Planning Board - Regular Meeting

I will open up this meeting of the mayor planning board. Today's date is October 25th, 2025 and the time is 7:04 p.m. Uh all members are present here in town hall. Please note this meeting is being held in hybrid format which means members of the public applicants um and members of the board could participate here in town hall or virtually through the zoom links and please note this meeting is being recorded. Bill Nims are thinking turn to item two um and I will open up the public hearing for 10 Sbury Road. This is regarding Ever Source Station. um requesting special permit to conduct her report at 10 Sbury Road um in accordance with section 7.3 and 10.4 billing bylaws. Bill, do you want to give us a briefing on this first and then we'll turn it over to the applicant?

Sure. Um this is a little bit of an unusual special permit for us in that um it is a earth removal permit um earth removal um of over um 500 cubic yards requires a special permit from the planning board. The this is not for site plan uh or for the units which is all permitted and uh should be uh is an existing uh substation. The applicant has prepared a um a uh extensive plan which I think you've had a chance to look at as well as staff report. Um the difference with this um particular special permit as it's out laid out in your staff board, we have a different criteria which you'll see detailed at section 4. I've placed what I thought the applicant has provided um and just to assist the board. So if the board after you go through everything um what you would be determining is if it meets the criteria uh which I've provided in your staff reports and then you make your decision on the special permit. Um we have the the whole team tonight and um Molly Cullen has been our um the outreach um person has been very helpful with us and Molly would can I um let you introduce your team please or um if that's if anybody else should be doing it but I think uh

that that's great. Thank you Bill. Hi everyone. Um thank you for your time on the agenda tonight. So like Bill mentioned my name is Molly Cullen. and I'm the community relations specialist from Eversource that supports Maynard. It's nice to meet you all. Um so we're here tonight to present on the transformer replacement project at Maynard substation and seeking permanent approval for the um for the earth removal permit needed for this project. So, my colleagues joining me are Macy with project engagement, Jeffy the project manager, uh David with environmental, um and then we have um Aaron Ting who is supporting the project from TRC Environmental Corporation as well as Matt Develin from our licensing and permitting um at Eversource. I'll go ahead and pass the presentation off to Macy and the rest of the team uh to walk you through the project. Um and we'll have time at the end for any questions that you might have as well. So, thank you again and we appreciate your time.

Thank you, Molly. Um so, just to start us off, just a beef a brief overview of um why we're here today. Um, as we move towards net zero and moving towards greater electrification, that puts more strain on our grid. And so we need to make upgrades to ensure that our infrastructure can handle that increased demand. Make sure that homes, lights stay on, businesses can continue running. And so this especially makes sure that we're not overloading the grid during peak times like during the summer when um ACs are running and that kind of thing. And so this project which um one of my colleagues will go into greater detail in one moment um we'll just make sure that Maynard's electric grid can better handle that. So I will now hand it over to my colleague Jeffy.

Good evening everyone. Uh thank you Missy. Like my colleague M was saying this uh Mayor substation is a critical substation in the Maynard area and the surrounding town. And right now as it stands the Maynard substation has two transformers that support the load and the load growth uh in the Burlington Sbury area in the Sbury and Maynard area. Our apologies just came from another meeting. Uh and for that uh we're replacing those two 18 transformers um that are roughly 50 years old. Uh those are 50 MVA transformers replacing them with 62 62.5 MVA transformers which would do two things. One, it would improve the reliability and the grid that supports the surrounding areas around Mayard. And second, it would address the load uh concerns that we face during summer pick load and winter load. Uh next one please. Excuse me. And as a scope of work of this project, we're not only replacing the two transformer with a light for light uh transformers. We're also replacing the bus work that link the two transformers and that supports the the substation. We're replacing we're demoing the reactors that are now sitting. If you can see that long tri that long rectangle that's to the left of the substation right to the right of it there is a structure those are those are reactors that are not in use right now we're removing them right there there will be a mobile transformer installed that will be used during construction to support the load and any load growth

during that time while we're replacing the the two existing transformers s with new ones. And along with that, we'll be upgrading the uh control house. Uh I think the tree is kind of hiding it. There's a building there uh that is housing the control panels that kind of control all the brain and functionality of the substation. And along with that, we'll be installing a battery hunt that is to let's see to the south uh of the station uh mostly to the far left between those two white uh structures that we're seeing. will be installing the battery run. And the functionality of the battery run is basically to support any electricity demand if we were to face an outage. Uh and the whole town is out of power. And that battery hut is basically to support all the control panels and all the control system that kind of monitor the transformers, monitor all the equipments within the station yard that kind of communicate that to our control room and massav. Uh next one please. Uh as far as the scope of work, uh basically this is uh a like for like replacement, upgrading the transformers, upgrading the control panels, and as far as the schedule goes, we're planning on beginning this construction as soon as the spring of 2027. And the goal is to get this in service by the fall of 2029. Uh the existing battery like I

mentioned, excuse me, is basically uh to support the equipment during during any out any potential outage. Is basically like a false safe system. Uh it is not connected to the grid. It is basically there to support the the substation uh in case of an emergency. Next one please. Uh, and I'll bust this one on to our environmental support. We've got Dave and Mr. Tin that uh can help us with this slide. Thank you.

