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Planning staff propose updated application fees; board asks clarifying questions
Summary
Planning staff presented a proposed revision to application fees (first update since 2015) that includes modest increases for commercial site plan reviews, new categories for minor modifications and as-built requests, and a penalty for work done before approval; board asked for clarification on unit categories and deferred final approval.
Town planning staff told the board they reviewed fee schedules from nearby towns and proposed updates to make Braintree’s charges comparable. Assistant Director Gao said subdivision fees would increase slightly, commercial and business development site plan fees would rise about 10% (with a retained $500 flat fee threshold for small projects), and a new fee structure for use‑special permits would apply $375 plus $125 per 1,000 square feet up to $5,000.
Staff also proposed new fee categories for minor modification requests and as‑built requests, and a penalty equal to double the normal application fee for projects that complete work before planning board approval. The memorandum reflected consultation with the mayor’s office and the newly created economic development director.
Board members asked why the schedule grouped 1–2 unit projects and whether single‑family homes are captured in site plan review; staff said single‑family homes are generally not subject to site plan review and that the 1–2 unit line tracked the prior schedule but would be reviewed and clarified before a final vote. Several board members suggested more frequent incremental adjustments to fees rather than large updates every decade. No final vote was taken; staff will return with clarifications on categories and applicability.
