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Record of Proceedings

Appointments & Briefings Committee Meeting - June 17, 2025: Special Permits, Residency Waivers, Street Closures, and I-195 Project Update

Default View — Tuesday, June 17, 2025

BodyNew Bedford, Massachusetts

SessionDefault View

DateTuesday, June 17, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:05:14

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:52

Welcome everybody to the committee on appointments and briefings.

1:56

It's June 17 and it is 708.

2:01

Note this meeting is being live streamed and recorded.

2:04

City Council and Committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Bedford's homepage under quick links, then meetings.

2:11

Thank you all for coming and in the chambers.

2:14

We have my colleagues in government.

2:23

Councilwood Council at large, Ian April, Councilwood Two, Maria Giesta, Councilwood 4, Derek Baptiste, Counselor at Large, and City Council President, Shane Burgo, and Counselor from Ward 3, Sean Oliver.

2:39

Thank you all for coming.

2:40

Do we have anything to read in the record?

2:41

I have one letter to read in the record from Councillor Choquett explaining his absences due to a work-related commitment.

2:49

Motion received in place on file of Council Abreu, second by Council Burgo.

2:53

All in favor say aye.

2:54

Opposed, the ayes have it.

2:56

Item number one is a public hearing on an application of Eric McDerris doing business as Hathaway Road Holdings LLC for a special permit for motor vehicle light service at three sixty-six Hathaway Road, New Bedford Mass, O two seven four oh the application was received on April 24th, 2025.

3:12

It was duly advertised in the Standard Times on Tuesday, June third, twenty twenty-five, and again on Tuesday, June tenth, twenty twenty-five.

3:20

Number one is before you.

3:31

Opposed, the ayes have it.

3:32

Mr.

3:33

Medeiros, are you in here?

3:35

Okay.

4:27

Uh intersects uh Hathaway Road.

4:30

It is the former Wicks and Licks.

4:33

Um there was a little uh store there one time.

4:36

Prior to that there was a gas station on the property.

4:39

Uh basically between Captain Frank's and the former Rosie's restaurant.

4:43

I'm sure most of you remember Rosie's.

4:45

Um the proposal before you is to create a car wash, a two-bay automatic car wash on the property.

5:00

The applicant has basically proposed to build a new structure, create some vacuum stations, uh typical car wash, it'll be a 24-hour operation.

5:08

The uh building would be uh A-frame type structure, so not a uh stock metal building that'll look it'll look appropriate and aesthetically pleasing.

5:18

Uh there'll be an extensive landscaping proposed as part of the project.

5:22

Uh circulation will be from Hathaway Road where the traffic will be able to come in off Hathaway Road, circulate around the building, and then exit.

5:30

We're basically going to close off one of the curb cuts that service the property, which is kind of a diagonal curb cut through the self-storage facility that's adjacent to the site.

5:41

So the idea is to have a car wash on this property.

5:45

Mr.

5:45

Madeiras is an experienced car wash operator.

5:48

He owns uh car wash on Route 6 in Dartmouth near the former Lincoln Park, down on that end of Route 6 near Caddy Shack.

5:56

His family actually operates the caddyshack operation too, if you're familiar with that uh facility.

6:02

Uh so Mr.

6:02

Madeiras is a local business uh person um who is looking and has purchased the property.

6:08

Um and we think it's a good use for the area.

6:11

It did receive, as I said, planning board approval on April 9th.

6:15

And um I'd be happy to answer any questions, but it it's it's uh hopefully a repurposing of an older commercial property.

6:23

Surrounding it is the self-storage behind the site and commercial properties on either side, and really just the whaling city golf course across the street.

6:31

So uh we don't think it impacts negatively on any residential properties, and we think it will be a good use for this uh dislocation.

6:38

Thank you, Mr.

6:39

Gioso.

6:40

Um thank you, madam chair.

6:46

Uh thank you uh for that brief overview.

6:49

Um was there ever a discussion um of perhaps because this is a uh heavily trafficked area.

6:56

I would love to see this parcel be developed.

6:59

I look at it five days a week just coming home from from my regular job, let alone passing it throughout the day.

7:07

Um but the entrance and exit, you know, uh it's a tough intersection there with the on and off ramp both there.

7:15

Was there ever a proposal to perhaps have it in the opposite direction?

7:19

Yeah, we actually looked at both, and the topography doesn't allow us to to utilize the more westerly side of the site for for the access.

7:27

So when we looked at it, we looked at the there was a previous approval by planning for uh marijuana facility on this site.

7:34

Yes.

7:34

Um so we thought we would use the same location.

7:37

There is an easement that allows access to where the drive-thru uh the um the self-storage facility drive-through is uh drive it driveway is uh but it came in at an odd angle.

7:50

We don't have the same straight into the site that we would need.

