Planning Board
Planning Board approved new signs for 135 Main St (Main Street Congregational) and two signs at 100 Macy St (Oye Mira and Stop & Shop); released Lots 1 and 3 from the 201 Elm Street covenant with modified requirements including a buyer affidavit; authorized staff to obtain peer review of the 102 Kimball Road stormwater report if the city cannot review and requested DRC review of the revised design; and accepted $12,000 in lieu of an immediate raised crosswalk at 2 Merrimack St while reducing the planting bond.
The Planning Board handled a mix of small sign approvals, project covenant adjustments, a modification review pathway, and covenant/bond resolutions. The board approved three sign applications: an amended sign for 135 Main Street (Main Street Congregational) with the condition that the applicant secure a license agreement for placement on public property; the Oye Mira plaza sign at 100 Macy Street with Design Review Committee (DRC) conditions (white background, ACM board, and removal of window clings); and the Stop & Shop rebrand signs for 100 Macy Street as presented. The board also designated Pascal Reddick as a secondary Planning Board signatory for document sign-offs.
In substantive project business the board approved a modification to the 201 Elm Street covenant: Lots 1 and 3 were released for sale and the covenant was amended (draft dated 7/27/26) with requirements that barn units and occupancy remain withheld until outstanding as-built plans and the historic-preservation restriction are completed, and that a buyer affidavit disclose any pending historic restriction. For 102 Kimball Road the board did not decide the application change as final but authorized staff to secure a peer review of the revised stormwater management report if the city's stormwater engineer cannot perform the review; the applicant was asked to return to the DRC with a bulleted narrative and before/after plans so the board can determine at the next meeting whether the changes are a minor or major amendment. Finally, for 2 Merrimack Street the board accepted the applicant's proposal to defer installation of a raised crosswalk (due to pending boat-ramp work), accept $12,000 to the city in lieu of immediate installation, reduce the planting bond to $5,800 for two growing seasons, and release the remaining $1,010.50. Public comment included a call for pedestrian/bicycle safety improvements near the Rocky Hill/Elm Street area (wider sidewalk and a flashing crosswalk), and the board continued the Rocky Hill development public hearing to allow full participation at a later meeting.
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