Technical Review Committee
Approved 2024 outdoor dining permits for Outrider Beer Company, Brewery Silvaticus, Blue Moon Kitchen (with sod-repair stipulation), Barking Dog Grill (with barrier/driveway/ADA stipulations), and Market Square Bakehouse; discussion and public comment on the proposed Marina redevelopment at 2 and 13 Merrimac St., which was continued for further review.
The Technical Review Committee set the 2024 outdoor dining season from May 1 to December 2 and considered individual outdoor dining permit requests for multiple downtown businesses. Permits were approved for Outrider Beer Company (approval with debate over placement of two vs. three parking spaces and an abstention in the vote), Brewery Silvaticus, Blue Moon Kitchen (approved with a stipulation that any grass/sod damage be repaired), Barking Dog Grill (approved with specific barrier placement, ADA table placement, driveway entrance/exit configuration, and a stipulation that the restaurant explore future resurfacing of the adjacent grass area), and Market Square Bakehouse (approved for the same space as previous years). Several approvals were unanimous; the Outrider vote recorded five yeses and one abstention.
The committee also reviewed the marina redevelopment proposal for 2 and 13 Merrimac St. Topics included driveway/parking surface material (crushed stone/gravel), a 20-space shortfall for marina and restaurant parking, recommendations for signage and a gate to deter overflow parking at the wastewater treatment plant, stormwater runoff, plantings and conservation commission compliance, coordination with DPW for Washington Landing, vehicle and emergency vehicle turning radii, walkways/curb cuts/raised crossings, and a requested crosswalk location in front of the marina. Multiple residents expressed concerns about who would use and enforce parking at 13 Merrimac St., hours of operation, paving/noise, fencing and trees, dock storage, and construction safety for nearby residents. Committee members provided guidance on where to direct complaints and clarified that docks will not be stored at 13 Merrimac St. The marina application was continued to a future TRC meeting to allow coordination with other boards and commissions.