Planning Board

City of Lowell - Planning Board Planning Board Meeting Minutes Monday, April 7, 2025 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 Chairman Linnehan Vice Chair Frechette Member Tenczar Member Cheng Member Walker Associate Member Sar Members Absent Associate Member Cardoso Silva Others Present Dylan Ricker, Associate Planner A quorum of the Board was present. Chairman Linnehan called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM I. Minutes for Approval 3/17/2025 G. Frechette motioned, and C. Cheng seconded the motion to approve the meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). II. Continued Business Public Shade Tree Hearings – 80 Woodward Ave 01854, 803 Middlesex Street 01851, 406 W Sixth Street 01850, 413 Fletcher Street 01854 In accordance with MGL Ch. 87.5 and the Chapter 260 of the Lowell Code of Ordinances, the Lowell Planning Board will hold a public hearing to hear all interested persons about the proposed removal of eight (8) trees at 80 Woodward Ave, twenty (20) trees at 803 Middlesex Street, seventeen (17) trees at 406 W 6th Street, and one (1) tree at 413 Fletcher Street. The removal of these trees is necessary for planned renovations to the parks. On Behalf: Briana Martinez, Applicant’s Representative 413 Fletcher Street B. Martinez said 1 tree will be removed at 413 Fletcher Street for proper grading of the ball field. B. Martinez said this is an ARPA project and 1 new tree will be planted. 80 Woodward Avenue B. Martinez said the tree removal is necessary to redo the tennis court and 8 new trees will be planted. 406 W Sixth Street B. Martinez said trees will be removed for the park improvements, and the addition of a splashpad. B. Martinez said new trees will be planted. 803 Middlesex Street B. Martinez said 20 trees will be removed for park space improvements, and 22 new trees will be planted. Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: 413 Fletcher Street D. Tenczar asked where the new tree will be planted. B. Martinez said the new tree will be in roughly the same spot, and aid the tree needs to be removed so grading can be done. D. Tenczar said he does not understand. B. Martinez said earth work needs to be done to regrade the field, the tree location is ok, but construction would kill the tree and the grade where the tree is currently located will be changed. 80 Woodward Avenue G. Frechette asked about the tree being removed near the gym equipment. B. Martinez said the marked tree near the playground will not be removed, it was marked in case it needed to be removed. B. Martinez said if the there is left over budget to redo the plaza the tree will be removed. B. Martinez said at this point they do not expect to remove it. G. Frechette said he would prefer that tree not be removed. B. Martinez said the contractor is aware this tree would only be removed if there is leftover funding available for to redo the area. 406 W Sixth Street G. Frechette said there are some recently planted trees that are being removed and he asked if the trees will be repurposed. B. Martinez said she is unsure, and said they try to plant as many as possible, and said if there is an opportunity to move the trees they would look into that. D. Tenczar asked if the row of pine trees is being removed. B. Martinez said a lot of trees have been recently planted, and said sometimes the greening the gateways program plants trees, but are unaware of the City’s plans. B. Martinez said the trees need to be removed for physical improvements associated with construction. B. Martinez said they try to best communicate their plans with partners, but sometimes they plant trees in locations they will need to do work on. C. Cheng asked what work will be done behind the basketball courts. B. Martinez said when playground construction is done it will be expanded and a splashpad will be added which requires a lot of cutting of soil and this is where the soil will be relocated rather than paying for the soil to be removed from the site. B. Martinez said the soil will go there to properly grade the park for drainage. L. Walker asked how many replacement trees will be planted. B. Martinez said they are removing 17 trees and will be planting 47 new trees. 803 MIddlesex Street T. Sar asked when the project will start. B. Martinez said the start date will be after Khmer New Year with work finishing this year. B. Martinez said construction should last the entire season ending in November. D. Tenczar said the tree ordinance says the Conservation Commission is listed as the tree board and it should say the Planning Board. T. Linnehan requested staff follow up with D. Tenczar, D. Ricker agreed. D. Tenczar and C. Cheng said the work will be a positive improvement to Clemente Park. Motion: 413 Fletcher Street T. Linnehan motioned, and T. Sar seconded the motion to approve the tree removal. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). 80 Woodward Avenue G. Frechette motioned, and C. Cheng seconded the motion to approve the tree removal. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). 406 W Sixth Street G. Frechette motioned to approve the tree removal with the following condition: 1. Every effort shall be made to repurpose the younger trees, recently planted trees. T. Linnehan seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). 803 Middlesex Street D. Tenczar motioned, and L. Walker seconded the motion to approve the tree removal. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). III. New Business Special Permit & Site Plan Review – 133 Clark Road, 01852 The Lowell Planning Board will hold a public hearing to hear all interested persons relative to an application by Jeremy and Darlene McSorley to subdivide the existing lot and construct a new single- family home at 133 Clark Road. The subject property is located in the Suburban Single-Family (SSF) zoning district. The proposal requires amended Special Permit approval from the Planning Board per Section 5.2.9 to reduce the required frontage for large lots in the SSF zone, Special Permit approval per Section 6.7 to exceed the maximum driveway length, and Site Plan Review approval per Section 11.4 for a parking area with greater than 4,000 sq ft of impervious surface. On Behalf: None Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: T. Linnehan stated the applicant has requested a continuance. Motion: D. Tenczar motioned, and L. Walker seconded the motion to continue the application to the April 24th Planning Board meeting. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). Special Permit & Site Plan Review – 558 Gorham Street, 01852 The Lowell Planning Board will hold a public hearing to hear all interested persons relative to an application by LML Investments, LLC to construct two townhouses totaling 6 residential units at 558 Gorham Street. The subject property is located in the Urban Mixed-Use (UMU) zoning district. The proposal requires Site Plan Review approval per Section 11.4 for a development with more than 3 residential units, and Special Permit approval per Section 11.3 for four to six dwelling units on a single lot. On Behalf: Kasey Ferreira, Applicant’s Representative K. Ferreira explained the location and existing site conditions. K. Ferreira explained the surrounding area. K. Ferreira said they will work with City Departments to determine the parking plan. K. Ferreira said they will maintain a sidewalk along the frontage and will tie in with other sidewalks. K. Ferreira said snow storage will be provided on site, and if snowfall exceeds their ability to store snow on site it will be removed from the site. K. Ferreira explained stormwater comments. K. Ferreira said they will work with the City to address comments. Larry Carney, Applicant Speaking in Favor: None Speaking in Opposition: None Discussion: T. Linnehan confirmed the applicant received staff comments. T. Linnehan said the City had significant concerns with the plan. T. Linnehan noted trash questions, Fire Department questions, parking questions, etc. T. Linnehan said Variances may also be required. T. Linnehan summarized the City’s concerns. T. Linnehan said the concerns are significant. K. Ferriera said he can provide a swept path analysis, and said they will work City Departments to address all of the comments. K. Ferreira said if the parallel space is not acceptable they will find another place on site for the additional parking space. K. Ferreira said the curbcut will be reduced to meet the curbcut requirement. K. Ferreira said the landscape plan will be revised and an acceptable snow storage space will be found. T. Linnehan asked about trash removal. K. Ferreira said each unit would have their own trash. G. Frechette clarified the applicant is looking for a continuance. K. Ferreira confirmed. G. Frechette said the location is a highly visible location and cited the Special Permit criteria. G. Frechette said he is not supportive of side facing townhouses on arterial roads. G. Frechette said he is concerned with the space blocking the garage. G. Frechette asked if the units will be sold as condos. K. Ferreira confirmed. G. Frechette expressed concerns about the design and said the design does not fit in with the location. G. Frechette suggested looking at nearby properties to improve the project architecturally. K. Ferreira said the scale is in line, but they can look to improve the facade to mesh better with the neighborhood. G. Frechette strongly recommended removing the parallel parking space. K. Ferreira said they can look into moving the building closer to the street, but would have to confirm whether setbacks are met. G. Frechette said he would like to elevations of the facade before considering Special Permit approval. C. Cheng expressed similar concerns related to the facade. C. Cheng said at minimum windows should be added to the facade facing the street. C. Cheng noted parking is difficult, but noted the site is somewhat close to the train station, and recommended completing a TDM Plan. C. Cheng said he is supportive of adding trees to the front of the site. D. Tenczar said the site looks like to much is being proposed in too small a space. D. Tenczar said the site appears more suited for a building facing the street with fewer units. L. Walker agreed with concerns regarding the design facing Gorham Street. L. Walker requested the applicant provide colored renderings showing what the site will look like from Gorham Street. L. Walker agreed that ideally the building would be facing the street. C. Cheng asked if the applicant was aware of road improvements planned by MassDOT. K. Ferreira said they will be in contact with MassDOT to determine if they are in the scope of the project. K. Ferreira said they will have those answers when they return. T. Linnehan asked what date the applicant would like to be continued to. K. Ferreira requested the first meeting in May. Motion: G. Frechette motioned, and C. Cheng seconded the motion to continue the application to the May 5th Planning Board meeting. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). IV. Other Business V. Further Comments from Planning Board Members G. Frechette said the NMCOG Director will be giving a report to the City Council to updated them on NMCOG’s activities and upcoming projects. VI. Adjournment D. Tenczar motioned, and C. Cheng seconded the motion to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously, (5-0). The time was 7:32PM.