Planning Board Meeting - March 9, 2026

I'm going to call the meeting. This meeting is being the Zoom meeting. The vote the planning board voted for that and it is being recorded.

And this is the planning board and I call the meeting to order. Roll call.

Margaret Sweet. Yeah.

Helio Rosa. Yeah, here.

Kevin Estes.

Lori Miller.

And Nick Sakellarios is not on tonight.

Dan, we can't do number one because we need a super majority which needs or do we can we do it with just three members?

I don't remember on this. Um We're we're we're going to be continuing it.

Right.

Um so we're not making a vote on it. So it's kind of it's kind of a little a little iffy. I don't know if you want to go through the rest of the stuff and then see Okay.

you can get get it on.

Let's go through the rest and then we can get back on.

Okay.

number one, appointment with town council has been changed due to the fact that we Nick wasn't going to be here tonight and I personally felt that we all need to be at the meeting that we're going to be meeting with town council.

Um so that What's the next date for that? Do you know Dan?

Um our next meeting is scheduled for um March 23rd. One one question I do I one question I do have for the board. Um we're kind of getting under a time crunch if we want to try to get this on spring town meeting. Um there's a couple options. We can either take a little more time with it and push it off until fall town meeting or I know we've kind of had this

before the board in discussions. Um this involves we kind of broke it down. We have updating article 24 and the zoning bylaws and then we're um proposing regulations that will be planning board regulations. Um if the board feels comfortable there's not going to be any major changes in that format that we'd be looking at. I could still work towards um setting up the public hearing for

April 6th. So we could have town council on for the 23rd. If the board's got any any questions that they wanted to have for for town council and then we could have the public hearing on April 6th. That would still give us time to go through the process to to present a warrant article for town meeting. Um but those are the two options. But I'll leave it up to the board to Um

Margaret, how do you feel about that?

Well, I've read everything and I've got notes. I'm happy to meet with uh Brian on the 23rd and and then the 6th meeting open. I'm fine with that. I can handle that.

So are you fine to go to this spring town meeting or do you want to hold do you want to go to October? If we could go to the spring town meeting, I mean I'd rather do that. Why hold it? I mean we've got it on It's there's the there's not that much in there that we have to be worried about. I don't feel. There's a couple of things but nothing major that I saw. I

don't know about the rest of you.

Helio, how do you feel?

Uh I believe we should make every attempt to go to the spring town meeting. I recommend that we stay the course and meet with town council on the 23rd.

And at that time we'll be two weeks closer to making a decision. I don't think we should make a decision today if go no go.

I suggest at our next meeting we'll be in far better position to determine that go no go.

Yeah, the only go the only go no I would suggest proceeding accordingly.

The only go no go go scenario is just that I have to um get the ad in for the public hearing on the 6th. We we I could put it in, you know, just basically it's just paying the local advertising fee and then come April 6th you know, if we say we're not quite ready to do this, it's just it's just a lost advertising fee.

Yeah, Dan and that's and that's my point. We don't have to decide today.

Right.

We have if we have until the 6th, let's use the time that we can effectively and then if we as a board are at a place where we're not comfortable, we still have time to make that decision. We don't I suggest we don't have to do it today. Okay. The only the only thing for the for the 23rd with town council, he won't be able to get on till 8:00. Um so depending on

what our agenda looks like, it might just you know, be a time um a time consideration.

Well, they can all Brian can come back, Dan.

Well, there again, those are the things that would help determine whether we are still on on course. Yes and and if any of the board members do have questions that they'd like me to take a look at or pass along, I can I can do that in the meantime as well.

Oh, okay. I'll send them to you. Okay.

Other than that, I would just um recommend to the board to table this until the the 23rd.

Okay. We don't really need to take no a vote on that. We just it's going to be the 23rd when we'll meet with town council again.

Um number two is site plan review PSPR-25-2 90 Old Farms Road Assessors Map 183 Lot 86.

This this was more just an an FYI for the board. This was an application we we received months ago probably going back to November. It was never deemed a complete package. They were missing some information. They were trying to get information from their client, the engineer I'm referring to.

And then it just kind of got to the point we kept you know, getting continuances and just got to the point we said you know, if you if if if it's going to be a bit, you're better off just asking for you know, just a withdrawal without prejudice and when you are ready, we can start from scratch and hit the ground running on that. So that was just like I said just kind of

like an FYI to the board in case you know, you you got any word of it or there was any talk of it, you would be aware of. That's that's what we're doing with that.

So we can keep the application active um on the portal. Um you know, it'll be ready if and when they do get all the information they need to to to be deemed a complete package.

Okay. So now David just withdrawn it with no prejudice without us without us voting on it.

Yeah, I mean you can you you can vote.

It was never deemed a complete package.

So I don't really think it needs it needs a vote. But if if you feel comfortable voting um to accept that, that's that's up to you.

Have they Have they already paid all their fees? Yes.

We can wait we can waive those fees if they do re-up on the application.

That that that money is sitting there.

