaker 4 said the committee should ask the applicant and the community business association (CBA) to initiate the crosswalk process and asked that a design be included as part of the application. “We recommend that CBA sends a letter to the Select Committee about starting the process of getting a crosswalk to Church Street,” Speaker 4 said, adding that a town‑installed crossing would improve routes into downtown and to the bridge.
On electric vehicle infrastructure, the project team described four EV‑designated parking spaces with EV‑ready conduit. Speaker 8 said the current plan is “EV ready” with conduit and a handhold box and that one charging station can typically serve two spaces; Speaker 8 later noted there will be three handicap parking spaces planned closest to building entrances.
Stormwater and site controls were modified at the committee’s request: the applicant enlarged a subsurface stormwater system under permeable pavers, added anti‑tracking pads at site entrances, placed a silt fence to protect the adjacent brook, and identified stockpile and inspection port locations for future maintenance.
After discussion the committee adopted a motion to forward a letter to the Zoning Board recommending approval subject to the conditions described. The motion was made and seconded and carried by voice/hand vote; the transcript shows members raising hands but does not record a roll‑call tally.
What happens next: staff will draft the committee’s recommendation letter referencing the three main conditions (waiver of the 10‑foot buffer, planters in lieu of bollards and wheel stops, and the applicant‑designed crosswalk to be installed by DPW). The applicant will move forward with filing with the Zoning Board and with any required follow‑up for DPW crosswalk review and the conservation commission filings noted for stormwater and the brook.