Um, thanks Aaron Tang uh TRC. So, as as we've been talking about there, there's going to be land disturbance as part of the project to uh support the new uh infrastructure and um other incidental um you know, upgrades uh that are being um improvements that are being done here at the the substation. um including um a storm water management system that's also being proposed um and a storm water management permit that that we we're applying for and actually just had a meeting on uh prior to this one uh with the Maynard Conservation Commission. Um as part of the um earth work uh you know there's going to be proper soil management um prior to any earth work. Uh the the project is going to look at uh precarzizing um taking soil samples of areas where we know we're going to be generating uh excess material um so that we can uh get um data to support off-site management uh to get approvals for receiving facilities prior to um putting a bucket into the ground. Um, we're also going to be looking at, um, you know, obviously with the off-site management of any excess materials using, um, you know, licensed and permitted, uh, facilities, uh, licensed transporters. Going to be looking at doing, uh, live loading to minimize idling of, uh, you know, trucks and stockpiling of materials on the property. Um and you know using the the the appropriate documentation of of transporting that material. Um as well

as you know working with um those haulers um to you know uh look at transport um not over local roads. um using uh main thoroughways and and highways as as much as possible um to minimize truck traffic through um through the the locality of of Maynard. Um and and the last thing is uh for for the environmental and the earth work is uh is erosion and sediment controls. uh maintaining those implementing um erosion controls um in accordance with a soil erosion and sediment control plan which will be prepared prior to the implementation of work. Um so having filter socks in place um silt fencing and other you know erosion and control measures um to make sure that we're you know maintaining a a clean site uh from the storm water management and earthwork perspective. You know not tracking sediments out onto out onto the local roads making sure we're decontaminating um or you know cleaning off truck tires before they exit the site. um that that sort of measures um will be done prior to implemented prior to and during construction. And I will pass the next slide off to David Feon.

Uh David Feinson, senior specialist with Eversource. Um our removal actions uh will be um consistent with uh section 7 of Maynard zoning bylaws. Um, as uh Aaron mentioned, the plan is to live load the materials um uh in order to avoid having to stockpile any soil on site. Um, if any stockpiling is necessary, the stockpiles will be managed appropriately uh with respect to sediment controls. Um, and just controlling the pile in in in one location um and and restoring uh that area to um original condition. uh if if uh um once the pile's gone um and not stockpiling any soil in excess of 30 days. Um excavations are going to be localized around existing equipment um new equipment um with uh little to no expected uh anticipated change in topography. Um and uh the like I said the area around uh the new equipment will be graded and restored as trap rock upon uh completion. Um and I'll send it back to Aaron um for stormwater discussion.

Uh so as part of the project uh because we are creating a uh slight increase in new impervious area. Um and also because we are going forth uh with with the planning board here uh for a special permit. We do trigger um stormwater management requirements under the Maynard stormwater bylaws. Um we have applied for and um just had the hearing on the uh storm management permit. Um the storm management plan is to um look at the Massachusetts storm water standards as well as Maynard's uh design criteria. Um for water quality, uh we're looking at a combination of pre-treatment using proprietary like hydrodnamic separator, swirl separators um to pull out as much sediment as possible prior to conducting infiltration um to meet the storm water um standards for total suspended solids removal as well as under the Maynard bylaws uh for total phosphorus removal. Um so we'll be infiltrating um storm water uh in accordance with those uh two standards um and bylaw. And um the the last thing I'll mention for storm water management is the the new transformers are going to be within a um concrete containment pad um that will be installed with um source control measures. So, if there are any incidental releases of of oils within the containment, um there is actually a treatment canister that is installed in

each of the um concrete pads that filters out the oil and then allows uh rain water to um be actually discharged into the into the ground surface. Um so oils will be removed um if there are any within that containment um prior to the the storm water essentially that's contained therein um being uh discharged to the ground and uh I will pass the last slide over to Macy to close us out. Thank you. Um, so I'll leave this up for a moment in case anyone wants um a picture of the contact information, but I think Molly sent this presentation to you all ahead of time, so I think you have it that way as well. Um, but now we can move to Q&A if anyone has any questions. Um, if folks have specific slides they'd like to direct their question to, I'm happy to move um the presentation back or pull the presentation down, whatever is easier for folks.

Um, thank you Molly and team. Um, well, yes, we'll we'll turn this to the planning board for questions. I have one opening question. Uh 1,200 cubic yard seems quite a lot for what was described. Uh what's the bulk of of the excavation from I think I'll direct that to environmental and Aaron or

um Aaron I could take this unless you want to. Um yeah, it's uh generally around the the transformers. Um you know, the new foundations that are going in are going to be uh larger than the current foundations. So the transformers are moving are being removed. Um the existing uh concrete foundations are being removed and then excavations are occurring to um to support the new transformer foundations um as well as the containment uh that Aaron uh discussed during uh the previous slide um along with uh foundations for the battery hut that's being installed on the south side of the substation. um as well as uh trenching um you know for any uh uh you know um subgrade uh features um including the storm water uh treatment system.