That's that's what I'm concerned about.

Yeah. Yeah, we're not going to actually like wipe out the application. It'll be there if they do come back.

Um we haven't enacted on it. So there's no reason we need to um double up on the fee request.

Okay. Number three, a release.

Someone have a question?

Number three, release of lot from performance covenant.

Golden State Farms.

Assessors Map 37 Lot 20 through 20-8.

Again, this is one we're going to need to continue to the next next meeting.

There were some issues with the bond. We thought it was all set. There was a um a couple issues with how the bond was written. Um so it wasn't ready for the board to be able to um to vote to release the performance covenant. Um so I would again table this or continuing it till the next meeting. We should be all set. We got we got the new form in today but it's it was too late

to have it ready for the meeting and give the board a chance to review everything prior.

Okay.

Ongoing new question You'll need a motion on this, Lori?

Um no, it's just going to be continued.

It's We don't need a motion, do we?

Um if you want to just just make it clean if you want them just make a motion to continue this item until the next hearing on the 23rd, we can do that.

Okay. I think Margaret Yeah, I'll make a motion to continue this until March 23rd.

I'll second.

We have a motion on the floor to continue this to March 23rd.

Margaret. Yes.

Helio. Yes.

Lori Ann Miller, yes.

Motion carries.

Ongoing discussion, Dartmouth future zoning. Anything here, Dan?

I don't I don't have anything.

Um we're waiting for the comments that we sent to SERPED for our housing production plan.

Um I was going to bring up a few things in the plan as report but we talked about reaching out to a few stakeholders. I had discussions again this week with a representative from the mall. They're still interested in coming in at some point in talking to the planning board. give um them some give you and them ideas to to talk back and forth for a potential zoning change overlay all those things

that we've talked about so nothing new from my standpoint besides that Okay the minutes of December the minutes of December 22nd 2025 February 9th 2026 any questions any motions One of those ones we we continued it was just a date at the top I don't remember if we talked about that between the storm and everything else but all it was was a date at the top that was that was wrong

Madam chair I have one comment to make on the meeting minutes and that is the that is the hold on February 9th meeting minutes this is just another housekeeping item page six roll call should read that a roll call was approved 3-0-1 not 3-1-0

Dan do you see that Hold on a second I lost my my packet I got to get it back up uh so this is for the meeting of March excuse me February 9th February 9th thanks Dan on sheet six page six yep page six release of surety page six the motion right in the middle of the page roll call vote should be 301 301 not 310 Okay so motion on release of surety

should be 30 Okay yeah so if the if the board so chooses they can approve the minutes with that change and I can make that change so I need a motion on the board to approve the minutes of the meeting as amended I moved second so Helio Rosa yes Margaret Sweet Lorianne Miller yes motion carries you want to do a separate vote for the December 22nd meeting yes I'll move to approve I second

we have a motion on the floor Helio Rosa yes Margaret Sweet yes Lorianne Miller yes motion carries did someone just come in yes Kevin Melo just came in so if you want to open up that public hearing we can do that Okay so I need Kevin we have an application for the planning board special permit the 813 State Road which I know you have um watched and studied but they need to they they're looking to

continue it so we need a continuance to what date Dan Well we'll have to open the public hearing first and then we can continue can you give me just give me the date Oh sorry March 23rd Okay so we need I need a motion to open the public hearing for the application for planning board special permit 813 State Road so moved second motion has been made Margaret Sweet yes Helio yes Rosa yes Lorianne Miller yes

Kevin Melo yes motion carries Thanks for coming on Kevin All right no problem nice seeing everyone bye Kevin bye So as I this this one I don't know if you remember from like I said going back a few meetings from prior to the blizzard and everything else they were um close to getting the final plans in something came up with DPW that they wanted a sewer and water review um they have since got in got the

proposal from the town's sewer and water consultant they are back and forth with the DPW on the cost of that proposal so hopefully we'll have a resolution soon but at this time I have a request from Zenith Consultants to address to Chairman Psychopathis stating we respectfully request a continuance continuance from our scheduled meeting with the planning board on March 9th 2026 to the meeting on March 23rd 2026

this was signed for Zenith Consultant by Jamie Sennett also because of the of the time to get to this point they have also submitted um an agreement to extend statutory deadline so um if the board so chooses to um vote to continue the meeting to that date once we get back into regular meeting I would be looking for just a vote for to agree to extend the statutory deadlines as as stated in the letter any questions

if not I need a motion to continue the application of 813 State Road to March 23rd 2026 and to and to resume our regular meeting What one excuse me sorry Madam Chairman just one thing just want to continuing it to that date at 7:00 p.m. which one to make sure we have the time 7:00 p.m. okay thank you so moved second I have a motion on the floor made by Helio Rosa seconded by Margaret Sweet

all in favor I sorry all in favor Helio yes Margaret yes uh Kevin did Kevin get kicked out Johnny is still there I'm here yes I believe Kevin left after his item was finished his item wasn't finished I can say he was he was not kicked out of the meeting he just left by that's what it seems yeah but maybe not because he lives not too far from me and I got kicked out earlier