7:54

So really we we closed that off so we wouldn't have a conflict with them because people would be exiting and heading and not have a good sight lines leaving the property.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Transportation Safety████████████████████████24%

Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████23%

Procedural██████████████14%

Public Engagement█████████████13%

Environmental Protection████████8%

Zoning And Land Use████4%

Public Infrastructure████4%

Technology and Innovation███3%

Public Safety███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Appointments & Briefings Committee Meeting - June 17, 2025

The Appointments and Briefings Committee of the New Bedford City Council met on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 7:08 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting was live-streamed and recorded. Chairperson (Councilor Abreu) presided. The committee addressed 11 agenda items, including a public hearing for a car wash special permit, several residency waiver petitions, updates on the Parallel Products trash transfer facility, MBTA safety concerns, street closures for the Whaling Museum construction, and a detailed briefing on the I-195 to Route 18 interchange rehabilitation project.

Public Hearing – Special Permit for Motor Vehicle Light Service (Item 1)

A public hearing was held on the application of Eric Medeiros, d/b/a Hathaway Road Holdings, LLC, for a special permit to operate a two-bay automatic car wash at 366 Hathaway Road (former Wicks and Licks site). Attorney Gerwatowski presented the proposal, stating it would be a 24-hour operation with an A-frame building, extensive landscaping, and circulation from Hathaway Road. The planner noted the property had prior planning board approval on April 9, 2025. Estimated daily traffic is 50–150 vehicles. Commissioner Danny Romanowicz confirmed no objections from Inspectional Services. No public comments were made for or against. The hearing was closed, and a motion to approve the special permit and refer to the full City Council passed unanimously.

Residency Waiver Petitions for Secondhand Licenses (Items 2 & 3)

Item 2: Dionne R. Reyes, manager of Savers Thrift Dept. Store at 1014 King's Highway, requested a residency waiver (she resides in Fall River). Her petition had been tabled on May 20, 2025; it was removed from the table. She explained Savers pays for donations and supports Big Brothers Big Sisters. The committee voted to recommend approval to the full council.
Item 3: Jerome Alferes, owner of Temptations Guitars and Comics at 2331B Acushnet Avenue, requested a residency waiver (he lives in Mattapoisett). He has operated the business for 30 years. The committee voted to recommend approval to the full council.

Discussion Items

Item 4 – Creation of City Council Social Media Pages and Internship Program: Councilor Gomes moved to discuss establishing Facebook and Twitter pages for the City Council, along with a high school/university internship program. He argued that media coverage of council actions is insufficient. After debate, the committee voted to report the motion for no further action, effectively ending the proposal.
Item 5 – New Permitting System Update: Councilor Pereira requested a briefing from the Commissioner of Inspectional Services on the new permitting system. Since the system has been in place for over three years and users have adapted, the committee voted to recommend no further action.
Item 6 – South Coast Renewables (Parallel Products) Project: Wendy Morrill of South Coast Neighbors United provided an extensive update on the proposed trash transfer facility at 100 Duchesne Boulevard. She detailed recent events: a May 14, 2025 fire at the E.L. Harvey transfer station that required 40 firefighters and caused a rat infestation, ongoing environmental violations at the Duchesne site (illegal dumping, lack of silt fences), and a MassDEP inspection that confirmed violations but did not consider them in site suitability determinations. She urged the council to pressure MassDEP and the Board of Health to block the project. Tracy Wallace also spoke, emphasizing the need for the Board of Health to use all available powers. Councilors expressed support for the opposition. The committee voted to receive and place on file, then tabled the item. Councilors discussed drafting a letter to MassDEP, the Health Department, and the state delegation.
Item 7 – MBTA South Coast Rail Safety on Purchase Street: Councilors Gomes and Oliver requested a meeting with MBTA officials to discuss safety fencing, the support wall, and overgrowth along the Purchase Street corridor. No MBTA representatives attended despite notice. Councilors expressed frustration, noting that the wall and fencing were funded by a $2.5 million TIGER grant from the council's efforts. They cited photos of people walking on the tracks and unlocked gates. The committee voted to table the item and reschedule with stronger participation, possibly involving the state delegation.
Items 8, 9, 10 – Street Closures for Whaling Museum Construction: Councilor Baptiste submitted three motions on behalf of Consigli Construction to close or obstruct portions of William Street, North Water Street, and Bethel Street from June 30, 2025 to December 31, 2026 for demolition and reconstruction of the Whaling Museum annex. Representatives from Consigli and CSL Consulting presented the plan, emphasizing safety and pedestrian access. City Engineer Sean Sai confirmed the plan was the most efficient and safe. The committee voted to receive and place on file and refer to the full council with a favorable recommendation.
Item 11 – I-195 to Route 18 Interchange Rehabilitation Project: Council President Burgo requested a briefing. MassDOT Project Manager Valerie Kilduff and her team presented a detailed overview of the five-phase, multi-year project (2025–2030) to replace the structurally obsolete viaduct, improve safety, and construct a noise barrier and skate park. Key points: work hours 7 AM–3:30 PM with some night work; no lane closures during peak traffic; detour for westbound ramp to Route 18 southbound via I-195 to I-140 to I-195 eastbound; local streets will be monitored; a virtual public meeting is scheduled for June 26, 2025 at 6 PM. Councilors raised concerns about traffic impacts on Cogshall Street, Route 6, and near the school. The team committed to proactive signal timing adjustments and monitoring. The committee voted to receive and place on file and report for no further action.