Other questions from the board? I have a few regarding um uh the I had read I'm sorry there's a lot of information. I had read that the duration was going to be May 2026 to December 2028, but it seems like it's you said spring 2027 to fall 2029. So about two and a half years. Is that correct? That's correct. Okay. Um I'm assuming that the earth earth removal won't be for that whole period. Correct. No, the earth will be just for the civil work inside preparations.

Right. Um my I noticed that the AB butters list I don't I don't believe that there are any butters in Mayard. Is that correct? U sorry Eron. Oh I I was going to say I I believe there are I'd have to go back to the abutters list and check but I believe there are abutters in Maynard. So I believe two of them and yeah they're

and we've already begun outreach efforts um to speak to those abutters um we've also let the towns have conquered and act know that this work is happening as well. So um and we'll also re send out notices in advance of any construction happening just to let um folks in the immediate vicinity know that this work is happening.

Yeah. The only thing I was just going to mention that in terms of um you know I know that your construction hours are listed as 7 to 7 uh during the week and Friday and Saturday 9 to 9. Uh I saw that on the construction notes. Um which presumably means no nighttime earth removal idling trucks or site prep of any sort. That is correct. and it will be open to work with the town on any restriction or any you know open hours that the town would prefer as opposed to what we propose.

Great. Yeah. Just in terms of of of Butters in terms of especially Sedbury, I do know that Sudbury and Conquered both have their own noise ordinances. So, you know, that's going to be relevant to you.

Thank you. Um I would like somebody to walk me through the um elements of criteria number three. Each of them please the police chief. I mean oh no I mean you want the board and the chief have to approve right this that that that like set of things. So one tell me the details of those seven things. Um you want to bring that up on the screen.

Yeah, I will do that. And uh see police comments. I don't I don't police comments. I want I want the criteria. right here. But um I'll bring up on the staff board. It's probably easier. It's laid out. I'm going to share the screen. You guys should be able to see my staff report and I'll pull up uh what Mr. Ben Can you see that?

Yes, we can. Yes. All right. Staff report. Uh this staff report. Can you zoom in though? Yeah. Let's zoom in to number three. And it has several criteria in here. Um, and this is what they would like. Can you just talk through? So, we've talked about days and hours of operation, right? The route of trucks, days and hours operation that include holidays.

That was a question to have. Sorry. could droop into the question please. The requested days and hours of operation just said something like weekdays and Friday Saturdays. So holidays as well

that does not include holidays. What we usually do when we come with the town we kind of work with the town and observe any holidays that they would like to observe and kind of resume work in the next weekday. Um, so I just want to be very clear with Eversource. These comments about working with the town does not suffice. We are representing the town. So you're going to need to work with us and give us specifics. I want to see days of operation, what days are being proposed, what hours are being proposed, what holidays that are excluded, times of days that are excluded. Um, this also says what the estimation duration is. So is this a 10day operation? Is this a 30-day operation? The types of vehicles to be used and the proposed traffic routes.

So, destination, excuse me, hold on. Destination of all materials

and then the proposed treatment of lands basically minimizing dust and other debris. So, these comments about needing to work with the town does not suffice the planning board. We are representing the town and you're going to need to suffice us. Correct. Let me clarify that my apologies. So what we usually do, we work Monday through Friday and we observe all national holidays. And if there's a specific day, for example, let's say there's a kids fair in town and the town communicate that to us and they would like for us to take a Friday off because there's a a fair coming to town or there is a specific work that the town is coordinating by working with the town. That's what I meant. will be abiding by any observed day or any requirements that the town would like to impose on Eversource to make it a a good working relation between the town and Eversource. But our goal is to work only weekdays and if we are crunch time the goal will be to work on Saturdays and we've got hours for weekdays that's 7 to 7. We 7 to 7 is the worst case scenario, but our goal is to work between 7 and 5:00 p.m.

Do you guys currently have a truck route planned yet? It's not determined yet. Right now, we are in a preliminary engineering which is only 30% engineering. Uh, as soon as we get detailed design, our goal is to on board a vendor that will be determining those routes for us and we'll be presenting them to the town, getting feedback and getting them approved. Do you know the types of vehicles that you plan to use for travel? That has not been determined yet. Do you know the destination of the soils? Uh David, can you help us with that, please?

Um that hasn't been determined yet. Um as uh Aaron discussed earlier, um you know, we'll be doing uh pre-characterization sampling to satisfy um you know, the requirements of any receiving facility. Um and once that's done, the receiving facility will be selected. Um uh so yeah, we don't have that information at this time. About when do you expect to have that information? Um after detail design. Yeah. Right now we're in preliminary engineering which is 30% and detail design is 70 to 75% engineering.

