The proposed Tanner Hill Road subdivision at 431 Marine Street moved closer to final approval Monday night, though the project may require the partial demolition of a barn to satisfy town requirements. Engineer Dana Jr. presented revised plans for the site, which include realigning the Walnut Street intersection and extending a driveway to ensure residents do not have to exit directly onto the busier Marine Street. A central point of discussion involved a reserved roadway designed to provide future access to landlocked vacant land. To maintain a 20-foot setback for this connection, Dana Jr. noted that he would need to cut off approximately 118 square feet of an existing barn and remove a shed.

Dana Jr. explained the necessity of the realignment and the driveway extension, stating, Because I need to realign the Walnut Street intersection into Marine Street, I had failed to extend the driveway over to the new alignment... I don't want them to come out on Marine Street because that's a busier road. Regarding the potential impact on the existing property structures to accommodate the reserved road, he added, It is within 20 feet of the existing barn, but I made a note on there saying I have to cut off part of the barn in order to make it conform.

Vice Chair Katharine O’Donnell expressed hesitation regarding the potential for expanded development enabled by the roadway connection. I feel like we have a lot of development. I'm struggling with opening up other land for development... I'd rather not have to kind of bastardize the existing property, O'Donnell said. Town Planner Karen Horn suggested that the board proceed with closing the hearing but delay voting on a specific waiver regarding the road’s center line until the state approves the realignment. Horn noted, I was proposing that the board only vote on five [waivers] but the waiver for the center line... if you do not get approval from the state for the realignment that you would come back for a modification.

The meeting also touched on a potential shift in town policy regarding the MBTA Communities Act. Horn informed the board that the Select Board Chair is proposing an article to repeal the MBTA zoning district. This proposal surfaces as the town continues to navigate its non-compliant status, a situation that town officials have previously warned puts 17 state grant programs at risk. Motion Made by M. Biviano Jr. to close the public hearing for the subdivision at 431 Marine Street. Motion Passed (5-0-0). The board is expected to issue a formal decision on the subdivision at its next meeting.

In other business, the board delayed several major projects to later this month. Both the Brandt Rock Pavilion redevelopment and a mixed-use special permit for 745 Webster Street were pushed to the March 16 agenda. Motion Made by M. Biviano Jr. to continue the special permit public hearing for the Brandt Rock Pavilion until March 16, 2026. Motion Passed (5-0-0). Additionally, the board moved the Webster Street hearing following a late request from the applicant. Motion Made by M. Biviano Jr. to continue the public hearing for the mixed-use special permit for 745 Webster Street until March 16, 2026. Motion Passed (5-0-0). Both continuances were supported by members Nik Pappastratis, Fred Monaco, Kevin Cantwell, and Associate Member Caleb Johnson.