Planning Board

City of Lowell - Planning Board Planning Board Meeting Minutes Monday, February 7 6:30 p.m. City Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall City of Lowell, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA Remote Participation Optional via Zoom Note: These minutes are not completed verbatim. For a recording of the meeting, visit www.ltc.org Members Present Thomas Linnehan, Chairman Gerard Frechette, Vice Chairman Members Absent Richard Lockhart, Member Robert Malavich, Member Caleb Cheng, Member Sinead Gallivan, Associate Member Russell Pandres, Associate Member Others Present Dylan Ricker, Associate Planner A quorum of the Board was not present. Chairman Linnehan called the meeting to order at 6:31pm. T. Linnehan stated the Board did not have a quorum due to several members being sick. T. Linnehan noted that applicants have been informed there was no quorum and applicants requested to be put on the February 24th Planning Board meeting. I. Minutes for Approval January 20, 2022 Minutes T. Linnehan said the minutes would be continued to the February 24th Planning Board meeting. II. Continued Business Site Plan Review: 663 Lawrence Street, 01852 Standish Green Group, LLC has applied to the Lowell Planning Board for Site Plan Review approval to operate an Adult Use Marijuana Cultivation and Product Manufacturing Facility at 663 Lawrence Street. The subject property is located in the Light Industrial (LI) zoning district. The proposal requires Site Plan Review approval pursuant to Section 7.10 and Section 11.4 from the Lowell Planning, and any other relief required under the Lowell Zoning Ordinance. On Behalf: Speaking in Favor: Speaking in Opposition: Discussion: T. Linnehan stated the petition would be continued to the February 24th Planning Board meeting. III. New Business Public Shade Tree Hearing: 939 Lawrence Street, 01852 and 1050 Gorham Street, 01852 In accordance with MGL Ch. 87.5 and Chapter 260 of the Lowell Code of Ordinance, the Lowell Planning Board will hold a public hearing to hear all interested persons regarding the proposed removal of seventeen (17) public shade trees located at 1050 Gorham Street, and 939.1 Lawrence Street. The trees are less than 24” in diameter and six (6) of the trees are dead. New England Power Company is proposing that the trees be removed so that they can access their transmission lines to replace existing overhead transmission shield wire lines and replace or modify existing transmission line structures. On Behalf: Speaking in Favor: Speaking in Opposition: Discussion: T. Linnehan said the application will be continued to the February 24th Planning Board meeting. IV. Other Business Extension Request: 725, 741, 749 Merrimack Street, 01854 The applicant for 725, 741, and 749 Merrimack Street has requested a two-year extension to the Special Permit approval first granted to convert the vacant church into 50 residential units. On Behalf: Discussion: T. Linnehan said the petition would be continued to the February 24th Planning Board meeting. V. Notices VI. Further Comments from Planning Board Members G. Frechette provided an update on the Rourke Bridge working group, and stated that he is serving on the MassDOT Rourke Bridge working group. G. Frechette said MassDOT recognized the two-lane bridge with caged walkway was inadequate. G. Frechette stated MassDOT considers the bridge safe. G. Frechette stated the bridge will be put in the TIP program in 2024 with a projected June 2024-2025 start date with a four year construction period. G. Frechette noted the funding is in place and the funding incorporates cost increases. G. Frechette said there would be an opportunity for art on the bridge representing the City of Lowell. VII. Adjournment T. Linnehan stated that the meeting is adjourned. The time was 6:41pm.