Sure. I I'm not familiar with your schedule. So could you give me months? That's in the the in the spring of 2026. Okay. Spring 2026. Um, when do you anticipate roughly moving soils? We anticipate to move soil in the end of the spring of 2027, beginning of the summer of 2027. So, you're planning with soils in in the year 2027,

correct? Bill, this seems premature to me and it seems to me that the applicant is not able to provide the information required in section three which is um the trucking room, the vehicles proposals, the destination of material, stuff of that nature.

If um I guess in that sense it's sort of a chicken and egg what I have a suggestion for. But um I think what they with the applicant um before they're ready to commit to the design they need to you know that the the board is comfortable with special permit. Now reflecting on what you're saying with the the route and all and understanding that's with the up to a vendor at this point um what I would suggest would be the hearing is open that if uh We anticipate the information in 2026, spring 2026, we can continue the hearing. But I think I think what I think in all fairness to the applicant uh that the board has been clear what they want from the applicant. On the other hand, the applicant I'm sure needs a level of certainty to proceed with the design. So what I would suggest would be if if at the moment the best solutions would seem to be a continuence. I don't think um if I think if they had designed it and come back with um a plan and and it was not um approved by the board for whatever reason, I think that would be an issue too. So I think that would be fair all around, but I'm happy to hear the board vote on it. It sounds to me like what they what you guys want is primarily from the going to be supplied by the vendor.

This is just what our language of the special permit says. It's true. So it's true. Um and I I don't think it's a heavy lift. I just No, I'm just saying the timing doesn't seem right cuz it seems the applicant will have all the information that's required at some point of time in a year in the in a year before it starts. Yeah, a year before it starts. So,

yeah. So per I mean would the board be open to continuing it and uh continue it say just absent I mean if we go if we continued it we have we can do whatever the board pleases and I think that way the we we certainly um it's pretty clear you know that the vendor would would be able to provide this information when they're procured. um the the the plans did note that you know the vendor had been procured to but uh having never done this I I see your point. However, um to be clear personally I agree that the applicant will provide design suitable and consistent with an industrial utility facility that is in the res in the vicinity of residential units. I just feel like we should see something more specific about the concerns that I have specifically related to the transport.

I'm number three basically. Yes. Um how long is a special permit good for? Uh this well this is would be run with the land. This one not this is not a two-year special kind of something like that. Okay. No, this is not a renewal. This is a um issuing this special permit. Um my inclination is to continue until the information that's required is can be provided. Well, if we continue to date certain then we don't have to revertise. So if we can continue like we said till you know

whatever you want I just keep track of it and and I mean so let me let me do this um to the board big picture besides the information that's being requested in item three of special hermit criterion is there any other things you would like to flag for this for the applicant um that that that you would be concerned with and how folks think. I'll just ask a few questions. Did you guys anticipate dewatering groundwater at all for this work?

No. Groundwater um when we did test beds out there wasn't even presented at at 10 ft and the excavations are are going to be shallower um than that depth. Uh what was the out outcome of the tonight's uh conservation commission hearing? We didn't have a chance to hear it. Uh they they went ahead and approved the storm water management permit users. Okay. So you're done with them. Okay. Yes.

Is it clear while the board is considering is it is clear what what they want from our um criteria the information Uh so if if I understand correctly, it's just currently related to the items listed on the staff report in in item number three that the board is looking for some additional clarifications before um they can comment and provide condition for for the special permit. Is is that my understanding?

Yes, that's that's a good understanding. Okay. And there are no other there are no other items that are listed here for the the supplement to the special permit that that the board would like us to to provide additional comment on. I did have a few more questions um unless others wanted to Okay. Um, generally speaking, it sounds like you're not going to change the grades of the site much or to a significant um a significant change.

There's no significant change to the grades. No. Okay. And does this work present any change of of grade or any during construction or final conditions that would create storm water running off site differently than it currently is? No. it currently the the site is is really a bowl in in for grading. Um so everything storm water actually goes into the site and then into the trapstone and it will continue to do so um following construction of the improvements.

Okay. Um just as more of an FYI when we get to the ends of this um a few conditions that I would consider would be that stock piles are required to be covered um when not in use. So that's either when you're not generating the stockpile or specifically overnight and over the weekends, stock piles would need to be covered at all times. Um that debris, soil debris and construction debris does not migrate onto the roads. So if that requires a street sweeper or something else, that's just what's going to be required. And that earth work is during common hours from 7 to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those are the conditions that I would consider. And I wanted to just review those ahead of time. No, understood.

You have any of those conditions? the only one, and I I'll let others at at Eversource speak to this, but I I do know at at other Eversource facilities, the covering of stockpiles. Um, you know, there there has been, especially with substations and electrical equipment, there has been some concern with um coverings and, you know, potential for for those coverings to come undone and or um tear and and other things that could potentially lead to um issues with co-mingling with the the electrical equipment. I again I not an expert not electrical engineer or anything like that. I'll let others speak to that but I I do know that there is some concern with coverings or I have heard concerns with coverings at other facilities.

