Planning Board Meeting - April 6, 2026

It is currently 7:01 p.m. on April 6.

This is the town of Dartmouth scheduled planning board meeting. Before we begin, as previously stated, the planning board voted in public meeting to continue meeting virtually in accordance with the governor's 2025 extension of the virtual/hybrid open meeting option through June 30th, 2027.

These meetings are also being recorded.

We'll start with a roll call vote. Lori Miller present.

Margaret here.

Kevin Estes here.

Nick Cyclopis here. And Helio Rosa will not be present tonight, but has submitted a written statement to be used later in the meeting.

With that, it brings us to public hearing item number one. We're going to need a motion to open the public hearing.

Moved.

Second.

Motion made by Kevin Estes, seconded by Lori Miller to open the public hearing.

Kevin Estes.

Yes.

Lorie Miller.

Yes.

Margaret.

Yes.

Nick Psychopatis. Yes. Brings us to agenda item number one, which is an application for planning board special permit. We've seen this before. 813 State Road. And there was a letter submitted. Dan, do you want to take care of that? Do you want me to read that in?

Sure.

Um, as as discussed, um, they are working with the DPW um, in regards to um, their sewer connection. So, we have a letter dated April 1st, 2026 to um, address the chairman psychopatis.

We respectfully request a continuance from our scheduled meeting with the planning board on April 6, 2026 to the meeting on May 11, 2026. And this is signed by the applicant's consultant, Zenith Consultant, uh Jamie Besonet, PE manager and senior engineer. Um also with that letter, um there is an agreement to extend the statutory deadlines. It was set to um expire April 30th at the end of this month. Um so we

do have um assigned by the applicant's representative to extend that statutory deadline until um excuse me June 30th 2026.

Um so if if the board's in agreement um I will just need um the signature of chairperson Mr. Psychopatis to just come in and sign and date that.

And if the board is okay with all that, we would just be looking for um a motion to continue the meeting until the requested May 11th date um at 7 p.m.

I'll make that motion to continue this till May 11th at 700 p.m.

Second.

Motion made by Margaret, seconded by Kevin Estie.

Sorry. Oh, there we go. To uh let me repeat that. Motion made by Margaret and seconded by Kevin Estes to continue as requested application for planning board special permit 813 State Road to the requested May 11th 2026 meeting.

Margaret, yes.

Kevin Estes, yes.

Lorie Miller, yes.

Nick Cyclopus, yes.

This brings us to agenda item number two. Do we need do we need a motion to to the um to for the agreement to extend the statutory deadlines?

Is that in place now, Dan?

No, I will need you to come I just need the signature of the chairman to come in to the to the office to sign that.

So if none of the board members have any issues with that, I just need you to come in and sign that agreement.

Great. Great.

All right, that brings us to still public hearing agenda item number two, the proposed warrant for article um for the article for June 2nd regarding Dartmouth Town meeting as a result of our art article 24 changes in site plan review. Um Brian Cruz, attorney Brian Cruz, thank you for joining us this evening.

Certainly.

And Dan, do you want to get started with that or um Sure. So, let um we can just give a a brief overview on um the history of where we're coming from on this on this um request for the public hearing. Uh actually, first of all, um would anybody like to make a motion to wave the reading of um the legal ad or would you like me to read it in for the record?

U motion to wave the reading of uh the public notice for the uh the article.

We have a second.

Second.

Second.

Motion made by Kevin Estie, seconded by Margaret to wave the reading of the legal ad regarding the article 24 site plan review agenda item number two.

Margaret, yes.

Kevin, I'm sorry. Kevin was second, correct? Yep. Lori Miller, yes.

Nick Cyclopus, yes.

Okay. Um so just just a brief overview.

Um article 24 as it's currently in the bylaw um has been on on record for about 10 years. Um we've started looking at it looking at what needed to be updated. Um started with um all like all applications in the town permitting goes through our portal system. Um so some of the requirements requirements um needed to be updated in that. Um, we also, as the board knows, some of our off-

streetet parking requirements um are a little outdated to current industry standards. So, we wanted to take a look at that. Um, so when we started getting into that, we started also looking at the storm water regs um needed to be referenced properly because now there's a storm water bylaw. Um, so what we did, this is going back um to August of last year, we started with a a workshop at a

concept review meeting. Um, we had members from various different boards that provided feedback um to what we were looking to do for to update these regulations. Um, Miss Miller came on too as a board member for these discussions.

