Johnson Re-elected Chair as Planning Board Signs Off on Tewksbury Dental Parking

But decision is not unanimous as Fratalia votes nay on waivers; newly sworn in vice-chair also says Brelundi ‘close to opening’

After exiting executive session — a Tree House Brewing satellite parking legal action update, we hear — the Planning Board convened with all members present. There were no committee reports.

In her Town Planner’s report, Community/Economic Development Planner Alexandra Lowder advised the board of two new public hearings scheduled for the April 29 meeting:

1563 Andover St.: The townhouse development at the corner of North St. and Andover St. is seeking an unspecified modification to its site plan special permit.
1973 Main St.: Dunkie’s will be in for a sign special permit to install an electronic menu board.

Lowder will also hold her final Planner Office Hours sessions at the Senior Center on Tuesday, April 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and at the Library on Thursday, April 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The goal of these office hours is to help residents connect with the town planner in an informal, conversational setting. Residents are encouraged to ask general and project-specific questions. 

“Looking to have folks come in and talk about projects, zoning and whatever is on their minds,” said Lowder. 

One area she’s well-equipped to discuss is the MBTA Communities Act, a major topic of conversation in the 2024 Select Board election. Lowder has been working on Tewksbury’s proposal since (at least) January 2022, when she and Assistant Town Manager Steve Sadwick briefed the Select Board on the mandate. Residents looking for factual information prior to Town Meeting can connect with Lowder at one of her upcoming office hours or by emailing or calling her office.

The board then reorganized after the 2024 town election, where voters returned Vice-Chair Vinny Fratalia, above at his swearing in with Town Clerk Denise Graffeo, for another three-year term. 

On Fratalia’s nomination and Jim Duffy’s second, Stephen Johnson will remain chair. Duffy also nominated Fratalia to remain vice-chair, a motion seconded by Jonathan Ciampa. Nick Lizotte was nominated as clerk. All were elected unanimously. Members also held their current committee assignments. 

After signing off on a petition showing a substantial change to a project at 1558 Whipple Rd. and a family suite at 56 Kent St., the board heard from Evan Battaglia of Metro Sign & Awning to modify a sign special permit for 1830 Main St., the Tewksbury Sports Club

The board previously approved an 18-foot, double-faced sign with a dual-sided, colored electronic message board. A large sign on the side of the property close to the newly opened gas station is scheduled to be removed. But Battaglia said the previously approved position of the sign, set back 15 feet from Main St., is proving difficult.

“There’s not much room to work with,” he said. The request is to move the sign a few feet closer to Rt. 38.

Duffy specified maintaining a safe distance from the power line. With that caveat, the request was approved unanimously.

Merrimac Subdivision
Dick Cuoco of Woodland Design and Tom Schomburg of Civil Design Consultants presented plans for two new single-family homes on Merrimac Drive. 

As background, Cuoco shared that the property owner, George Behrakis, provided land and a right of way for the town’s water treatment plant; he recently donated another lot to accommodate expansion. A subdivision plan approved in 1979 and amended in 1985 was meant to accommodate 12 single-family residential lots. Only one residence was constructed, on Lot 2. The proposal is to develop Lots 5 and 6. That will require some alterations to the roadway, to construct a cul de sac, but the lots will remain compliant with R-40 zoning. Per plans filed with the board, a new on-site sewer pumping station will be installed by the applicant.

The board was overall amenable to the project but continued the hearing to April 29 pending an opinion from counsel.

20 Glenwood Road, 2551 Main Street
Cuoco and Schomburg stayed on to present more details on the proposed multifamily development at 20 Glenwood Rd. and 2551 Main St., a single two-story, four-unit building with two residences per floor. The plan now is rentals, though one unit might be sold as a condo to recoup construction costs. There will be only one visitor parking spot, which Fratalia questioned. Cuoco said that additional guests would seek on-street parking.

Schomburg said they received a mostly clean letter from the town, and the renderings previously requested by the board were provided. 

The project site totals .62 acre with a combined frontage of 551 feet. There will be a sidewalk on Main St.; Cuoco previously asked for a waiver for a sidewalk on Glenwood. 

“The waiver fee is probably 15% of the cost for the whole project,” he said. The Planning Board can no longer waive sidewalks, so the plan is to evaluate the construction cost. 

“We’ll offer that to the DPW, and if they don’t accept that, we’ll just build them,” said Cuoco. 

Fratalia asked about a Postal box for the units, while Ciampa suggested moving the bike storage rack to a more secure area. With no resident comment, the hearing was continued pending final signoffs by the town and the result of the sidewalk negotiation.

Tewksbury Dental
Tewksbury Dental closed out a project that’s been dragging on since last summer, as Jim Hanley of Civil Design Consultants and Attorney Don Borenstein said they have reached an agreement with the Sarina Woods condominium association, which has opposed the addition of new parking spots in excess of what the town requires for the business. 

Abutter Sean Kim is still opposed.

“The applicant will be taking on various maintenance responsibilities of the shared driveway,” said Borenstein. “They’ll be taking on roadways, sidewalks, landscaping, maintenance that’s now done by this condominium association. They’ll be owning all of that within their lot.”

There are plan changes. Hanley outlined a reduction from 14 to nine employee-only parallel parking spaces, 1,800 additional square feet of impervious surface from 4,800 square feet and improvements in drainage.

A waiver is being requested for less snow storage than is required, and Hanley is scheduled to meet with the Conservation Commission next week.

“I still have a problem with the nine parking spots you’re looking to put on the right side of the road,” said Fratalia. “I wasn’t in favor in August and I’m still not.”

Fratalia pressed the applicants on why the new spaces are even necessary.

“I can’t quantify that for you right now,” said Hanley. “But he knows he needs these parking spaces.”

Borenstien said it comes down to the number of staff and operatories in the office and a desire for a 25% buffer of extra parking.

Lizotte requested that Borenstien go on the record with the number of operatories. Answer, 15 plus five treatment rooms in the adjacent Men’s Health practice.

Johnson specified that signage and trees must be maintained in perpetuity and reminded residents on hand to speak that the board has no need to hear, or ability to enforce, private agreements.

Arafat Khan, representing the trustees, said the road was not designed for parallel parking, nor is the group entirely happy with the agreement and never received a justification letter.

“But here we are,” Khan said. “There’s no need, only greed for parking spaces.” 

He pointed out that the Conservation Commission has not yet signed off and said the Sarina Woods residents have spent $45,000 maintaining the commercial side of the development.

“We are glad that the applicant has agreed to maintain his own property,” said Khan, but added that the status quo will remain until construction commences.

Based on comment from the abutter on Rt. 38, Johnson suggested increasing plantings, adding 12 to 18 additional trees that must be maintained in perpetuity. Duffy pointed out that the (apparently somewhat grudging) agreement with the residents was a long time coming. 

The board did approve the needed waivers, but not unanimously, with Fratalia voting no. 

Business Update
Fratalia also reported that he received a tour of Brelundi, which should be opening any day.

“Hopefully they’ll be a successful operation in town and well worth the effort that we put in to help him get the process rolling,” he said.

Fratalia also asked Lowder to investigate the upkeep of the Mico Kaufman statue on Main St. as well as some islands dedicated to Tewksbury veterans that are not part of the “adopt an island” program and are looking somewhat rundown. 

Lowder said she would follow up with the veteran’s agent to see who does upkeep.

Johnson also complimented the look of the new Hobart’s location now that the house has been demolished.  

The Planning Board meets next on April 29.