Thank you Aron that is correct and the way we've mitigated that in the past is that we hold the soil as we work. We don't have any excess soil on site or that remain for the next day. So we hold as we as we work within the substation. Okay. Would you be willing to um accept a condition that no stockpiling is required on site or no stockpiling longer than say one week is is allowed? We would we would be able to accept that. Okay. All right. Thank you. Um any other concerns

that we'd like to flag for this team right now? Bill, are there any public comments online? I'll open this up to public comment. Um, no. So, there's no me. So, that entire list online is all from the That's all. No. Um, any public comments here tonight in the room? Um, Bill, just for the record, there are no public comments being entered at our time. I presume you have no comment. Um, should we continue till when the

Well, I'd leave it to the applicant. These when would what I I I have the spring 2026. You anticipate you're going to have most of the information. What would you think is reasonable? The board has given you a level of of, you know, certainty with this. I think would make you comfortable to move forward. uh what do you think is uh a realistic time frame for you to get this information from the vendor? Seems to be three or four issues and um what what what would you guys be comfortable with? I would say that that the advantage of the reason I'm trying to have a date certain is to keep you so you don't have to revertise or anything like that. We just say in you know but I mean we could do it in a week, we could do it in six months. You know what would be what would be comfortable for you?

Right now we at we at preliminary engineering. It takes uh three to four months to develop uh detr design and would need that detail design to work with uh other vendors like uh traffic management plan uh and soil management. Therefore, we're thinking uh not thinking but forecasting May June of 2026 if that works for the town. May yes, Bill, we can always go to the first meeting in May and then if Eversource isn't ready, they can send us a note and then yeah,

Eversource is not required to show up if we're just continuing from there. So that would be uh I have May 12th. Is that good for you guys? That works for us. If for some reason it's not there, you send a note. We'll just communicate and it should that way you can keep moving forward with your stuff and and um if the board is comfortable, I would say uh right now we have a a May 12th um planning board schedule. Hopefully it does a change. If it does, we'll have to advertise that.

All right. I will is can I just sorry can I get that that's confirmed by ever source May 12th. Does that work? Yes, that works fine. Okay. All right. I'll make a motion to continue this meeting to May 12th uh 2026 um at 7 approximately 7 p.m. I'll second that. All in favor of the continuence, please raise your hand. That's 50 to continue. Thank you. Thank you Molly and team. We appreciate your time. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Thanks for your time. Thank you. Thank you all for your time. All right.

Is that our longest continuence? We should put a load on this push permit. Oh, it just means that nobody's allowed to leave the board before then, right? We have to remain or something. Well, six are here, so we need four to remain. Better be nice to or they just have to file again. Um, all right. So, item three, Bill.

Yes. Okay. All right. Uh, I'll open up the public hearing for 39 to 43 Main Street. This is an application um for a special permit um for a sign. Do I have that correct? Yes. Okay. Um, just proceed, but for the record, can you just introduce yourself? Sure. My name is Zor Teas and I'm here representing 39-43 Street mayor. Thank you. Bill, do you want to give us a brief on this first and then turn it back over to Mr.

Sure. Um, this is kind of an unusual situation that we've run into. The bottom line is the determination was made several years ago that a mural is not a sign. uh neither is a a photograph that doesn't specifically relate to a brand or business. Um this fell under a sign um it it should have had a sign permit uh because it does involve a sign. Uh it's a the vibe I think is is you know right with the downtown overly district and this sort of thing but the bylaws require uh a um special permit for sign that exceeds the size limitations for the district and the zoning bylaws allow the planning board to uh provide relief from the sign um regulations and in this case um you know it's up to the board but to the building commissioner has cited the applicant uh and um without planning board relief um it could result in a fine or removal of the sign. um staff's uh position in general was that it's consistent with the downtown overlay district and that um and I believe that um the building commissioner didn't have any real problem with the sign itself other than the size. So with that um uh the the relief requested would allow

for this particular sign, not any sign, just this particular one. They should have had a permit originally, but um and um so these are the you know dimensions 3 by 19 ft and the um uh well that's that's I think that's pretty much it. I'm going to let Z speak if there's any other issues on that. Okay. So, um, having been around town for, I don't know, from 1989 or 90 or so until today in one form or another, um, you know, I've seen the town, um, continue to change to invest in the community. Um, and, um, I've certainly been involved in a lot of families connection to this community um, through the work that I do. And so, um, you know, I look at that looked at that location as a location that has a lot of turnover, has a lot of restaurants, uh, has the food pantry, it's a lot of people passing through that one section of town, and it seems to be incredibly active. I think I think having we heart Maynard, we love Maynard as a as a message to the entire community, whether they're walking down the street, whether they're visitors to the community, whether it's a kid riding a bike down the street, I think sending a message that there that could create some town pride, that could create um um you know, deeper connection for those who don't live in the community could create curiosity about all the

attributes that this town has had over all these years. And um so my my hope and aspiration in putting up a sign that can be seen that says we love Maynard um would just help send a message to this community that we can have some pride about about this this town and all that it has to offer. And um and I think the downtown district is a rare district. You know, you look at surrounding towns, I think it's an incredible district and it's got unique opportunity for activity, walkability, and all these other things. And I think so many things are going on in the art scene. I think a lot of things are going on in just the the you know, the type of monthly planning that goes on with the boards. But I think sending a message to to everyone that this is a town that you can love. Um and being able to have a building where you can see it um I think can cannot do anything bad. You know, it can't do I don't think there's a downside to saying that we love this town. So, um, so I hope and and compel the board to, you know, to to approve something like this, uh, only because I think it it it's a way to for everyone in the community and connect to it and send a message that it's a great community to live and to invest in. Um, whether you're in the retail, the restaurant scene, whatever you're trying to do here, whether you're an artist, all of it. I think it's creating some curiosity is a good thing and if you live here already it's good to know that we love the town.