Um, shortly after that, we sent it to town council for the first review.

um had had comment back from town council.

Looking into one of the main um concerns that was raised um during our workshop and during our first regulations um was something that had been ongoing for the past few years which was the ability to have some flexibility in the regs i.e. if the board could give waivers. Um, so after some research and discussion on that, um, we looked into taking some of what was in the bylaw and creating regulations, um, that could

then be addressed via, um, those discussions. So, we created site plan review rules and procedures that were coming into that. Um, those were sent to town council earlier this year in January. Um, so that's kind of just a brief um, backstory on that. Um, like I said, with with with those regulations on board, it gives the board a little more um, regulatory authority. Um, we're seeing a lot of applications going to

zoning board of appeals and then by the time the planning board had it, we were kind of already locked into some decisions made by the ZBA. Um, this is extremely helpful too for redevelopment.

Um, and this goes into, you know, what we've talked about with the master plan for looking at redevelopment um to to further those goals. Um, so from there, we also developed a um draft rules and regulations. Um, I also have u Mr. Ross Cuddy here with us so he can give a little quick breakdown on what some of the changes that we pulled out of article 24 and which will be um incorporated into those new regulations

if if the um changes to article 24 um are passed at town meeting thank you so much Ross would you like to proceed with that love to thank you so for the board members as a summary and for anyone listening with interest in this potential article.

Essentially what Dan was saying, section one of the proposed regs would contain the preliminary plan option if someone would like to come in and attend a concept review meeting ahead of presenting a full uh site plan review application as well as the contents of the final site plan. What what needs to be uh considered a complete application would be in there. And then the plan submission process essentially how many

hard copies to bring the fact that it's on the portal now would be um in the regs from section one and the aspect that would remain in article 24 from this se uh section would be the application review such as the amount of time how much time other departments have when it needs to be scheduled and when there needs to be a decision that would be what remains in article 24 regarding that um pertaining to off-

streetet parking regulations There would be the design standards would be moved to the regulations, construction, vehicular circulation, pedestrian and bike circulation, bicycle parking, drive-thru facilities, loading, storage and disposal, driveway and curb cuts, fire lanes, handicap parking, and signage. Um, aspects of off- streetet parking regulations that would remain in article 24 would be the parking table.

So, how much parking is required per type of use? Um, the option for a special permit in reduction in parking, parking facility setbacks, um, the aspect of enclosed structures, there's certain aspects of driveway and curb cuts that are to remain as well as ADA compliance.

Uh, the section three of the proposed regulations would be the landscaping section 24.4 from article 24 as exists today in its entirety. Um section four would be drainage in its entirety which is essentially now summarized to just reference the general bylaw that the DPW uses for their um drainage. Then section five of the proposed rags would be lighting in its entirety which is 24.6

and then section six of the proposed regulations would be the aspect of a consultant fee if needed. Uh so to summarize the sections that are to remain in article 24 if this was to go through would be purpose and applicability procedure the aspects of off- streetet parking regulations that I mentioned are to remain um architecture conditions and just the aspect of the regulatory authority in the planning

board via the regs that would exist if this all was to go through. Thank you.

Thank you Russ.

At this point, Attorney Cruz, do you want to share or shed any light on what Dan and Ross have proposed so far?

Uh, I'd say they've summarized it very well. Um, unless there are particular legal questions. Um, I don't I don't feel the need to just duplicate what they've said. Um, so if there's any anything you have questions on, I'm happy to answer it. But, uh, they have summarized it very nicely.

Thank you so much.

Uh, Mr. Mr. Chairman, if I could just add one thing, please.

Uh, for anybody listening or watching this at a at a later time, um, a copy of the proposed article 24 regulation changes are on file at the town clerk on the website under the the planning board tab and also available in our planning department office um, for viewing.

Great. Thank you, Dan.

Is there anyone in the public that has any questions and or comments?

Correct me if I'm wrong. I do not see any activity from the public. Is that correct?

I do not see anybody.

Me neither. If it's fair, uh, in the absence of any activity, before we, the board chime in, I'd like to take a moment to read a statement that was, um, emailed to me on behalf of planning board member Helio Rosa due to his absence this evening. Can I read that now?

Unfortunately, due to the work travel commitments I have, I'm unable to attend tonight's planning board meeting.

