Fire Department Concerns Delay Union Planning Board Decision on Mars Avenue Development

The Union County Planning Board meeting highlighted significant opposition to a proposed development project on Mars Avenue, mainly due to fire safety concerns. The fire department’s objections, coupled with neighborhood opposition, led to the decision to delay further discussion until September.

During the meeting, a representative from the firm Lieberman, Blacker, and Sinkovich, who spoke on behalf of the large Mon State Civic Association, expressed strong concerns about the proposed development. The representative argued that the project was out of character with the single-family neighborhood and that the necessary variance was not justified. The fire department’s report emphasized that the current plans failed to provide adequate access for fire trucks, particularly due to the presence of obstructive wires and the need for roof adjustments.

The board member acknowledged these concerns, reiterating that the application needed to address these issues before any further steps could be taken. The representative requested that the discussion be postponed to a later date, citing pre-existing travel plans. The board agreed to carry the application to the September 26 meeting without requiring further notice.

Additionally, the board discussed procedural preferences, emphasizing the importance of conducting presentations in a consolidated manner rather than piece-by-piece to ensure a more efficient and comprehensive review process. Both the board and the legal representatives agreed that cross-examination should be conducted by lawyers rather than the public to maintain efficiency and clarity in the recorded proceedings.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

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