Well, thank you Mr. Alas. Yeah. Um, Bill, we're only talking about the we love or the weark manard on the top. Correct. That's correct. Not not the language on the building in front. No. No. Okay. And uh this type of special permit is for size and letters in a sense. So me

no we can't we it would be to allow a sign as proposed which we would in this case we know what a sign is so this would be part of the decision and but it would it exceeds uh it would be special to allow a sign that exceeds um the uh maximum square footage allow for individual size. And it's as proposed. So it couldn't change to weart actton, right? And that would require Yeah, we would put that there. Just no. Oh, act subsidized. No, we wouldn't do that. Can we include both this photo and the dimensional photo as exhibits?

I I'll I typically with this sort of application, I just uh include the application as an exhibit. All right. Um questions from the board. Can you bring up a the joint language that requires this special per is the sign already up. It is right now. Yes.

How How long's it been there? Um, I don't know couple maybe a lot of month involvement and I've got an amazing community feedback on that side. I've had so many people say that they they love it. And you know, it's it's it is a version of a mural. You know, it's made out of old metal tin and it's not, you know, it's not a sign for to promote anything other than loving the community. It's not painted. You can paint I guess you could paint a mural the same way, but it's it's a play on that, you know. It's it's just

anybody dislike it. I have not had one negative comment about that side and and actually the businesses around that around have have actually you know people have reached out to me and said that they that they love it. You can think about sitting across the street and just looking across the street and seeing that seeing the food pantry next to it. I think there's a lot of messaging there that can only be good messaging for a community. I saw it while eating at the PC. There you go. Outside gazing. Yeah. Down the street as one does. Could you read it or make it bigger

and all other Well, yeah. I've got I'm going to pull up Rick's original letter, but I think that was when he had the beef, but that uh no individual permanent sign show 24 square ft. And this is what do we say? 5 by uh what was it? 30 by 19. So yeah, what 57 make sure that the words say it needs a special permit. That's all the way to be fair. 6 to 11. Yeah.

Well, no. 6 to 11 doesn't apply that section. There you go. Section six away from side and there's just two there's two circumstances. They can't either those So, anything having to do with science can be relief for the special permit? Is that what I was saying?

Except those two, the planning board may not wave the requirements for clearance or projection distance for a projecting sign. Does that mean like a backlit sign? What does talking about backlit? What does a projecting sign mean? probably like overhang probably in definitions but no I assume it's the blade signs taken out but oh projecting from the building uh okay and the planning board may not that is what a projecting sign is but it doesn't give us any guidance on special permit criteria so we no following our stuff with us but error

we can just grant relief um the planning board may not wave any requirements of the Massachusett State Building Code. Well, well, yeah, that's working. Okay, where' go any other questions? No, not here. What are we What are we moving? Um I I don't know. I think he's trying to get the letter from the engineer. Yeah. Yeah. Um we got to find it consistent with 104.

We should do it. He's already I don't the staff report that said we don't report. Um we're trying to approve this. We just don't know how. Thank you. Sorry. This one is new for us. Yeah. You're not interesting. Can you tell us what to say? Oh, sorry. Um, can you check if there's any public comments? There's, for the record, there's no no members of the public in the room to provide public comment. We just need to check online. Uh, there is. There is no members of the public. There's nobody online. Nobody.

All right. So, um, so if the board do that any other questions, my suggestion would be this. Um if the board is inclined to grant um which staff staff run this um if the board is inclined to grant this it would be a special permit for this particular sign and that it is um allowed to be maintained there and is and um excluded. It's not included with the other signage for tenants. I mean, ten the tenant signage is already up. So, that's sort of line there. But, uh, are you full? You're full right now, right?

Mhm. Yeah. So, any time any signs are just short flop anyway? No. Yeah. No more signs. Yeah. So, um, yeah, that would be for this. And and if the board was inclined, I'd say I would I would keep this plan with it and and I think that it I think it's good for the downtown district. staff is uh the office has received no complaints at all. Just a question of doing it the right way and getting the permit.

No, that didn't help at all. Uh we're looking for the motion. What's the motion here? Oh, motion would be uh that the criteria special permit is uh there's no criteria for special permit though. Well, with the science special, but that that you're considering and this it says it says the provisions 6.2 and and um so we just read it just right. It's social. So this section here references Oh, it does. It does. Yeah. Okay. So, all right. How about Yes.