However, I would like to offer my thoughts on one important matter before the board tonight. The planning board article 24 site plan review updates to be presented at town meeting. Over the last number of months, the planning board has deliberated modifications to the current site plan review requirements in the sole interest of meeting the current challenges that the town and our residents have in moving

important work forward so that we can be more effective in supporting the town of Dartmouth. The discussions have been intentional and thoughtful with a variety of input from all planning board members. The proper due diligence has been provided, including discussions with town council to ensure that anything put forward maintains the utmost transparency, legality, and best interests of the town. Our planning

department has proceeded with a level pro with a level of proactiveness and thoroughess to following through on its commitments to our fellow residents.

With this in mind, I fully endorse the changes proposed and feel that they wholeheartedly are in the best interest of the town of Dartmouth. I challenge the planning board department to carefully develop a communication strategy that will most effectively translate these value added changes to the community at large with appreciation for your and my fellow board members leadership your Rosa member of the

planning board.

Any other comments at this point in time or are we in a position to vote?

Um, I don't know if it's a really requires uh before the vote or after the vote, but if I may have a space for a little bit of time, the floor is yours.

Um, you know, as a town meeting member myself, and I I know some of my my fellow planning board members are also uh town meeting members. We're going to be voting on this.

A great deal of uh anytime something like this is brought before town meeting, a great deal of weight is put onto the opinions of uh FINCOM and uh and the select board.

uh their opinions are are uh advanced uh uh in writing to uh all town meeting members. So I think it's very important that we get in front of uh uh both parties uh and and describe what we've done, why we've done it, and how it's a step forward uh in advance of just sending it and and you know hoping that they uh they get on board with it.

Mr. Chairman, would you like me to just give a quick response to that?

Please. So, if if the board um so chooses to to re recommend this article, um I will then forward the the draft to the town administrator. Um he will prepare it for a future um select board meeting where I will go and present um the article as as described tonight. Um at that point, it it will then go to finance committee. they will um invite me in in the same situation to to give

you know what what what the purpose of the changes are and then they will be able to um hopefully vote to give their endorsement as well.

Great.

Thank you Kevin. Thank you Dan.

Anyone else?

If not, I believe we can entertain a motion at this point in time.

Uh, the motion would be I move that we Go ahead, Lori.

I move that we approve the article 24 and that we send it to finance committee. Uh, we send it to the town administrator to forward to the finance committee and the board of selectman and to pass on to town meeting.

Second motion made by Lori Miller to approve the proposed warrant article changes for article 24 as proposed seconded by Kevin Estes along with forwarding it to Lauri repeat that for me. The um town administrator whereby town administrator to forward it to the board of selectmen and the finance committee.

Finance committee. So, um, as proposed, the town administrator to the board of selectmen and the finance committee.

Mr. Chairman, can I just ask can I ask can I just add one one question? I don't know if attorney Cruz can comment on this.

Should we close the public hearing before we make that motion or can that motion be made and then close the public hearing?

You should close the public hearing first. Technically, you should close the public hearing and then make the public comment anymore. At which point, you guys can have a discussion. If there is no discussion, you can vote to order it all. Okay. So, that's what we'll be looking for first. The motion to close to close the public hearing.

Does Lori have to withdraw that motion first?

Um, okay. I'll withdraw the motion.

Motion withdrawn by Lori Miller.

Yeah. I'm so used to this being in a in a regular meeting that I forgot it was a public hearing.

So, the previous motion proposed regarding article 24 warrant changes is being withdrawn by Lori Miller, and we the board are now entertaining a motion to close the public hearing.

I'll make that motion to close the public hearing.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Motion made by Margaret, seconded by Kevin Estes to close the public hearing as of this evening, April 6, 2026.

Margaret, yes.

Kevin Estes, yes. Lori Miller, yes.

Nick Cyclopus, yes.

Now that we are beyond the public hear public uh hearing.

Yes. So now we can make a motion to recommend the article as presented.

So I move my I move the same motion.

The um motion made by Lori Miller to propose the warrant article article.

Yep. Article 24 site plan review changes and see that it reaches the town administrator and beyond including the financial committee as well as the select board. Motion made by Lorie Miller and I believe it was seconded by was it Kevin?

Uh yeah.

Yes, I think so.

Seconded by Kevin Estes. Lori Miller.

Yes.

Kevin Estes.

Yes.

Margaret.

Yes.

Nick Psychopus. Yes.

Great, Brian. Thank you so much.

