The potential impact on traffic flow and neighboring businesses was a concern for the board when it came to the special permit for Little Caesar’s Pizza Restaurant. The applicant for the restaurant presented data on parking capacity and traffic patterns. The speaker representing the establishment proposed designating two parking spots for customers in the plaza, highlighting that most of their business comes from pickup orders rather than third-party deliveries.

Discussions further delved into the logistics of deliveries, particularly by their food supplier, Blue Line, to the rear of the building. The board discussed operational aspects like the proposed hours of operation, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and trash collection processes. Concerns about the impact of these operations on neighboring businesses and the potential for increased traffic were forefront. The board also recalled previous instances of parking non-compliance in the plaza and contemplated reaching out to the Building Commissioner to address the shortage of parking spots.

In addition to parking and traffic, the board debated the restaurant’s grease trap requirement. A member mentioned that the issue had already been addressed with a specific individual. After extensive discussion, the board voted to approve the conditions for the special permit, with another meeting scheduled for further deliberation to ensure all concerns are thoroughly addressed.

The meeting also included the appointment of George Kingston as the town’s representative to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, which was rearranged to be addressed out of order.

Furthermore, the board endorsed a request involving 124 Lal Street, where the plan was to reconfigure a non-conforming lot into two conforming lots in residence B Zone. The board moved to endorse the approval not required for subdivision control law for this reconfiguration.

Bill Fon was appointed as the planning board’s representative to the community preservation committee, a role that will involve participation in decisions about the use of community preservation funds and oversight of projects that aim to improve, preserve, or rehabilitate local resources.

The Planning Director provided an update on the ongoing discussions regarding the Center Town District. This included mentions of upcoming hearings for a restaurant and a landscaping business.

Finally, the meeting addressed administrative matters such as approving the meeting minutes for May 21, 2024, and discussing meeting dates for July and August, with one meeting set for July 2nd and another for August 20th. These dates will ensure the board continues its work during the summer months with a slightly reduced schedule.