HUDSON – Although plans for a mixed-use commercial and residential project have been continued, the officials said the developers may need to consider withdrawing their application after a lack of response from the state Office of Dam Safety.
The Planning Board continued the hearing for the site plan review and special permit to redevelop 136 Main Street into residential and commercial space on Feb. 21.
That evening’s continuance from the Dec. 6 hearing was requested by Manny Santos, the applicant of the 136 Main St. project.
At the Dec. 6 meeting, Chair Robert D’Amelio noted the applicant had not been able to satisfactorily look into an issue about the spillway despite efforts to do so or receive guidance from the Office of Dam Safety (ODS) on whether the redesign would or would not trigger mitigation for Bruce’s Pond Dam as a high hazard dam.
The Office of Dam Safety is a division of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. This classification by the Army Corps of Engineers was given due to the location of the dam.
In Feb. 14 correspondence from Director of Planning and Community Development Kristina Johnson to Joseph Peznola, the director of engineering for Hancock Associates, a firm working on the project, she expressed support for the redevelopment of the site, but did not recommend going forward at this time with the Planning Board process without express consent from the ODS.
She said the issues centered around getting the ODS give an endorsement of the proposed redevelopment plans so that the developers can move forward without having to do extensive mitigation that would adhere to the highest storm standards.
“The Office of Dam Safety has not been responsive at all, and they’re trying to figure out a way to compel [the ODS] to give [the developer] an answer to continue the Planning Board process,” Johnson said.
She recommended to Santos and Peznola to continue the hearing, but said at some point withdrawing the application may need to be considered.
Due to the long process, Johnson did not believe it was fair to continue without “having a final answer from the Commonwealth.” The project will require a great deal of time from the town so she recommended continuing without public comment until the Mar. 7 meeting.
The project has been under consideration since last June.
D’Amelio asked if they are operating under the initial newspaper advertisement, which Johnson said was the reason. They would need to re-advertise the notice to abutters due to the process being drawn out.
D’Amelio said if they cannot move forward by the next meeting, meaning they have not heard from the ODS, the public hearing will be closed, and the applicant can re-advertise.
Member Rodney Frias said they might withdraw as well. Johnson replied that it would be cleaner for them since no decision would have to be made, and the applicant could withdraw and resubmit.
“We’ll give them the option,” D’Amelio said.
The board voted to continue the hearing until Mar. 7.
Bus storage
The Planning Board also approved a March 7 continuance for the review of the site plan for construction at 2 Fox Rd., an application by JJ McCarthy, LLC. to build a bus storage area.
At the Feb. 7 meeting, the application for a proposal to construct a paved bus storage near the intersection of Fox and River roads along with stormwater devices for treatment of runoff was reviewed.
Michael J. Scott of Land Design Collaborate, who is involved with the project, confirmed requests made to the project engineer were all met, and Johnson said the site plans and drainage calculation were reviewed by town staff and Scott. They were deemed satisfactory and in compliance with the State Stormwater Best Management Practices, according to the official meeting minutes.
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