Not a problem. I I uh Brian, thank you.

I'm glad we were able to get this done um earlier in the spring and so that you guys don't feel like you're under a gun now and that it it's a smooth process.

But while we said thank you to Brian, an equally large thank you goes out to Ross.

Yes, Ross.

Thank you, Ross.

Ross.

Oh, thank you. You're welcome.

Lot of hard work.

All right, we are at the administrative effort of tonight's meeting.

And I apologize, Mr. Chair. Dan, did you need me for anything else or am I That is it. Thank you for your time.

Appreciate it.

Have a good night.

You too.

Dan, can I proceed with the other subject?

You got it.

Yeah. So, uh, fellow board members, I I have a conflict, but I did not want that conflict to interrupt our public hearing. Based on the fact that the remainder of the agenda is administrative in nature, I'm going to bow out at this time, and I will catch up with you folks at the next meeting as well as report to the hall tomorrow to sign that document. Dan, sounds good. Thank you.

All right. I appreciate everyone. Thank you.

See you, Nick.

You're up, Lori.

I'm up. Okay.

The next um the next item on the agenda is an approval not required. P A NR-26-3 uh for 25 school street assesses map 118 lot 7. Dan, yes. This is um an application that was done, as you said, under PNR 26-3.

Um it's a ANR application. This was one that we saw as a planning board back in September of last year um to create these two lots. They are back before you tonight to slightly change the property line between lots one and two on the plan. Um they will still have the required frontage needed um in order to be eligible for endorsement under section 1.101.8 a of the Diamond subdivision regulations stating that

every lot to be created has frontage of the distance required by the zoning bylaw on a public street or street the town clerk certifies is maintained and used as a public street. Um so at this time I would recommend um endorsing the ANR as submitted ANR plan as submitted.

Do I have a motion on the floor?

Uh, I'll make a motion to uh accept the ANR as uh as submitted.

Second.

I have a motion um to approve the ANR by Kevin Estes and a second by Margaret.

Any further discussion hearing? None.

Mar Kevin yes Margaret yes Laurianne yes motion carries and that and that myar is in the office so it's ready for um all the three board members that just voted to come in and sign that next on the agenda is an approval not required PR-26-4 82 Milton Street This is map 137, lot 136.

This is um if I may, Madam Chairman, would you like me to?

Yes, please.

Thank you. Um this was on filed on the portal under PNR 26-4.

Um it's 82 Milan Street, also known as assesses map 137, lots 135, 1351, 135-2, and 136. Uh we added a a few sketches kind of into the U package so you could see how the existing lots via the assessors and how they were created um come into creating these these three lots, lot one, lot two, and lot three all have the required frontage um eligible for endorsement under the same section 1.101A

of the Dharma subdivision regulations.

Um, so this would be eligible for endorsement. Um, if I if I may, um, I see that Mr. Busher's on Buché is on the, um, on the meeting tonight. The only thing we did not have the myar submitted yet. Um, so you could vote to endorse it on the condition we received the myar. Um, I don't know if you would like to comment if that's something we'll be able to get um, for first thing

tomorrow morning if um, Madam Chairman would like to invite him in to answer that question.

Yes. Could we please recommend him? Uh recognize him.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Um for the record, this is Mark Bush with CAB engineering solutions. Uh we prepared the form a plan. Um and absolutely. I I did not realize that the myar had not been submitted, but um Dan will have it on your desk first thing in the morning tomorrow.

Excellent. Thank you. Um so madame chair I would um recommend endorsing um this plan as submitted.

Do we make need to make a comment um concerning the myar being delivered to the office?

Um you can you can you can you can make a motion to to approve the plan with a condition that the myar will be received tomorrow.

Any questions from the board?

I need a motion.

I'll make a motion to approve the ANR as uh as depicted with the condition that the myar be delivered to uh tomorrow on uh Tuesday, April 7th.

A second.

I have a motion made by Kevin Estes and a second by Margaret.

Kevin, yes.

Margaret, yes. Lori. Yes.

Thank you all. Have a good night.

Thank you.

You too.

Next on the agenda is do you want to go to the housing production plan first or do you want to go to ongoing discussion?

