The meeting began with procedural matters, including the swearing in of new board member Miss Hodong and the election of officers. Mr. Bush was re-elected as chair, Mr. Ba was appointed vice chair, and Shiva Olsen took on the role of board secretary. Doug Kovat and Rich Cardella were appointed as board attorney and engineer, respectively, while Michael Sullivan was confirmed as the board planner. These appointments were unanimously approved.

The main focus of the meeting was the discussion of the Toolo Pronto application. Initially scheduled for discussion, the board decided to delay the hearing to the February meeting. This decision was made to ensure that objectors who were unable to attend could have their voices heard, with the applicant consenting to extend the hearing time. The board confirmed its jurisdiction over the application, allowing the postponement without the need for new notice.

In addition to the Toolo Pronto application, the board considered an application related to PO Studio on River Road. This application had previously been withdrawn after initial testimony, but the applicants have since resubmitted their request to be heard. Although details were sparse, the board acknowledged its return to the agenda.

Another topic of discussion was the board’s handling of application scheduling. Concerns were raised about the feasibility of addressing multiple applications in one session, particularly if objections were anticipated. To manage this, a member proposed postponing the second application to March.

The conversation then shifted to the master plan, where progress was highlighted along with the need for finalizing subcommittee members. The planner had prepared a survey to gather public input, and the aim was to market it effectively to ensure comprehensive community engagement. The board discussed the timeline for the master plan, targeting the August meeting for a vote on its elements. The planner emphasized the importance of completing both the re-examination report and any amendments to streamline the process and meet legal requirements.

A significant aspect of the master plan discussion was the necessity to maintain the validity of land use law, with members reminded of the potential consequences if the re-examination report lapses. The planner noted that many elements of the plan would not require major revisions, focusing instead on updating existing data to reflect current goals and conditions. A data room has been established to house various documents, and a link to access these materials will be made available to all members.

The meeting also addressed the need for board membership adjustments due to the arrival of new members and the departure of others. Suggestions for recruiting new members were discussed, with an acknowledgment of the mayor’s role in this process. Procedural matters concluded the meeting, with the approval of minutes from the previous session. These minutes had been distributed earlier, and after a brief review, they were unanimously approved.