Technical Review Committee
Pre-application review of a redevelopment at 2 Merrimac St (revised plan for an 85-seat restaurant, marina facility, and associated parking) and an update on the scheduled installation and life-safety plans for an air-supported dome at 12 S Hunt Rd.
The committee reviewed a revised pre-application for redevelopment at 2 Merrimac St. The proposal was scaled back from the original submission and now shows a 1.5-story, 85-seat restaurant, a two-story marina operations building, and roughly 100 parking spaces split between 2 and 13 Merrimac St. The applicants described stormwater and floodplain constraints and proposed catch basins, rain gardens, about 2,500 sq ft of new green space, and a 6-foot public walkway to the water. Existing large marina structures would be removed while a smaller storage/garage building at 13 Merrimac St would be refurbished for marina staff during construction. Parking use and layout — including whether 13 Merrimac St. would be employee parking year-round or closed in winter — and the loss of roughly 20 spaces to floats were discussed; applicants said they are refining layouts to address the 25-foot no-disturb zone, grading, and access. Sea wall spot repairs under Chapter 91 were proposed (no planned elevation increase), utilities will be elevated above the floodplain, buildings will be sprinkled, and trash/dumpster storage will be under the building with sprinklers. Neighbors raised concerns about noise from a gravel parking lot, operating hours, truck deliveries, and broader traffic constraints; committee members noted these operational details would be addressed in final decisions and through subsequent review processes (Planning Board, Design Review Committee).\n\nThe committee also received an update on an air-supported dome for 12 S Hunt Rd. The vendor has ordered the structure, with equipment and mechanical work coordinated with utilities; installation is planned for July–August 2024 with a 2.5-week erection period. The dome peak is ~66–68 feet; life-safety measures include nine metal-frame doors, two added hydrants, an operations and maintenance plan for wind and snow events, and scheduled training for Fire, Police, and inspection staff. The fabric will be tested biennially and the expected service life is 10–15 years; the applicants will submit final materials to the Fire Department in mid-March and agreed to provide inspection and police copies. Administratively, the committee noted a scheduling conflict for a deputy fire official for the second monthly meeting and requested alternate dates to be circulated.