The ongoing discussion. That's just an item that the board recommended to keep on in case anybody had any new updates on that. Um, obviously the housing production plan is a key component of that um to come up with the the next step forwards. Um, so if you'd like me to just give um a brief update on the housing production plan. Um, the comments were addressed and included in the packet, the

revisions. Um if anybody has any questions on that, I know um Mr. Rosa is not here, but they cleared up some the abbreviations used that he had a question on and also kind of highlighted the pages 11 and 12 um that Mr. Rosa wanted to clarify. Um there was another note about um number two on page 13. I did talk to the representative from SERD. Um that is a requirement to have

that to get approval by the executive office of housing and livable communities. Um, so if the board is okay with those with those changes as is, it was recommended by the representative for sered. Um, just to I don't know if we need an official vote from the board, but um, just to recommend that, um, at this point in time, Sered sends this draft copy to the EOHLC kind of for for

pre-approval. make sure the language is all um appropriate because they're the ones that'll actually have to um have to accept the housing production plan as the town has created. Um so hopefully that'll expediate the process and then if they did have issues, they wouldn't have to come back to the planning board, select board and and redo this. So, um, at this time, like I said, I if every if

everybody's good with those changes, um, I would just, um, I guess probably just recommend a motion, um, to authorize SERD to send, um, this draft to the EOHLC for pre-approval review.

That was a lot of words.

that motion to forward it on.

Second.

A motion has been made to forward on the um housing production plan.

Made by Margaret, seconded by Kevin.

Margaret.

Yes.

Kevin, yes.

Laurianne, yes.

Next on the agenda, go ahead.

For for the minutes, um, we actually need the three people to sign it.

Unfortunately, one of them's Helio. So, I think it's in the best interest that we that we table the um approval of those minutes until the next meeting where we can have u Miss Miller, Miss Sweden, and Mr. Rosa um vote to approve those because those were the only three that were at that meeting.

Can I make a comment about these minutes?

Sure.

I do not like them.

Okay.

I think they are a shortcut. They are nothing like what our minutes have been.

They've always had a little brief notation about the motion. And if anyone said anything, this is I'm sorry. I do not app I'm not even sure I want to approve these minutes.

Okay. Do you want do you want to do you want to send me something of your concerns that I can forward to um the person we're having do the minutes now?

Well, if you take a look at our if you take a look at our past meeting, our past minutes, it will have um okay, a motion was made uh I'm trying to see here something about a motion uh to agree to sign extension. That one's not going to work.

It always had some comments under it. It wasn't strictly a motion was made, voted by, a voter was made, voted by. There was always some comments underneath the um motions um or before the motion, whichever it was done. Um you know, questions were asked or the following was discussed. So that if someone looks up these minutes, they can see what the board did other than just yes or no.

Do you understand me? No, no, no. I'm just I'm just I'm just rereading it just to try to gauge what what you're referencing.

Well, Dan, look under the subcommittee reports for for uh I wasn't going to say anything, but since since Larry brought it up, I think she's correct. Um Okay.

I think I talked about a little more than that.

Okay. Uh, so I think um I I think our minutes are a little bit skinny skinny. All right.

Okay. Skinny thin. It'll work.

Skinny, right? They're skinny. So, um, we need to have a little more so that if somebody comes in and looks, they don't have to go to DCTV and re look at the whole thing. They can get it more of a gist of what went on. Okay.

So, I think that maybe, you know, I know she's new. I don't know who's doing them, but maybe she's got to put a little more meat in it.

Okay. Yeah, I can take I can take a Had had you noticed this with previous um minutes or was this the first time you had concern?

I can't speak for Lori. I'm going to speak for myself, but this was very noticeable. Okay. Okay.

Yeah, the previous the previous meeting minutes have had some meat to them, right?

Um if someone asked a question, it was it was mentioned, you know, a question was asked and a discussion followed and whatever. There was some meat to it.

This has no meat to it. You know, a motion was made. Period. Dumb. Okay. So, what happened? No one talked about anything. There was nothing spoken.

There was nothing discussed. It makes it sound like we had a meeting for 15 minutes and a motion was made and nothing else was done.

Do Am I explaining myself? Good, bad, I'm not sure. Yeah, I I I I I that's why I'm just kind of asking if you had seen this before because this this last meeting was in my opinion a little a little um less I don't I don't want to say communication, but there wasn't a lot of back and forth at this meeting. So, that's why I don't know if if that's something you would notice in the past

that I can go back and take a look at to compare. Um we've never had anything like this in the past.

Okay.

I I I may be wrong, but I don't ever remember having anything this short before.

