The standout discussion of the meeting revolved around special permit clarifications for a project on King Street. A representative of the project sought the board’s approval for transferring three parcels without needing repeated planning board reviews, a request driven by property refinancing needs. The representative assured the board that the ownership would remain with the Leoli company, addressing any concerns about potential changes in ownership structures. Board members stressed the importance of being notified of any changes in majority ownership of the involved LLCs, highlighting the need for transparency in ownership structures. Ultimately, the board motioned and unanimously approved the change in ownership designations for the specified parcels.

Another topic was the ANR application for the property on Great Road, also known as the Wilkins farm. Sherry Gold, the representative for the property, explained that the Wilkins family was liquidating the estate of a deceased family member. Instead of fitting the property into approved uses, they opted to sell parts of the property as-is. Interest from MATS in purchasing the farm stand and greenhouses led them to seek the separation of a one-acre lot qualified as a building lot. Gold assured the board that this approach would achieve a similar sale price to a previous offer without requiring a lengthy permitting process.

A concern was raised during the ANR discussion regarding the absence of an engineer’s stamp on the plans presented. Gold acknowledged the oversight and promised to confirm the stamp’s presence on the original documents. The board also discussed potential zoning compliance issues that could arise once the property was divided and ownership changed, cautioning that the split could create a “little time bomb” in terms of zoning compliance. Gold accepted this information and agreed to relay the caution to potential buyers. After addressing these concerns, the board voted unanimously to approve the ANR, with Gold informed that she could sign the necessary documents at town hall the following day.

The board also reviewed an agenda item concerning the continued public hearing for the 64 Beaverbrook project, deciding to continue the hearing until October 2nd, with unanimous approval.

Discussions on Collective Cannabis’ request to amend their operating hours were postponed due to the absence of the representative. No representative from 600 Great Road joined the meeting either, which was noted as unusual by the board, further delaying the discussion on the ANR for Gary’s farm stand property. The absence of attendees prompted the board to suggest that applicants be informed to arrive ten minutes early to avoid delays in future meetings.

Additionally, the board debated procedural matters, including the signing of a $38.95 bill from Green International for peer reviews related to the 64 Beaverbrook project. Conducted in a virtual meeting format, they agreed that one member would sign the bill in person at the town hall post-meeting.

There was also a brief, light-hearted exchange among board members regarding meeting conduct. One member expressed a preference for applicants to appear in person, noting that conducting business without them felt “almost in an anonymous way.” This led to a joking inquiry about smoking and drinking during meetings, illustrating a moment of levity amidst the business discussions. The board also addressed scheduling concerns, deciding to proceed with the next meeting on October 2nd despite some conflicting availability.