Technical Review Committee
Review of 83-91 Macy St (Leaf Water Farms) — a proposed 6,000+ sq ft phased indoor hydroponic growing facility with retail/kitchen and riverfront/bridge access — and discussion of 6 Morrill St (Skog and Stone) — a proposed permanent sauna/bathhouse and lounge; 12 Oak St ADU was listed but applicant absent.
The Technical Review Committee met to review two substantive prospective projects and a short administrative agenda. The primary discussions focused on a proposed hydroponic farm and specialty retail at 83–91 Macy St (Leaf Water Farms) and a proposed permanent sauna/bathhouse and lounge at 6 Morrill St (Skog and Stone). A third agenda item (12 Oak St accessory dwelling unit) was on the agenda but the applicant did not attend. The committee approved prior meeting minutes and adjourned at 10:48 a.m.
For 83–91 Macy St (Leaf Water Farms) the applicant described plans to buy multiple contiguous lots and construct an initial ~6,000 sq ft single-story barn-like grow facility with retail/kitchen space, then add a second grow building in a later phase. Committee discussion focused on constraints from the riverfront resource area (only 10% disturbance allowed), recent flagging and the potential for an ANRAD and an NOI (applicants indicated they would file for the whole project and may request extensions as allowed). Site access, parking, and fire access were central concerns: the proposed entrance off Rocky Hill Road (across from an Irving entrance) with a 20-foot drive and 13 paved spaces plus field parking was questioned for sightlines, grades, large-truck turning radii, and emergency vehicle access. Fire and public-safety staff urged a review of turning radii and water/suppression needs (sprinklers likely; a full suppression system and Class 1 hood if a sizeable kitchen is installed). Conservation staff noted the bridge crossing would need to meet crossing standards, recommended possible peer review of resource boundaries, and discussed mitigation/ invasive species management and use of geogrid for permeable fire access. The applicants were advised to produce a traffic study, show grading/retaining walls, utility and hydrant locations, and clarify drainage and wastewater from the hydroponic system (reverse-osmosis and small-volume organic fertilizer residuals).
At 6 Morrill St the prospective operator described plans for a two-building operation with a lounge/restaurant and check-in in Building A and a bathhouse with cold- and hot-plunge pools and locker rooms in Building B. The applicant requested additional time for due diligence because of unresolved terms with the property owner. Committee members raised parking and access concerns (the site has 15 spaces and historically overflowed across the street), potential need for additional on-site parking or agreements with neighboring owners, and the likelihood that the change from retail/prepackaged-food use to a health/fitness use will require Planning Board review and could trigger a longer permitting timeline. Public-safety staff noted outstanding fire-code and sprinkler connection issues from prior ownership and advised review of alarm/sprinkler connections; DPW and planning staff recommended evaluating water flows, plunge-pool excavations relative to historic site contamination (possible buried tanks), and engaging a Licensed Site Professional (LSP) for contamination investigation if excavation will occur. Members emphasized parking-management planning as a project-critical item and advised legal review of easements and access rights.