Planning Board approves SP 6-2026 for 74 Cranberry Highway with retaining-wall and landscaping conditions

The Town of Born Planning Board voted unanimously July 23 to approve site plan review and special permit SP 6-2026 for redevelopment at 74 Cranberry Highway (Map 11.4, Parcel 125), allowing a change from wholesale/warehouse use to a village mixed-use building that will add four market-rate residential units and nonresidential spaces.

John Veil of Baxter Nye Engineering told the board the applicant (Bay Ridge Realty LLC) submitted revised site plans and a photometric plan. "There's about a 9% reduction in impervious overall on the site," he said, and reported that a geotechnical firm performed four deep soil borings while design of a retaining wall is ongoing and expected to take about 30 days.

Board member Steve moved approval after summarizing findings that the proposal meets site-plan and village mixed-use special-permit criteria. The board's decision includes detailed conditions: compliance with town rules; a finding that the proposed frontage is not substantially more detrimental than the existing nonconforming frontage; a requirement that the applicant provide financial security for landscaping, paving and stormwater infrastructure (including a 15% inflation assumption) prior to issuance of a building permit; submission of final retaining-wall plans and structural details prepared and stamped by a Massachusetts-licensed professional engineer before any retaining-wall construction or the building permit; coordination with public-safety officials on building numbering and emergency access; deferral to the health department for septic design and to the fire department for emergency-access requirements; confirmation of sufficient water service; and erosion controls installed and maintained throughout construction. Before occupancy, as-built plans and a signed certification that work complies with approved plans must be submitted, and the decision must be recorded at the county registry of deeds or land court.

During deliberations the board also required a revised landscape plan showing tree-planting details with slow-release irrigation bags ("tree gator or equivalent") and discussed post-installation care. A board member moved to amend condition 13 to require that all plantings be maintained for a minimum of three years; the amendment was added and the full package of conditions passed in a roll-call vote recorded as unanimous.