Planning Board continues 972 Main Street hearing after parking, safety and variance debate

The Planning Board continued the public hearing on a proposed mixed-use development at 972 Main Street after several board members raised safety and dimensional concerns about the garage and interior parking.

Applicant representative Jeff Hugino told the board the design shifts the building back to preserve about a 12-foot sidewalk and a 10-foot rear buffer and that the team is requesting three items of relief: an inchish shortfall on the front sidewalk setback, interior drive aisles under the 24-foot standard, and several parking stalls measuring 18 by 9 feet where 19 by 9 is required. "We think these waivers are appropriate to keep with the intent of the district to have a walkable mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly community," Hugino said.

Board members and the town engineer, identified in the meeting as Matt, pressed the applicant for clearer engineering evidence that cars can safely maneuver. Matt said he had not reviewed the late turning-radius study before the hearing and recommended an alternatives analysis and technical review. "Does it work? Is it reasonable and it's safe?" Matt asked; he cautioned that the layout as submitted could produce conflict points, obstructed sightlines and difficult three-point turns for certain stalls.

Several board members suggested removing two interior spots — especially the two bottom-left spaces flagged as the most difficult to access — to create space for bike parking or to increase aisle widths. One member noted the proposal currently shows 13 residential units and 1 commercial unit and that the project needs 15 parking spaces by the bylaw; the plans as presented show 17 spaces overall, which gives some flexibility to remove spots without triggering additional relief.

Staff and legal counsel reminded the board of the difference between waivers and zoning variances. Because variances can trigger legal scrutiny and require a unanimous vote, staff said the applicant must demonstrate a hardship and that there is no feasible alternative before the board grants zoning relief. "If you're going to grant a variance, you need to prove that there is hardship and that the building cannot be built by any other site-specific arrangement," staff said.

Before taking any vote on relief the board asked the applicant to provide: civil engineering drawings surveyed to the street right-of-way to verify the 12-foot sidewalk (including clarifying whether the curb counts toward that width), corrected dimensions that account for column lines and elevator face, and a peer-reviewed turning-radius analysis. The board asked for those materials to be submitted to staff by July 21 to allow a peer reviewer time to analyze the turning radiuses before the next meeting.

The board voted to continue the public hearing to August 4 to allow the applicant and the town's peer reviewer to complete that technical work.

Votes at a glance - Motion to open hearing on 972 Main Street: moved and seconded; voice vote in favor (proceed to hearing). - Motion to continue the 972 Main Street hearing to Aug. 4: moved, seconded and approved (voice vote).

Next steps The applicant must submit corrected plans and the peer-review memo; the board indicated it will reconvene two weeks after receipt of those materials for further deliberation.