The Sacco Planning Board convened on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting covered three major agenda items: a completeness review for a zoning map amendment on Flag Pond Road, a continued completeness review for an 18-lot subdivision on Easy Street, and a continued public hearing and preliminary approval for a 25-unit condominium development at 42 Ferry Road. The board also heard public comments on non-agenda items and general planning updates.
All right, good evening, everyone. Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of the planning board, valued community representatives. I welcome you all to this evening's assembly of the Sacco Planning Board. As chair, it is my privilege to convene this gathering dedicated to the thoughtful planning and development of our community. Today we come together with a shared commitment to shaping the future of our city in a manner that reflects our values, respects our heritage, and fulfills the needs of our residents both now and in the future. Our agenda tonight contains important matters, each requiring our careful consideration, expertise, and collaboration. As we engage in our deliberations, let us remember the profound impact these decisions will have on the lives of all, keeping in mind we are residents like you. It is our duty to maintain transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in our proceedings, ensuring that the voices of all are heard and respected. Together we must embrace the responsibility entrusted to us by our community, working diligently and thoughtfully to chart a course that phosphorus growth, prosperity, and harmony. With that, I would like to call this meeting of the Tuesday, March third, twenty twenty-six planning board to order. I look forward to the productive discussions and meaningful outcomes that lie ahead. And to my left, our Vice Chair Joyce Larry Clark, along with planning board members, Jeff Rusho, Catherine Pellini, and to my right, Jim Moyer and Chris Gagnon. Our staff members with us this evening are our city planner, Charles Tuttleman, and our planning compliance coordinator, Lisa Harmon. Along with our City Council liaison from Ward 7, Nathan Johnson. And with that, we'll move to our first item on our agenda, which is our review of our February twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-six meeting minutes. Board members have any questions, comments or edits on those minutes. Mr. Chair, I'll move to approve the second motion by Jim and a second by Joyce to accept the minutes as presented. Any additional discussion on that motion. All right, those in favor, Chris? Yes. Jim. Yes. Joyce. Yes. Jeff? Yes. Catherine. Yes. I'll vote yes as well. Motion passes 60. Our next item on our agenda is just a brief overview of our planning board public hearing guidelines. This is a document developed by the board and city staff outlining the procedure in place for public hearings held. This explains the purpose of the public hearings, the outline procedure of reviewing an application, public comment presentation, and meeting duration. If anyone has any questions about this document or the process, please let us know. We have hard copies available at the rear of the auditorium along with digital copies on the city's website for review. Our next item number five is our public comment period. This is where we'll open for a period. Excuse me. I always mess up my words here. This comment period is limited to a total of 15 minutes to items not under planning board review. The planning board appreciates public comments and knows that public comment about matters before us can help the board understand neighborhood concerns, review an application, or help address an outstanding item. Those wishing to make statements about an application that is under planning board review are asked to provide those statements during the applicable public hearing period. Comments during this period are limited to three minutes. If there are multiple members of the public looking to speak, we may reduce that time to accommodate all speakers. So with that, if anyone is with us this evening to speak or have any general questions about planning, please come to the podium and state your name and address for the record. Specifically, the there's two applications here that are completeness review, and we won't will not be having public comment on it. So I would just say for general understanding that if there are members of the public who wish to speak on item 6a or 6B, flag pond road rezoning, or the Easy Street application, this would be the time to speak because there's no public hearing or no public comment associated with those two. So that would just be my suggestion because I know I see some folks here who may not be. I typically don't do this, but just in the interest of people's time and keeping them aware because I know that we have some folks not familiar with SACO here.