Planning Board Meeting - June 22, 2026

Okay, at 7:00 I want to call to the order the planning board meeting of June 22nd 2026.

And this meeting the planning board voted to hold this meeting virtually in accordance with the governor's extension to June 30th, 2027 and this meeting is being recorded. Roll call. Helio?

Here.

Uh Kevin?

Here.

Margaret?

Here.

And I'm here.

And Nick is um absent this evening.

First thing on the agenda is site plan review for 411 Fance Corner Road, assessors map 63, lot 12.

Dan comments?

Sorry, my pen just died on me.

Um yes, so this is an application that the board has seen before. It was continued from a previous meeting. Since that last time we've met, we've received revisions from the applicant addressing um planning board's concerns. The latest revisions we had that are in your packet are dated 6/15/26.

Um since then over the weekends, they revised the plans again um for DPW comments.

And those were addressed satisfactorily to the DPW based on a letter I received today from the DPW engineering division.

But the plans you have in your packet are latest revision 6/15/26.

The only outstanding items from from those plans, um there were some landscaping plan revisions that needed to be addressed just to um slightly adjust some some planting locations based on utility um changes. And like I said at that time they were still working with the DPW engineering department. I believe their representatives are on. um They can discuss those issues, but like I said,

they're not in the packet. They weren't received in time for this meeting, but they did appear to address the landscaping concerns and the DPW concerns. So, in the board's if it's in the board's opinion, if they feel comfortable, I would be comfortable with an administrative approval authority to the planning director, but I'll let them discuss it and the board can can make their determination based on that.

Okay. The applicant has the floor. I'm not sure who's going to speak this evening.

Uh hello, it's Raymond Young from Southcoast.

Can you guys hear me?

Yes.

Yes.

Oh, perfect.

Um thanks for having us.

The to Dan's point, the we did make some revisions for the DPW comments.

Uh those landscape revisions and then there was one other one and I believe this morning Paul Duarte from DPW signed off.

He accepted those revisions and I think we are 100% complete with him.

Anyone else um for the developer want to speak?

Yeah, this is um Phil Henry with Civil Design Group. We had spoken with Dan and last week on some a few minor adjustments and we had agreed that we were going to request a condition to update the landscape plan pursuant to any DPW comments.

Dan, we we actually had time to update the landscape plan, so the most recent uh revision submitted 616 reflects the removal of that one tree uh that the board requested on the left side of the convenience store, and we've also up updated the landscape plan to reflect no, um, confliction with the the the newly added subsurface detention system system that the DPW uh, had had requested. So, so all in all, we we

would we think we've addressed the planning board comments or or the planning comments planning staff comments and, uh, the DPW comments. So, thank you.

Any comments from board members or questions?

Madam Chair, Yes, go ahead.

Just one one thing, the fuel tank trucks are all settled, that issue?

Dan?

Yes, they have they have room in the access aisles for for for being able to distribute the fuel into the tanks.

Okay.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Madam I have one I have one comment.

Um, the architectural plans that I see here, um, this evening of what you are going to build, Correct.

Thank you very much. I think it's a nice-looking building. I think it fits into the town of Dartmouth.

Um, and I'm I'm very pleased to see it. So, thank you and welcome to the town.

Thank you very much.

Any other comments from any members?

Nope.

Are we ready to vote on this?

So, uh, Madam Chair, if I could just real quick, um, so as, uh, Mr. Henry said, the the the landscaping plans were included. We looked at them briefly. Um, the plans you have in your packet are prior to that. So, if the board so chooses, it would just be you look it would be a vote to grant administrative approval authority, um, for this.

I don't see any issues with any of the plan updates, so but they just weren't submitted for for your review in time.

So, it would be a a granting of administrative approval authority at this time to the planning director if the board chooses.

And you are comfortable, Dan, right?

Yes. Yes. We There was very minor changes. I've I've I've looked at the plans. I think they made the changes um to address any concerns, but like I said, just because of the timing of it, we just received those um today. It would just have to be That would just be the way we'd have to do it administratively.

But, I don't see any issues with it.

It's very minor changes.

Thanks, Dan.

I agree. This is a This is a thoughtful uh presented plan.

Do I have a motion on the floor?

I'll move to grant administrative approval to um to the planning director.

I'll second.

I have a motion on the floor to approve the plan through um our planning director's approval, and I have a second. Helio?

Yes.

Margaret?

Yes.

Kevin?

Kevin, you have to unmute.

Kevin unmute.

Sorry about that.

I vote yes.

And Lori Lori-Ann votes yes, so the motion carries.

Welcome to Dartmouth.

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

Bye-bye. Thank you.

Bye.

Okay. Number two, site plan review for 57 Front Corner Mall Road, unit 65, assessor's map 183, lot 83. Dan?