and I didn't I didn't leave I just got kicked out so perhaps he lost connection yeah that's what's happening to me a lot let's just stand by

somebody going to call him I just I just tried texting him okay

has anyone heard from Kevin Estes I know he he missed out on the last meeting we had too no that's me trying to call Kevin Melo hi Kevin can you get back on in the meeting I need your vote I was just out I was out in my driveway getting ready to pull out again I am back in the house and I'm looking for the meeting ID number and I'll be right on Okay thank you

did he get kicked out with that no I couldn't hear it I'm not sure what happened he something happened he's getting back on all right that's the important part yes have have you spoken to Kevin Estes no that's why I I hadn't heard anything from the last one so now that he's not here I will definitely try to reach out to him tomorrow okay make sure he's not having any issues

Kevin you're back on yes I am Okay the motion made was to continue the hearing until March 23rd at 7:00 o'clock and to resume our regular meeting the motion was made by Helio Rosa and seconded by Margaret Sweet Helio yes Margaret yes Kevin yes thank you Lorianne Miller yes motion carries do I need him to vote on the extension I would say so just so we have the four

votes Just be real quick just to vote to um um to agree to the signs extension of statutory deadlines.

I need a motion.

So moved.

Second.

Okay, Helio, did did you move that? I did.

Okay.

Um so the motion has been made by Helio Rosa.

Helio?

Yes.

Seconded by Margaret Sweet. Margaret?

Yes. Yes.

Kevin Mello? Yes.

Thank you. And Lorriane Miller, yes.

Motion carries.

Thank you, Kevin. No worries.

Have a great night. Bye now, everyone.

Bye-bye. Bye.

Okay, so I need a motion on the floor to acknowledge and file correspondence from the city of Fall River and the town of Westport.

So moved.

Seconded.

I have a motion on the floor made by Margaret Sweet seconded by Helio Rosa.

Margaret? Yes.

Helio Rosa? Yes.

Lorriane Miller, yes.

Motion carries.

Margaret, did you see where the town of Westport is about is about Horse Neck Road?

No, I didn't see that.

Yeah.

Is it on our uh It's in the packet. Oh, I didn't read that. I I I looked through the packet, too, and didn't see it.

Yeah, it's something about um non-buildable lot on Horse Neck Road.

Oh god, I better you know, I did not see that and I I read everything, but I was so concerned reading the uh other two things, the articles. Let me look at it.

Um I'm trying to get back down to it.

Oh, that's Westport, though. That was Horse Neck Road in Westport.

Yeah.

I don't know how far it is from you, but yeah.

Uh okay.

I'll read that.

Okay.

Thank you, Lorriane.

Um you're welcome. For your information, old business, new business?

Um no news only Oops, sorry.

Go ahead. It's going No no new applications or um decisions for this hearing.

Okay.

Subcommittee reports?

Um CPC, we we had a meeting and we're discussing um the agricultural commission. We're discussing two um people that have asked for funding. One is on Tucker Road and one is on Horse Neck Road um to buy property uh and put it in the conservation trust.

Um we went over some figures uh for CPC, how much money we have and you know, things like that.

So, the next meeting is tomorrow night.

Anything else?

Planners report? Are you have anything else, Dan?

I mentioned the one thing I wanted to to go over to discuss. Um I mentioned briefly at one point there is there's a feasibility study we're doing for the Ponagansett Landing um site and at the at the uh at the bucket. Um we had our first meeting with the architect firm that was chosen, so that's just getting started.

Um That's it from my standpoint.

Master plan improvement report?

Nothing new.

Okay.

Planning department updates?

Nothing new.

Dan, are you all set for for signatures?

Sorry, Madam Chair.

Go ahead.

Are you all set for signatures, Dan?

Yes, we're still waiting for some documents for that one lot subdivision from White Oak Run, so that's the only thing. If if that comes in, I'll be looking for signatures, but I'll Ross or I will send something out to the board when that's ready.

But as of right now, we are all set.

Thank you.

And Dan, do I need to come in and sign for number one?

Um for for Yes. Yes.

Okay. Yes.

It say it's it says for the chairman, but I believe uh you as acting as chairman tonight, you'll be the one to sign.

Okay.

Um will that be ready for tomorrow?

Yes.

Okay. I will try and get in tomorrow so we can get it done.

Okay. Anything else to come before this meeting tonight?

Hearing nothing, do we have a motion to adjourn?

And our next meeting is on March 20th third correct?

Yes, it is.

Thank you.

I need a meeting to adjourn. Motion to adjourn.

Second.

I have a motion on the floor made by Helio Rosa seconded by Margaret Sweet. Helio? Yes.

Margaret? Yes.

Lorriane yes.

The motion carries. We are adjourned for the evening. Everyone have a good evening. Thank you. You, too. Have everybody have a safe St. Patty's Day.

Thank you.

Good night, all.

Good night.