Yeah, I don't I I don't remember much discussion on these items, so that's why I I really can't comment of of what's missing. But if I knew if I if I go back and look at a few other ones, I can I can see if if that was a if that's um something just that's that's a that's a I want to say habit. What's the word I'm looking for? That's uh verbose.

Excuse me.

Were you looking for the word verbose?

No, I was just saying if this is a common practice of just being limited in in the in the minutes. Um but I I I will go back and take a look at at the past few and I'll look at ones prior um to the current um minutes person and I will I'll get back to the board on it.

Thank you, Dan.

Thank you.

But regardless, we wouldn't be looking we wouldn't be looking to vote on these minutes anyway.

Okay. So, we'll put this on the next um next agenda.

Yeah. Yeah. We can just table it till the next one.

Um because actually Okay. So, I was here, Margaret was here, Helio and Kevin. We're going to need No, we'll have enough votes. Okay.

So, let's we're just going to move to put this on the next agenda.

Correct.

Okay. So, I need a motion to um approve and file all correspondence from the city of Far River, town of Freetown, and the city of New Buffett and town of Westport.

Uh motion to acknowledge and file.

second.

Um, do we have a motion motion to to actually uh postpone the the vote on the the minutes?

No, we're just going to we're just going to table those till the next till the next meeting.

Got it.

So, I have a motion on the floor. Um Kevin SC's Oh, sorry.

Yes.

Margaret Sweet.

Yes.

Um Lori Miller. Yes.

Old in uh for your information, old business.

Um anybody have anything about any subcommittee reports?

No, but I I will ask this um to uh our chair, I'm sorry, our uh planning board. Um, Jan, I guess the next meeting we will be voting the 14th.

Is it 14th? Oh, no, the 27th. Next planning board.

27th. Yeah, we can we can start the process of uh the new the new representatives to the different uh boards.

So, until that time, we all staying where we are until Yes. until that vote. Yes.

All right. Thank you.

Dan, do you have the floor?

Uh, for the planners report, one thing I wanted to bring up to the board, like we had talked about, um, with the site plan review bylaw, um, it is been brought to us that the town should look into battery energy storage um, bylaw. So, we'll be looking to set up a a workshop to start looking into what that would entail. Um my vision is it's going to be very similar to the ground

mounted um solar panel bylaw in town. Um we've talked with um the building department, the three fire chiefs in town, board of health would want to be interested in that. um like we did with with the site plan review. Um like to open it up to if any board member would like to be a part of those discussions because that'll be something um we'd be looking to the planning board would be

um looking to bring that forward as a warrant article for a future town meeting. Um talking with town council, this is something we should be pushing along um fairly quickly, hopefully even for a fall town meeting. Um, so this is why I wanted to bring it today um to the board. Probably would be looking to have our first meeting um in May most likely like we did for again the article 24 meetings. Um, we we could

look to all the department heads meet for a concept review meeting on May 5th and May 19th, which is a Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. So, I don't know if any board members um would be interested in attending one of those meetings if we can get that scheduled for one of those dates.

I would be okay.

I'm very interested in that battery storage.

Yes. So we I mean for like I said from from our standpoint the fire chiefs are very interested because of fire suppression needed um for these things water availability.

Um from our standpoint we like I said we'd kind of be mimicking the ground mounted um solar panels looking where you'd sit these if you would limit them to outside residential districts. So things like that we'd be looking to um to incorporate into a a new bylaw.

Are these uh larger scale or are these uh and I I I seem to recall that we addressed this already so forgive me if I we have but yeah the I it's my understanding and if anything changes I'll be sure to report back to the board but um these are things that are going to be going into effect um in November. They have some draft regulations that the state's working on now. So stuff coming before

the state in November regarding um kind of stuff that u Mr. Est you saw Serpetta talking about from the DOE about the kind of like the one stuff. So this would kind of fall into it. From what I understand this is um energy storage systems that are associated like with with um the the ground mounted high-capacity solar solar fields. Um, we've also had somebody come to a concept review meeting that was looking

to do something on Fawn's Corner Road.

Um, Ross, was that do you know if that was from Eversource that those people came in?

Um, that was was that a couple years ago?

No, this was a couple months ago.

Few few months back. I don't remember exactly when.

I think it was I I I want to say it was.

Yeah. So, it's it's definitely something that's going to be that's going to become um more prevalent. So, it's definitely something we want to get ahead of as a town to look into this because of course came before us. That was when when a board member was allowed to go uh to review.