Again, this is um a plan that the board has seen prior. There was some minor changes.

Um Um, were all addressed prior to the filing deadline on Wednesday, in my opinion.

Um, the couple of the outstanding items that we had talked about at the last meeting was a there was a a section of parking spaces that had faded out, but they were still shown on the plan in the back that would impact um, site plan review setback requirements, um, with the new building location. They have removed those spaces, so I think that's that's been addressed adequately. Um, and there

was also a note added to identify outdoor merchandise display areas with paint markings as well as a sound signage mounted to the building as requested. They updated, um, the the the correct um map and lot and unit number on the plan sheet. Those latest revisions were dated, um, June 16th, 2026.

They also, um, received comments from the DPW that all their concerns were adequately addressed, so at this time um, it is my opinion that you could, um, grant approval for a certificate of action if you so choose.

Is there anyone here this evening, um, representing the Big Y?

Yeah, yes, sir. Good evening, sir. James Downing from Hour Associates Hudson, um, project engineers. Uh, we are joined by Chris Elliott, um, from Big Y, who's the applicant. Um, we're also joined by, uh, Chris Serrano, uh, as well, uh, who represents the overall F and Key Point Partners, who represents the, uh, mall owner.

Do you have any further comments you would like to make or Uh, I think Dan summarized it. Um, you know, the comments we got the last time we were here, uh, we've addressed, um, working with Dan and the planning staff, uh, and similarly we addressed all of the comments associated with the, uh, with the DPW. Um, we submitted those revised plans last last Tuesday. Um, so I believe we're we're all set.

Any comments or questions from any board members?

[snorts] Uh, just one comment for me. Um, Madam Chair, uh, just a word of some gratitude to the applicant for, uh, listening um appreciating the comments that the board had and, um, and taking them into consideration with the revisions. So, um, certainly grateful for the partnership in getting this over the line.

Great, thank you.

Any other comments from anyone?

Um, I have one comment.

I'm going to miss the clock. I'm sorry to I'm sorry you had to I I realize you have to take it down and cuz you're using the whole building, but I I'm going to miss that clock.

And, um, but thank you and, um, for your due diligence and welcome to the town of Dartmouth.

Thank you.

Any Any other comments from anyone?

I'm going to therefore need a motion on this.

I'll make a motion to approve.

Helio made a motion to approve. Do I have a second?

Second.

And Kevin Estes made a motion to second.

Helio.

Yes.

Kevin.

Yes.

Margaret. Yes.

And Lori and yes. And welcome to town and what is your projected opening date?

Uh, we're looking at May of 27.

Oh, very good. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

Um, next on the agenda is site plan review, zero State Road.

Dan.

Um, this one, Madam Chair, that I put the email we received in your packet for a request, um, to continue this until the July 13th meeting. They are still addressing some comments with the DPW engineering department. Um, they are also scheduled, um, to have a peer review through the conservation commission, um, and they're in the process of the conservation filing. So, they have requested a continuance to our July

13th, 2026 meeting.

I need a motion on the Um, I need a motion from the board to continue the public to continue the hearing until 7:13 27 26.

Do I have a motion?

to continue the, uh, the application until 7:13 26, 7:00 p.m.

planning board meeting.

I'll second.

Okay, go ahead.

I have a motion from Kevin and a second from Margaret.

Kevin?

Yes.

Margaret?

Yes.

Helio?

Yes.

And Lorianne, yes, motion carries.

Next on the, uh, agenda is I'm getting ongoing discussion for the Dartmouth future zoning.

Dan, anything under this?

Um, nothing for me at this time. Um, something that kind of coordinates that I was going to I had under the planner's report, but, um, obviously it'll kind of impact this, and it was, um, to set up something to have an appointment for the DPW director, Timothy Barbara, to come before the board.

Um, I had sent out the email he had sent to everybody. I forwarded to the board members in regards to the current study of the treatment plant, which will obviously impact how we have future design of future zoning issues. Um so I talked to to Mr. Barber and he's willing to come in and speak. So I don't know if you wanted to set something up for that next meeting on July 13th. Um the next

meeting after that is July 27th. Um so I will leave that up to to the board to see how you want to proceed with that.

Um is everyone here going to be here on the 27th?

Um I don't know. Let me look.

I think so. I never miss.

[clears throat] We'll figure it out. Kevin, 20 Yes.

Leo, you're going to be here on the 27th right?

I am.

Yeah, okay.

Okay, Kevin.

Uh checking.

I do not see anything.

Okay, so do you want to make it for the 27th, um Dan?

Sure, I will schedule that with him.

Hopefully he won't have any conflicts.

If there is, I will let the board know at the next meeting.

Okay, great.

So that'll be for July 27th at 7:00 p.m.

Do we want to just do a cursory review of who would be available uh on the prior meeting if the 27th turns out to be uh problematic.

