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Trust hears HB Cottages site update; engineers flag environmental and fire‑access concerns
Summary
Trustees received a technical update on HB Cottages (6 Beach Street) including pending Phase I environmental reports, an unsecured basement hatch and an on‑site oil tank, and the fire chief's recommendation for a T‑turnaround to ensure apparatus access; trustees discussed whether to pursue formal permitting or an RFP to assign developer responsibilities.
Trustees were briefed on site and permitting matters for HB Cottages (including 6 Beach Street) at the Trust’s March meeting. Engineers conducting Phase I environmental work have not yet delivered final reports; trustees were told the field visit identified an unsecured basement hatch and an oil tank that may need removal.
Trustees said the fire chief reviewed proposed site access and recommended a T‑turnaround rather than a gated exit, because gates would remove parking and create operational challenges for fire apparatus. "One of his recommendations was a T," a trustee said, describing the chief’s suggestion that a truck could pull in and then back into a T to exit by the single access road.
Discussion centered on next steps: whether the Trust should pursue preliminary permitting meetings (conservation, planning) to delineate buildable areas and secure informal buy‑in from permitting authorities, or instead present an RFP that places comprehensive permitting responsibilities on a developer. A technical advisor from MHP (Massachusetts Housing Partnership) advised the Trust to avoid formal permitting efforts that could trigger 30A obligations and instead recommended preliminary meetings to reduce uncertainties while preserving the developer’s responsibility for final permits.
Trustees also discussed utilities: the Beach Street property currently has water shut off; the town bills a basic water/sewer fee while lines are uncapped (cited at about $113 per billing period) and the Trust obtained a contractor quote of $4,850 to cap the lines now versus paying ongoing quarterly fees. Trustees weighed whether a developer should handle capping and demolition through an RFP, which could enable fee waivers tied to construction and affordable housing requirements.
Next steps: trustees agreed to meet with engineers (WDA) to refine plot plans, pursue preliminary coordination with permitting authorities and decide whether to include permitting prerequisites in an RFP or leave permitting to the developer. Staff will follow up with the engineering team and update the Trust at the next meeting.
