Planning Board
Pre-application review and revised plans presented for a marina and 85-seat restaurant at 2 Merrimac St./13 Merrimac St.; Board approved release of Lot 4 (1 Brielle Way) from a subdivision covenant (47.5-57 Kimball Rd.).
The Board opened with procedural items and took up several continuance requests, moving three public hearings (87 S Hampton Rd., 2 Merrimac St., and 13 Merrimac St.) to the March 11, 2024 meeting. The principal substantive presentation was a pre-application for 2 Merrimac St. (and associated 13 Merrimac St.) describing a scaled-down marina-focused redevelopment incorporating a marina operations building, an 85-seat restaurant, storage, improved waterfront access under Chapter 91, stormwater management, pedestrian improvements, and landscaping. The applicants described a reduced building footprint, proposed parking totaling 100 spaces (seeking an 8-space parking waiver from the ordinance requirement), dock storage areas, boardwalks and public seating, and plans to file a revised application; conservation commission review was also noted as forthcoming.
Board members and staff discussed site layout, parking counts and existing conditions, dock storage/stacking, circulation and wayfinding, stormwater and retaining wall details, elevation above floodplain, building massing and entrance treatment, under-deck space and occupancy management, and landscaping/screening for neighboring properties. Neighbors raised concerns about screening for the 13 Merrimac parking area, timing and scope of the traffic study, and whether the 85-seat count included bar seats. Administratively, the Board voted to release Lot 4 (1 Brielle Way) from the covenant related to 47.5-57 Kimball Rd., approving that request 6-0; the Board also approved a set of consultant invoices and adjourned the meeting.