DO I NEED A PERMIT FOR THAT?

This is just a reminder that sometimes we may be uncertain as to what types of work on our property require a permit. In order to assist residents in determining whether a permit or other type of approval is needed, the Town web site has a document called "Permitting Procedures Manual." It can be found on the Planning Board page of the Town web site. On the left side of that page is a link called "Do I need a permit for that?" It is at the top of a list of links.

This document includes a brief (1-page each) description of the responsibilities of most of the permit granting boards, commissions and departments of the Town. It also includes a chart at the back that lists what types of permits are needed for which projects and identifies the entity that issues those permits. Finally, there is a flow chart that illustrates the process for building a new house or addition. 

As always, it is important to contact Town Hall prior to starting a project and you will be provided guidance as to what, if anything, is needed in terms of approvals. 

MEADOWBROOK ACRES?

 In case you have seen a subdivision called Meadowbrook Acres on the Planning Board, Board of Health or Conservation Commission agenda, you may be wondering what it is about. This is especially true if you have seen the plans. This "subdivision" proposes a short cul-de-sac off Coolidge Street at 84 Coolidge and then it divides the parcels that comprise the sites of the proposed Meadowbrook Commons 67-unit age-restricted project and the proposed Coolidge Crossing 40B 120-unit  apartment project into 2 lots. 

Those other projects have not been abandoned. Under Massachusetts zoning law (Chapter 40A, Section 6), if someone submits a preliminary subdivision plan to the Planning Board followed by a definitive subdivision plan within 7 months,  "the land shown on such plan shall be governed by the applicable provisions of the zoning ordinance or by-law, if any, in effect at the time of the first such submission while such plan or plans are being processed under the subdivision control law, and, if such definitive plan or an amendment thereof is finally approved, for eight years from the date of the endorsement of such approval."

So, the purpose of the plan is to freeze the zoning, not to construct the subdivision. A Preliminary Development Plan (not to be confused with a preliminary subdivision plan) was approved by Town Meeting in 2017. That plan called for 67 units of age-restricted (over 55) housing of which 7 (10% of the total) must be affordable. On August 15, 2020, Town Meeting approved an affordable housing bylaw that requires new developments to provide 15% of total units as affordable.By submitting the preliminary subdivision plan prior to August 15, that land remains governed by the zoning and subdivision rules in effect at the time it was submitted. Interestingly, it is the LAND for which the rules get frozen, not the SUBDIVISION PLAN that was submitted.