Key Outcomes

Special Permit Approved: The committee voted to recommend approval of the car wash special permit at 366 Hathaway Road to the full City Council (unanimous).
Residency Waivers Recommended: Both Savers Thrift and Temptations Guitars & Comics received favorable recommendations for residency waivers.
Social Media/Internship Proposal Dismissed: The motion for council social media pages and an internship program was reported for no further action.
Permitting System Update Deemed Unnecessary: The motion regarding the new permitting system was reported for no further action.
Parallel Products Project Tabled: The committee received the update, placed it on file, then tabled the item. Councilors agreed to pursue a letter to MassDEP and the Board of Health opposing the project.
MBTA Safety Meeting Tabled: The committee tabled the item to reschedule with MBTA representatives and potentially involve the state delegation.
Street Closures Approved: The committee voted to recommend approval of the three street closures (William, North Water, Bethel) for the Whaling Museum project.
I-195 Project Update Received: The committee received the briefing, placed the packet on file, and reported for no further action. A virtual public meeting is set for June 26, 2025.

Meeting adjourned at 9:11 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome everybody to the committee on appointments and briefings. It's June 17 and it is 708. Note this meeting is being live streamed and recorded. City Council and Committee meetings can be viewed on the City of New Bedford's homepage under quick links, then meetings. Thank you all for coming and in the chambers. We have my colleagues in government. Councilwood Council at large, Ian April, Councilwood Two, Maria Giesta, Councilwood 4, Derek Baptiste, Counselor at Large, and City Council President, Shane Burgo, and Counselor from Ward 3, Sean Oliver. Thank you all for coming. Do we have anything to read in the record? I have one letter to read in the record from Councillor Choquett explaining his absences due to a work-related commitment. Motion received in place on file of Council Abreu, second by Council Burgo. All in favor say aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. Item number one is a public hearing on an application of Eric McDerris doing business as Hathaway Road Holdings LLC for a special permit for motor vehicle light service at three sixty-six Hathaway Road, New Bedford Mass, O two seven four oh the application was received on April 24th, 2025. It was duly advertised in the Standard Times on Tuesday, June third, twenty twenty-five, and again on Tuesday, June tenth, twenty twenty-five. Number one is before you. Opposed, the ayes have it. Mr. Medeiros, are you in here? Okay. Uh intersects uh Hathaway Road. It is the former Wicks and Licks. Um there was a little uh store there one time. Prior to that there was a gas station on the property. Uh basically between Captain Frank's and the former Rosie's restaurant. I'm sure most of you remember Rosie's. Um the proposal before you is to create a car wash, a two-bay automatic car wash on the property. The applicant has basically proposed to build a new structure, create some vacuum stations, uh typical car wash, it'll be a 24-hour operation. The uh building would be uh A-frame type structure, so not a uh stock metal building that'll look it'll look appropriate and aesthetically pleasing. Uh there'll be an extensive landscaping proposed as part of the project. Uh circulation will be from Hathaway Road where the traffic will be able to come in off Hathaway Road, circulate around the building, and then exit. We're basically going to close off one of the curb cuts that service the property, which is kind of a diagonal curb cut through the self-storage facility that's adjacent to the site. So the idea is to have a car wash on this property. Mr. Madeiras is an experienced car wash operator. He owns uh car wash on Route 6 in Dartmouth near the former Lincoln Park, down on that end of Route 6 near Caddy Shack. His family actually operates the caddyshack operation too, if you're familiar with that uh facility. Uh so Mr. Madeiras is a local business uh person um who is looking and has purchased the property. Um and we think it's a good use for the area. It did receive, as I said, planning board approval on April 9th. And um I'd be happy to answer any questions, but it it's it's uh hopefully a repurposing of an older commercial property. Surrounding it is the self-storage behind the site and commercial properties on either side, and really just the whaling city golf course across the street. So uh we don't think it impacts negatively on any residential properties, and we think it will be a good use for this uh dislocation. Thank you, Mr. Gioso. Um thank you, madam chair. Uh thank you uh for that brief overview. Um was there ever a discussion um of perhaps because this is a uh heavily trafficked area. I would love to see this parcel be developed.

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