Planning Board Meeting

The meeting centered on several land‑use hearings and staff recommendations. The Board approved an ANR for 38.5 Rocky Hill Road to create two parcels, approved the Definitive Subdivision and Special Permit for 102 Kimball Road (including preservation of a rear open‑space parcel to be deeded to the city), and approved a Water Resource Protection District special permit for 6 Lake Attitash Way with staff-recommended conditions. The Board also continued hearings for larger applications including 27.5–29 Clarks Road and 9 / 9#RR Oakland Street to future meetings.

The continued 27.5–29 Clarks Road (Eagles Crossing) discussion included staff and peer‑review summaries noting most technical comments have been addressed and draft conditions prepared; remaining issues focused on building design, buffer impacts, pedestrian connectivity and sidewalks, and environmental mitigation tied to Conservation Commission review. Multiple members of the public submitted written comments and spoke, raising concerns about traffic volumes (including cumulative impacts with nearby developments and a permitted Starbucks), sidewalk continuity and pedestrian safety on Clarks Road and Route 110 crossings, building scale and placement, parking ratios, requested waivers (setbacks, unit count per building, reduced parking, and fence types), and trail parking. Staff and the Board discussed coordinating with DPW on planned Clarks Road/MassWorks improvements and making certain documentation or assurances a condition of approval; the Clarks Road hearing was continued to allow time for finalizing conditions and design refinements. Administrative items included continued work on the Master Plan land‑use element sent to the mayor’s office.