I know, huh? We can't don't want to bring that up, but I did.

Um, and I asked questions of Eversource uh because they had a a battery array that they were uh they were rebuilding a or expanding a uh a substation and there was some a battery area that they they were expanding and I just started to ask some questions about it.

It could be. Um, we haven't seen them because right now it's just it's just something that goes to the building department for for a for a commercial building permit. Um, so this is what this is one of the reasons why we want to um start this process to take a dive into what we'd be looking at.

Um, Dan, may I ask a question? It's not pertaining to the commercial batteries, but I was reading that um in the future, not too far away, that people who have solar panels are going to be able to have batteries uh that will uh that will, you know, maintain what they need. Like when you have a snows for three days, they still can get. Now, aren't those batteries have the fire chief said anything about

those kind of batteries? cuz I would imagine those batteries are kind of you have to be careful with those kind of batteries too.

We've only had real preliminary conversation just to kind of get the ball rolling on who would want to be part of this committees. Um that is not what I believe they're talking about for these but I don't know if that's something that incorporated in No, I'm just I'm just curious if anybody mentioned this. Yeah, because that's that's going to be coming down the pike, too, because I've been reading all

I think I I think they're already starting to give credits for people that want to install them in their house.

I was going to say that that's happening today.

Yeah.

Well, I wonder what the fire department I mean, you must have to file something with the fire department, shouldn't Yeah, I'm sure it must be as part of the building permit. There must be review by the by the appropriate fire chief.

No, I'm Look, on my street, there's quite a few people who have it. They already have it.

So, if they want to put the battery now, they're gonna have to Are they gonna have to go before the fire department?

That's my question.

My guess is it goes to the building department and the fire chief's allowed to comment on it, but I'd have to check.

Can Can you ask building commissioner for me, please?

Yep.

Thank you, Dan.

So, that' be for that' be for residential uses. Well, residential, but you got to understand out here, uh, it's all a volunteer fire, right?

So, I think that's kind of an important question to be answered.

Okay.

Just out of curiosity, and this isn't really relevant to the battery, but when you say go to the fire chief, we have a number of different fire districts, right?

Yep.

Is there a single chief that presides over all the districts?

No. That the whatever whatever district it's in, that fire chief gets notified as part of the portal application.

Okay. So, if you wanted to get the opinion from the town of Dartmouth for all the fire departments, you would have to go to each district chief.

Yes.

Yes. So, like like when we just had this con this last concept review meeting, um one of the fire chiefs asked if this could be brought up for discussion. So, um, Ross and I invited all three to come to that to that concept review and that's when we started discussing what the steps would be to get the ball rolling on on the battery energy storage system bylaw.

Got it.

Step ahead of me.

Thank you.

So, just just just to just to sum up on that one. So, the board's in agreement.

Margaret would be the representative.

And Margaret, when we're ready to to start this, we will add you to the group mailing list, email list for scheduling that.

Oh, I don't know if the other people agreed. I I just volunteered. I I mean, I don't want to if somebody else wants to do it, I don't want to step on toes, you know. Okay. Find it interesting.

That's all.

Okay.

Uh, I have I have no issue. It's a matter of interest and if nobody else raised their hand, I would have, but um I'm I've got plenty on my plate.

Okay. Yeah, May 19th. Then let me know, Dan.

Yeah, it's as of right now, we're looking at either May 5th or May 19th, but I will when when when we get that scheduled and everybody confirms that it works, I will we will add you to the to the list. Thank you.

Yep.

Thank you, fellow board members.

And that's um that's all I have for the for the planners report for today.

Okay. I have something I would like to bring up. I guess I can do it under chairman's report. Um last year at last year at town meeting, we printed up a flyer and passed it out to town meeting members and a lot of them were very appreciative to get it. it was our goals and what we thought we would be doing for the um next year.

Um if the board approves, I would like to do that again this year and basically tell them exactly what we have done, how we've worked on um you know, article 24, we did rules and rags. I mean, there's a number of things that this board has done and worked on, and I think it would be um behoove us to let town meeting know exactly what we're doing.

I think that's a great idea, and I I was with uh Sarah testing the M testing the voting machines a couple of Saturdays ago, and I asked her about it because last time we didn't do it in time, remember? Uh Lori, we had Okay. So, she said, "Yes, that's fine. If we just give it to her, she'll put it in the package for us." Okay. We have to give it to

her, I believe, two weeks ahead of time, but I'd like to get it done, you know, if you want to get it done sooner than later, like for the next meeting. Lori, April 27.