How about this? I I motion that we approve a special permit for the WeHeart Cannard sign as presented in the exhibits um binding it consistent in accordance with section 6.21 21 and section 104 second bill. Good. Good. All right. All in favor of the motion, please raise your hand. 50 to approve the motion of the special. Thank you for coming in. Thank you. Appreciate that. Thank you.

I will um I will email the building monitoring notes. I'll draft the decision agenda. There's an appeal period. I wouldn't be issued by this, but I'll I'll email it tomorrow so everybody knows something. Thank you so much. Thank you everybody. Thank you.

We have a minute. I have a few. The 23rd minutes are easier than the N. on the 23rd. My name is spelled on the last page. No, it's Mrs. Rober. Oh, and I don't Oh, there's a weird YouTube guy named Rober and I don't need to be associated.

Oh. the side comment for um

other projects such as like the 151 lane wave. We had to put it we had to put a condition in here and have this 3W stipulation stipulations but it wouldn't have had to if they were on the final. So, oh wait, so DPW stipulations that were provided in writing with a condition on one of our approvals, I'm saying if they put it on the plan, they don't have it would be nice if they did.

That's a good phone. I think we can put that we need regulations update. Um Oh, that reminds me. Okay. to approve the minutes of set.3 as the

thanks that all in favor of approve point 5 obviously we continued the hearing with his comments but it's just not do we have do we have some tech difficulties at for the for the um bass. No one once. We just have a note here that said the video cuts out. Oh, the video cut out. Remember, but I'm sure we continue.

Yeah, I have I have the tape or the audio or the uh it's probably missing some more discussion. listen. Um, but we did continue because that was continued to what summer street was. Yeah, this this is the meeting minutes for September 9th. So, the meeting was was we held a hearing on the 23rd as well. So, this was definitely continue. Where did you show up to the meeting? Why did I start it? Yeah, I showed up late for some reason. I don't know. Yeah, you you show up in the discussion.

I have a discussion. I'll find out. I'll I'll add the continuence. I I'll look at the transcript. I have the transcript. They cut out that night. Yeah. But I kept the recording. I haven't recorded until better. But but the issue with when when Chris showed up I guess Mark stopped voting. Yes. To make that clear where we have we have it shows up on top page three.

I entered stage left at some point. I don't know. doesn't say he came in late in the present part. It's before the best. I think it was you can throw it in here before the best thing. You might have opened that. Who knows? He did open the Okay. So, if he opened this then he showed up here. You can say Chris showed up showed up in the middle. Chris showed up in Mark stopping. They did shake him down for downtown.

That sounds like Yeah, it really does. Mark, remember that, right? The shake down. The shake down $5,000. Yeah. Yeah. Still suffering. We like to do our shakedowns under fluorescent light. Yeah. Okay. I got those changes back.

My edits would just be I just see what I put the Chris Show marking and then continue. Um I would mark continue motion and if there's anything else and um thanks. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from September 9th as discussed tonight, including the edits that Bill Lens will make. All in favor to approve the amendments, please raise your hand. That's

yeah 50 approved as amended. Right. Um well I gave you a couple of our um and so we that's good one. Um thank you again for meeting last night as well. Um I uh I'm going to set Chris is going to work with me on the best right on the bump. Oh yeah.

And we have to figure out I I need to get with him and figure a strategy and to get timely responses and get one um we'll get one working copy and we'll let our board that everybody can access and I'll put it I'll I'll find whether whether uh Dropbox or Google Docs works or whatever or the one drive or whatever works. I'd like to do the same thing with you Mark, but we need to we we're going to do a little differently. Um, we're going to work in the in the um when when it's announced, we'll get you involved in the process of selection. We're going to want probably a board of um or not a board a um a subgroup from of residents. I think on the last um production plan, Bill, you you were on that, Chris was on it. I think hous we try to get a cross-section before I don't remember but but uh now the last thing I I have is um you guys uh went through the subdivision regulations with me and we had some changes and right now it's with D there would MVP wait MS4 MS4 um language was added to our subdivision regulations. We've been through it once briefly. Bill had some comments, but I've got it with DPW right now for their general comments. Uh my plan is that as soon as DPW gets sent back, it'll have everybody's comments up to ours and then we'll go over one more time and make sure it's what um we think reflects our subdivision, what's practical for our subdivision is. So that's I'm anticipating that will go in the spring as well. And um for the best

um there is Zoe's going to be the point for the best and there is a draft best firewall that our council gave us but there's also one from the state now that came in. So, um, the models there, we just have to figure out what we want to tweak and what makes sense and and, um, make sure we understand it. So, I think last night was a good it was a good plan to have that in there, you know, the the note getting something in there.

