Planning Board - Regular Meeting

uh call this meeting the um the Craft and Planning Board for Monday, April 27th, 2026 to order. All of our members are here. Hey, Greg. Present.

We don't need to do a a uh roll call. The So, the first item, well, actually the first item is maybe we should try to tell people when we're meeting in the near future. they been a little bit of a moving target. Um we're the current plan is for the board to meet next Monday the 4th and then on Monday the 18th and then things become more normal again. Can't do that that way. So, if there's anybody who has any questions, I guess check with the office. Um, brings me to public input. This is where anyone who wants to talk to us about something within our purview who uh which is not otherwise on the agenda, put your hand up. Go tell us who you are first.

Hello, planning board. My name is Michael Rock. I live at 8 Trinity Avenue. Um I've lived in Grafton for some time now. My wife is involved in local politics um and is running for select board. I am uh concerned that nobody pulled papers to fill the upcoming vacancy on the planning board. Um I wanted to introduce myself. Um let you know who I am. You know how I sort of operate. um I would like to be considered as a write-in candidate and just you know make sure that um that's okay with you. Figured it would be courteous to come by and say hi. We don't get a lot of say so about that but

um so uh you know appointing in the absence of uh somebody doing a write in is a logistical hassle. Um not impossible. Um, I feel that, you know, working on the planning board would be a great opportunity to serve the town and the town's long-term interests. Um, I have watched a fair number of the planning board recorded meetings um to get a feel for what is in the purview of the planning board. I've also read some helpful documents and spoken with some of the members about the scope of commitment that is needed to serve on the planning board. Um, I'm very comfortable with the commitment, you know, every other week. um and probably a Saturday a month going over all the documents, making sure that I understand them during the beginning of my term on the planning board if elected. Um there would be a lot more time investment to get up to speed to really understand all of the laws, regulations, and the intent behind them. Um I do not oppose or champion any particular projects or styles here in Grafton. Um, I believe that, you know, we need a responsible mix of types of housing and construction that serve all of the Grafton residents long-term needs. Um, you know, the the job of the planning board is to evaluate those, make sure that they are compliant, make sure that they are legal, make sure that they are in in line with the style and um consistent with what is um within the charge. Um, I do have a lack of expertise compared to everyone here. Um, so, uh, you know, as as I if I were to come on the planning board until I felt like I was fully competent to make well-informed and well educated decisions, I would likely abstain from voting for a few months until I'm really

uh, confident about that. Um, I am a scientist in my day job. Uh most of what I do as a scientist isn't knowing things. It's figuring out how to learn things very quickly. Um I feel like that would serve people here. So do you have questions for me? What kind of science? Mostly viruses, viruses and cell biology where uh the last company I worked for was in Waltham. I do small startup of biotech, mostly gene therapy. Um, yeah, I you can finish. Uh, you're you're on top of the rules about how what people have to write in and and all that.

Yeah, I've spoken with the town clerk about that to make sure that we are compliant and more importantly more importantly that we do not make the job of the people counting the votes at the end of the night unnecessarily unpleasant. My only two comments is number one, you probably have as about as much comprehension as far as what we do and how we do it as I did when I got on the board. So I wouldn't hold that against a interested in candidate that wants to wants to learn and wants to do this this work. The other thing a lot of our actual votes that we do take they many of them need four out of five of us who actually vote whether

we're here to vote yes. Yeah. To vote yes. So abstaining is probably a worse choice than just making sure you understand what what we're voting on and you know things around that. Be noted. Uh fair warning I ask a lot of questions. Um well you fit right in here. Oh my god. G Mike I know a lot about plants um a lot about soils a lot about like weird technical things um for convenience since we already have a mic on the board or Michael uh you can just call me Mike R that way I will not I'm not extending any longer okay I'm all done

so one way to look at it is one Michael could be replacing another Michael we might be able to save on the uh yeah just just sharpie the you know if I had feelings I'd be You know, you're writing me off here, right? Never mind. I'm just kidding. I already talked to him about this. You understand? He seemed to forget quickly. Good. Well, I'm glad someone is interested and uh good luck. It would be an honor to serve the town. Just wanted to introduce myself. Um that's all. Thanks. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Any other public input? Raise your hand if there is. I see no hands on Zoom. No hands in the room. No, nothing. Okay. This is going to be a fairly short agenda tonight. If if we try, we could make it longer, but I I would rather not try.

Oh, we're pretty good at that. Um, let's see how we can do. Um, all right. for action items. Uh, approval not required under subdivision control ANR 20 26-4 2 Granny Greeny Granny Drive Tom DJI DJeppy

and Moana Walters are So the plan shows lot one and lot two as well as parcel B. Parcel B will be considered an unbuildable lot um and to be conveyed and annexed with lot two to form an undivided lot. And Jeff um Lard is here to speak to it be a remote Oh Jeff. Good evening. uh Jeff Lonard, uh Dar Gonalves, uh legal counsel for Thomas DJeppy, and uh it's Martha Walters.