Well, I know one member cannot be here on the 13th.

Okay.

I'm not saying names cuz I don't want people to know who's around and who's not around. Just there's one member I know cannot be here on the 13th.

Understood.

Um Okay, so um the minutes for uh April 27th, 2026.

I'm getting better at reading with one eye, I'll tell you.

Yes, we just have we have the minutes from the 27th.

Um I believe everybody could vote on this if you're okay with the minutes um except for Margaret. Um but if anybody's got any issues, you can let me know. I can take a look at it. If not, then we can um approve make a motion to approve.

Does anyone on the board have an issue with the minutes?

No, I'm sorry.

none As Dan said, I can't vote. I'll excuse myself.

Okay, so Kevin, you made uh the motion.

Motion to approve and file.

I'll second.

Helio?

The motion was made by Kevin and seconded by Helio to um approve and file of the minutes of April 27th, 2026. Helio uh Kevin?

Yes.

Helio?

Yes.

And Loriann, yes. Margaret uh abstained.

Correspondence from the city of Fall River and Russell Mills historic historic district. Blah blah blah.

I need a motion to um like accept and file, acknowledge and file.

Do I have a motion?

So moved.

I have questions?

Second.

Okay, motion was made by Helio and seconded by Kevin to acknowledge and file correspondence.

Helio?

Yes.

Kevin?

Yes.

Margaret?

Um I'm going to going to I abstain.

Mhm.

Okay, abstain. And Loriann, yes.

Motion carries.

Uh for your information, incoming zoning board applications, legal ads.

Nothing new on that front.

Zoning Board of Appeals decisions, um anything you want to throw out there?

Yeah, these These These were These were pretty straightforward. Um I had brought these before the board for their review. No comments were made. They were both approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Um and we have them on file. Any board members have any questions, I'll be happy to to answer them, but that's what we got.

We got ZAV 26-1, which was a use variance on West Bliss Street. And then the second one is ZAV 26-4, um which was a variance for lot coverage on 133 Alpha Street. Not not aquifer district lot coverage, just straight allowed lot coverage.

West Bliss Street, is that in the Bliss Corner?

Where is West Bliss Street?

It's up near Donald Street, like up where the um What's the name of the little kitty campus there?

Is it kitty campus? There's something kitty daycare up there.

in a residential zone.

It is. It is. It's just kind of up in the corner, tucked in like heading um heading toward the Remember there was a radio tower over there? I don't know if it's still active. It's like right in that corner.

But you They couldn't get a use change if it was in residential.

A use variance.

It's It's It's It It was There was an existing structure back before ADUs.

They got a They got a variance to allow for basically what would be now considered an ADU. So, the variance was to allow it to be condominiumized.

I don't know if I said that word right.

Um make it condos.

That was the That was the use variance.

It was determined by the zoning enforcement officer Uh that condos on weren't an allowed use.

So, that's where they got the use variance from.

It's behind the Brandon Woods nursing home.

Okay.

Um subcommittee reports?

Nothing? Okay. Planner's report?

Um like I mentioned, I'm just making that appointment with DPW director.

I think everybody is aware that we talked about briefly the the new operating hours. I sent that email out.

It's on the website. If anybody has any questions on that, that is scheduled as a trial run throughout the summer and then an assessment will be made after that. That's all we got for planner's report for today.

The master plan implementation implementation report.

I feel I feel you today. I feel you.

Nothing new on that one.

Planning department updates.

Nothing new.

And chairman's report?

Nothing new.

I like fast meetings. We get our work done and we move on.

This this this one was shockingly quick.

Yes.

I I'm I'm willing to say that one that I chaired a while ago Oh, that was definitely the record.

Yes, that was the shortest, but Yes.

I thought it I I thought it was longer than 20 minutes.

We're willing to listen to you sing a song, Kevin, if you want to hold on to that.

I I I I yield that title to to our chairperson.

Oh, I don't think so. Um I mean, the reason it went so fast is because these two site plan reviews, these people had all their ducks lined up practically.

Right. know, they listened to us and they and they took our responses and and worked them into their plan. So, I mean, I think this is a good example of having two developers coming to town who actually worked really good with the town.

Agreed.

Yeah.

I need a motion unless anybody has anything else to adjourn and that our next meeting is going to be Help me out, Kevin.

July 13th. July July 13th, 2026 at 7:00.

I'll make that motion to adjourn.

Second.

Motion was made by Margaret, seconded by Helio. Margaret?

Yes.

Hey, Helio.

Yes.

Kevin?

Yes.

And Lori-Ann, yes. So, this meeting is adjourned. We will see everyone on the 13th.

Thank you, everyone.

Awesome job. Have a good night.

Good night.

Good night. Thank you.

Good night and safe everybody.

Nice and safe 4th of July.

Stay safe.

Yes.