Information for Meeting of Board of Planning and Community Development
Wednesday October 04, 2023 7:00 PM EDT

I. Call to Order

II. Approval of September 6, 2023 and September 13, 2023 Meeting Minutes

III. Approval Not Required (ANR) Plans: a) Peter Mongeau, property located off of Lyons Hill Road (Map 46 Parcel 79) 
b) Aaron and Ashley Thibeault, property located off Flat Rock Road (Map 54 Parcel 38) 

IV. 7:10PM Public Hearing on proposed amendments to the Athol Zoning Bylaw (all BPCD Sponsored):

a.	Amending Section 3.30, Battery Energy Storage Systems, specifically Section 3.30.8(A), Setbacks. The amendments would address allow reduced setbacks for Tier 2 and Tier 3 systems located in the Tier 2 Overlay District and Tier 3 Overlay District respectively, for such projects that would be located in the Town’s General Commercial (G) Underlying Zoning District.  For Tier 2 projects and Tier 3 project located in the G Zoning District, such setbacks would be allowed to have no less than a minimum setback of 15 feet from the front, side, and rear yard.

b.	Provide a series of amendments pertaining to developments in the Central Commercial (CA) Zoning District and Mixed-Use Developments involving residential units allowed above commercial space currently allowed by-right in the CA Zoning District and by Special Permit in the Residential-A (RA), Neighborhood Commercial (CB), and G zoning districts, as follows:

i.	Changing the provision of “residential use of upper floors in building used for commercial purposes” to read “residential use of upper floors and first floor locations lacking public exposure to the street frontage in a building used for commercial purposes.”  This change would provide more flexibility for the use of first floor spaces, including housing, but still have storefront non-residential activities provided on the street level. 
ii.	Change the provision of minimum dwelling unit size in the mixed-use development types identified above from 600 square feet to 500 square feet.  The Town of Athol already allows a minimum square footage of 500 feet for conversions of single-family homes to multi-family dwelling units.
iii.	Establishment of a New Section 3.31, Commercial Residential Mixed-Use section, to provide for a set of standards for new mixed-use developments.  The Board of Planning and Community Development would serve as the Special Permit Granting Authority where Special Permits are required and act as Site Plan Review authority for all such developments.
iv.	Deleting the footnote included in the 50-foot building height maximum standard included within Section 2.6, Intensity of Use Schedule, that limits buildings to four (4) stories in the Central Commercial (CA) Zoning District.  The maximum building height would remain fifty (50) feet. 

V.  Minor Site Plan Review Application - Whipps Family Ventures LLC - Property Address:  370 & 400 South Athol Road - Whipps Building.  This application is for the construction a new 98’ x 144’ addition to the existing shop area The subject property consists of 8.18± Acres of existing developed commercial area. The proposed project would create an additional 14,000± of shop area.  

VI. Other New Business: 

a) Warrant Article Review and Vote to recommend or not to recommend the following articles for matters concerning the physical, economic, and environmental development of the Town for the October16, 2023 Annual Town Meeting Warrant: Articles 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12. 

b) Request for a Licensed Marijuana Establishment Special Permit Approval Decision Extension by Green Speed Delivery, Inc for an adult use marijuana delivery service and marijuana processing establishment at property located at 41 Exchange Street, Athol, MA (Map 30 Parcel 249). Approval was granted on November 3, 2021, which is valid for two years unless extension requested by Applicant and granted by BPCD based on good cause determination.  

VII. Anticipated Upcoming Meetings: Topics for next regular committee meeting date (Wednesday, November 1, 2023) discussed: public hearings for potential new permit applications and other topics planned for discussion. Board discussion on potential for alternative meeting location from Room #21 (e.g. Virtual, via Zoom or at a larger meeting venue as needed).

VIII. Adjournment