Uh so I'm happy to answer any specific questions uh that the board may have. Um I apologize. This is not my usual uh practice area. Um so I don't know the the normal process that you guys uh do have but happy like I said to answer any questions or give a general overview of uh what is happening here and uh the reason behind it. Yeah, I think the uh the brief description here is that this parcel B kind of in the center of the screen here currently is attached or currently is a part of this lot one and it is going to be conveyed and become associated with this lot too.

That is correct. Just be just moving 4,000 and some square feet from from one lot to the other. The uh the from lot, the the lot whose size is being reduced is still going to be 21,000 square feet in the R20 zone. So, it's still more than enough square feet to comply with zoning, questions, concerns. Go.

So, Jeff, just bear with me. I know it's not relating to anything that requires it's not required for my vote in any way with ANRS, but what is the purpose behind this lot switch? Like what is what is our lot two here going to be using this extra space for, if anything? Sure. Um, so if I can give actually a brief history, I've been involved with uh two green drive for um some time now representing these clients. Um, the parcel B was originally part of lot two. Yes.

Um, lot two had a a property on it, but uh it was not a buildable lot. Um, and back in I want to say 2019, um, there was essentially an exchanging of land, uh, with the owner where the frontage that is now on Snow Road for lot 2, uh, was conveyed by the owners of Two Griny Drive in exchange for parcel B.

Yes. Um, uh, parcel B was supposed to be developed by or cleared and fenced in by the developer of lot 2 for my clients. Uh, that never happened. Um, separate arrangement ended up being made. Uh, and so parcel B, if you were on lot two, parcel B actually looks like it's part of their front yard. Uh, but it's technically owned by, uh, the owners of, um, of Two Greeny Drive. Uh the intent here, my clients have actually sold uh to Greeney Drive uh but they have excluded parcel B from that sale uh because they are conveying it to their neighbors. Um essentially to as a favor to them so that way there's not some fight later about adverse possession uh because it is land that if you were looking at the properties you would not think that it belongs to two Greeny Drive. It looks like it belongs to I believe it's 80 snow road or lot two.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Anybody anything? I have nothing more. Ready for a motion? No. I will move that the board find that approval is not required for this and that the board authorize appropriate persons to sign on behalf of the board. I think normally we would authorize the planner to sign on behalf of the board. I believe it's one of the one of the board members that would have to sign on behalf of the board. I'm willing to take care of that. All right. So that's your

I'll fix the motion to authorize Mr. would to sign on behalf of the board. Second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I opposed. So voted unanimous.

Thank you very much. All right, that brings us on to um draft decision definitive plan approval modification DP2020-01.3 18 Carol Road. So the board voted to close the hearing last meeting and to draft a decision um and they voted to approve the 18th month extension. So the draft decision is

does anyone have any concerns with the draft decision? I had no concerns, no nits, no comments for whatever that's worth. We just need the bond information. Do we need the bond information? Um, no, that's one of the conditions. So, okay.

As a question, this is kind of for Natalia, kind of for Dave, I guess. The record of vote and information here, they all state April 27th for when we voted to approve. Since we did that a little bit unorthodox for what the board typically does and we voted to approve it at our last meeting. Does that change?

I think it says the April 14th at the very beginning when you voted to approve it um in one of the findings that you said to approve the extension but the decision you didn't approve at that time or the findings I think finding one or two or see Scroll up.

See finding 10 which says April 27th is Is that the way I put it? Okay. Yes. That should have said 14th. I'm sorry. Okay. I caught something. Well, you know, I I put that in and then I lost it, so I had to redo the whole. You got it. Anything else? No. My Bob should be asking that. Why am I asking that? I'm not the chair of this meeting. So, finding

I know. Um, I'm waiting to hear people jumping out with correction. Does anybody have any? It would seem not.

It would seem not. So perhaps a motion would be in order and I will so move that the board grant the modification of the definitive plan approval with favorable favorable all favorable findings that are appropriate and with all conditions that are listed in the the draft decision subject to any edits that the board chooses to make u during discussion of the motion. Second moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Just for completeness that change in finding 10 I already mentioned. H

just for completeness that change in finding 10 I already mentioned. Okay. Anything else? Hearing nothing. All those in favor I oppose. So voted unanimously. Moves us on to bills. We have one more lot release. Two 2C. I I crossed out the wrong thing. I always do that. Abby Woods.

2020 20-01 definitive plan approval. We have keep having stuff there. Do we all need to sign this? The lot release. The lot release. Usually we have one. Yes. Okay. So, you kind of have two choices. You can vote today pending receipt of the um revised bond or you can vote um table it and vote on it Monday the 4th. So he's rel uh requesting release of phase two lots which are number three, four, five, six and seven.