I think that's a good idea. How do you feel, Kevin? Get the staff to come up with um proposal.

It's an outstanding idea. I think a lot of people say that they don't even know what the planning board really does.

I think this would be a great idea to say, "Hey, get these are the things that uh they keep us up at night."

Dupa dupa.

Margaret, did Sarah say when she would need that by Did I miss that?

Yeah, that I asked her because last time we didn't do it. And I think she said as long as we get it to her about um two weeks. So, I would say three weeks ahead of of a town meeting, I would say.

Okay. Yeah. So, if the if the board can get um some thoughts together on what they'd like to include on that, we can um we can have it as an item for discussion on the April 27th. Um and then the next meeting, let me just confirm that.

Well, can the board can can Dan can you and Ross come up with things because you're sure you would know you would have a better probably a better memory than some of us. exactly what we have done.

Yeah. Yeah. We can we can come up we can come up with Yeah. We can come up with something for April 27th. Bring it as like I said as an item for discussion to the board. If the board feels like there's something else they would like to add, that'll give us time. And then if there's any if they're all set with on the 27th, then great. If not, our next meeting would be the Monday, May

11th, that we could finalize it and get it to to Sarah the next day.

Well, great.

I I would love to have it all finalized on the 27th of April and then give it to her and make sure it gets in the package.

Okay. If we can do it if we can do it.

Okay. Well, I would I would I would say if any board members have anything that they would like to to email to to Ross and I.

Yes.

Ahead of time, we can we can start building that that list. A quick question to add to that. So last year's was what the planning board has in mind for the next year. Do you want this one to just be what we did over the last year or do you want it to be what we did and then what we hope to do for the next kind of is it kind of keeping that

tradition going of here's what's on our docket for the next year or is it just like following up on what we said we'd do the previous town meeting?

Yeah, I think we had we had goal like a goals list.

Yeah, we did. We did. So that I think we typically I mean correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we do we typically do goals for the year when we do the reorganization anyway?

You or is that is the goals at a different time?

We usually do them the the second week after we do Okay.

Um yeah, we don't do them because that that's a busy night sometimes. So it's sort of that's how it's always been when I've been there. It was that that would make sense for last year why we had it, you know, right before the meeting. That would make sense.

That would make sense. So maybe we'll just keep it to what we did and then maybe if there's a goal that we didn't get to, we'll put it back on. Well, I I think that our number one goal that that we've had and and will continue to have for a pretty long time, I think, unless some of the the referendums and legislation passes uh is affordability. So, I think it's important to say that we're we continue

to work on on creative ways to make our town affordable without sacrificing uh the the character and nature uh too much of of what Dartmouth is today.

Deal.

So, we could actually do that all on one page. We could do what we've done and what we hope to do in the future. I mean, I think that works. How do you do?

Yeah, I do.

And like I said, you know, if we if we if we do make a change on the 27th and we all agree, you have to add a couple of paragraphs, I'd like to get this to Sarah sooner rather than later. I'd like to it to go into the package. Okay.

We could always make the changes the next day and then email email it out, you know, hey guys, what do you think of this? You know, it's not like that needs a vote. Okay. If if we did need to go to the 11th, there's still three full weeks after that. So, yeah, if she's if she if she's I mean, I can check with Sarah, too, and say No, she told me as long as they don't

send the packages out uh like to 10 days before the Yeah. And I imagine it's just going to be one sheet that she just has to make.

Yeah.

So, I mean, I I I mean, I'm sure at some point before the next meeting, I'll run into her. So, I'll run by the idea we're coming up with, and if she says, "Yeah, you know, the 12th might be cutting it close," then we'll we'll we'll we'll do what we can do for the 27th and and leave it at that.

Thank you.

Sounds good.

Anything else to come before this meeting tonight, Dan Ross?

I believe that's it.

Only a motion to only a motion to adjourn. Madam Chair, do you making that motion?

I am making that motion, Madam Chair.

Second.

I have a motion on the floor to adjourn.

Margaret, yes.

Kevin, yes.

Laurianne, yes. We are done for this evening and our next meeting will be April 27th at 7 p.m.

Thank you. Good night everybody.

Thank you. Night.