Yeah. Yeah. Um, and then the only other thing I have uh for us next So it'll be November 12th this week because we remember we have a Wednesday the Wednesday meeting. You're out I think. Uh November 12th. No, I'm here on the 12th. Okay. I'm Why do we have to change? Oh yeah,

there. and um that we have um 151 Main Street which is the small epsilon building the triangle parcel. Um we've been working with them. Um it should be really cool project that'll be coming in. Um I've been uh coordinating offline with a couple of you and and they've been working with us. So So hopefully um we'll have a really cool project coming in. It's going to be

engineering design on that. He has done a review. Yeah. You mean review? Yeah. Aesthetics. Yeah. I got that being done. Yeah. Um because they he he I appreciate what you did. The um the applicant um and as you may have seen, I think we wrote that out already. I'm sure we did. But you you'll see that there's just materials proposed and then kind of a blank slate because he he knew that we're going to want to make some changes. for it and he met with the um uh DAS design consult but they are not formally engaged to that further services but uh it should be cool. Um Zoe um is formatting our bylaws um just to get them tidied up a little bit. And then the zoning board, you may recall the zoning board of appeals. Last year we had a little exercise and the use table planning board versus zoning board of appeals and stuff and but they they the zoning board is asked to go through and make some suggestions. So then we'll look at that after and house cleaning type stuff.

We're going to take on more of their role. Is that what you're saying? I say no. I have no problem. No, no, no, no, no. They they just wanted the chair wanted to look at the formatting of some of the stuff. He felt some of his stuff. He want to make sure everything's clear for them. They can do the signs. Oh, that would be that be excellent. So anyway, yeah. Oh, don't forget tank man. Yeah. What are those for? Uh I don't know. Um to for the best by law, there's some groups that are interested in helping. Yes.

How do you want to handle that? Do you want us Do you want like the playing board team to prepare it and then circulate it comments? No. Say we make Chris plane go to everyone's meeting. Yeah, it's probably the best. Let's make Chris plan a working group. Yeah, I could we could select select some members. You needed me on here for six more months. You said, right?

I don't um that what's happened is here here's in the past. Here's what I think. I don't know. I just want to start with um we are very efficient timewise and discipline wise and getting stuff done. We just have to make sure everybody if we have a um somebody wants to help us it's timely and on our timeline it makes for town meeting. Yeah. Yeah. Here's here's an idea which is like end of January which is coming up. So here's my idea. You have done

you you could circulate a note to these committees and say um please pass along any ideas now. Um we prepare a bylaw. We sorry we we can um and then we can advertise that ahead of time. So there's a lot of time to review and comment. How say again we just we just give a lot of we give a lot of time for advertising. to advertise much ahead of time as we can provide so that folks can provide comment but then it changes too much we have to advertise it.

Yeah. Okay. Maybe that's a bad idea. I I the sustainability committee had indicated us to us that they were interested in it. So my once we decide on the base design um like if it's from council or whatever in the next couple days my suggestion would be start with them but just say that we have to have a back well there's a working group that I can do with the member of suscom on a nightly basis to discuss this the one you're married to cool man Can you just send them the stuff that we got the the the template? You know, the

Of course. Well, no, I'm not going to send I didn't want to send it because that's the stuff I want to make it on like a um you know, like where where if Chris you and Chris write it and then you show it to me and then you're all set. So, okay, great. Right. So, he's right. Yes. Do it on one drive because I'm trying. Um but you you have a Google account. You have to have Google for one drive, I think, right? No, Microsoft. It doesn't really matter. I'll go. Everybody uses one drive. That'd be great if you could do that. I can do Google, too. I don't understand it, but somebody You don't have to. Well, I Zoe will show you.

No, that now you go too far. See, now what happened is I thought, "Oh, well, I may be a little bit slower than than some of these guys, but and I went I'm like, Zoe, um, and Jim, I can't figure this out, but there's one bad thing." And you know what? They didn't figure they couldn't figure it out either. So, I'm like, "Do you want me to set it up?" Yeah. And so, we could all access it, Mike, right? I mean, I can give you access. You being able to access it a different story. Oh, we can't access it. No, he was being mean to you. Just let it keep rolling.

Zo and Bill hates one guy. I don't like get over it. Uh, so that's all I have, guys. So, we have some we got an Oh, yeah. Right. We got to do the ADU bylaw. I mean, I think our bylaw is basically going to be do the state rules, but you can't have more than one. get rid of it. There's no point. We have to have a lift. Only thing we can do now is lift the number. Well, I I'm tired now. See, they said they told us that we can't have the ADU because they they undid everything.

They undid they made the accessory units are our Yeah, I don't sure. Okay. Yeah, you're right. So, they undid everything that they told us through except the number. The only thing we can do now is deal with the number on each floor. I got the first one, by the way, yesterday. Oh, yeah. An old one being legit or a new one? No, it's a new one. Cool. Rick said that the attorney general came the other day. Did you see that? Huh? Attorney General. You actually shared that. What? Oh, yes. I saw her at that thing that I left. Yes, I did. You mean you left?

She I You met her? Yeah. No, I took her on heard all about it from Lindsay. No, Lindsay was like feel I made too much of a god zero of it, did she? No. No, she doesn't know what god zero means. So, I don't but I can tell context where what they're talking about. That's all I got. Guys, can I make a motion to close the meeting? All in favor to close, please. Thanks, guys. So, yeah. Uh, let me