Yes, if I remember those are all the remaining lots. That would be all of it and everything is in order for this except that the shity needs to be updated with the new expiration is in place but it lists the the incorrect um project construction completion date. Yeah, that's That's the only thing missing at this point is Yeah. There's there's a there's like two two other knits that while we're fixing that, we'll have those fixed as well. Yep. On the rider. Is there an expectation that that will be taken care of by next Monday? The developers here, so maybe he Yes, he was.

Yeah. Yeah. Our our our massive audience at home can't hear you when you're speaking from the seats. Sorry. Hi, my name is Abby Rad. Uh yes, by next Monday the bond going to be in place. Yeah. Any anything for him? Um my question that was my question was it was going to be done by next meeting.

Yeah. So gi given that our next meeting is just the one week from now um it's probably simpler. I know we we generally like to have everything in place when we make a in this case holding the lot release. We'd like to have all the eyes dotted and all the te's crossed. In this case here saves us a little bit of trouble trying to draft this or we if we if we were to vote on it tonight, we'd have to say it's conditioned somehow conditioned on receipt of the updated documents. So,

so I think I agree. You're probably simpler to wait and and I would also say you're more than welcome to keep attending next week, but if it doesn't sound like what I'm seeing, the board has any substantive questions at all on this. Right. Right. I I'm I am under the impression that the board would be happy to grant this lot release just provided we dot the last eye. So I think we could we could easily dispose of it in about one minute next time. Okay. Sure. I have it ready. Yeah. Great. All right. Thanks a lot. Thank you.

Thank you. We'll hold this for the next meeting. Now bills. Do we have any bills? Yes, we do. We don't need to do anything special as far as paying these having someone sign other than the office, right? For for the bills. No, that's fine. Okay. You just need to approve. I move that the board approves payment of the drafted bills. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I opposed. So voted unanimously. Minutes of previous meetings. Almost. What? No. No meeting. No meeting.

Almost. Staff report.

Okay. Um so as you probably imagine, the planning department has been exceedingly busy filling phone calls, responding to emails, responding to other departments, as well as counter um inquiries. and I make it every attempt to respond in a timely manner and thank the public for their continued patience and uh understanding. There's been an uptick in application activity both in uh calls, inquiries, and possible submissions. I attended last week's development team meeting. There was a conceptual proposal for multiple condo units and I expect that there'll be an uptick in development team meetings. Um, a pre pre-construction meeting and site visit is being scheduled for 1727 Upton Street in the near future. There are two public hearings and one public meeting scheduled for the board's May 4th meeting in ADU at 18 Shrewsbury TUS parking lot and a food prep and storage at 135 Westboroough Road. Um, also the Central Mass Regional Planning Commission is currently undertaking a study to inventory the status of Central Mass historical mills and foster dialogue surrounding the challenges faced when it comes to the reuse and redevelopment. They are compiling stakeholder input to incorporate into a Milltown caucus report. And if anybody is interested, please contact um the planning department if you're interested in participating. There's been some talk about an application to the ZBA about the um what was it? It was a Burger King.

The most recently it was a pepperoni express. Most recently pepperoni express. Um they're asking according to what I've seen asking for some um waiverss. But then do we have we heard anything about permitting that they'd require otherwise particularly for months? I haven't heard anything. Um but I will check. I know several what's the several weeks ago it's where the b uh it's grafted. It's basically between Savers Bank and where the old shell that's also dilapitated was BP

BP. Thank you. And but yeah, the it's scheduled to go before ZBA on Wednesday, this this week. This Wednesday. And you from what the ZBA plan says, that's what they're doing. They're planning to try to get it to be a demo and then a rebuild, making use of it connected parking lot that's also empty right now. Yeah. And I have heard that they are likely to come before us at least for a sign permit, but I don't know. Well, I I would seem like they ought to need more permitting than that because it's a different building. What's it going to be? What is it going to be?

Looking at McDonald's. McDonald's. Entirely new building. Yeah. uh they I think we'll be talking with conservation. Yes, conservation will certainly be involved in that. From our for from us, it will likely be a a site plan approval. I think I think I looked it up a few days ago and it looked like it would be a site plan approval. Yeah, that's what I was seeing too. And well, my understanding right now is that they they want to get through their ZBA hearing before they put applications in for other committees. If they don't get the variance from the ZBA, they're not going to come to us. That's what I was Yeah,

because I I looked at the on social media the sketch of what they were thinking of doing and uh it'll be an interesting conversation for traffic pattern. Um, anybody else on any of that correspondence? Apparently not. Uh, planning board reports from planning board reps on town commission committees and CMRPC. Apparently none. Uh, nothing else is going to lawfully come before us. So item seven,

I move we adjourn. Second. I'm moved and seconded. Not debatable. All in favor? I so voted. Okay. Super rare before 7:30 25.