The Stoughton Planning Board moved forward with plans to expand the Town Hall parking lot Thursday, approving a modification that utilizes a recently acquired lot on Porter Street to add 19 parking spaces. The project, which involves the demolition of a house to clear land, aims to improve both vehicle capacity and site drainage through a formalized stormwater infiltration basin. Planning Director Bill Roth explained that the expansion opens up the addition of approximately 19 parking spaces and allows the town to optimize the site through value engineering. This includes using a mix of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds, Shared Streets grants, and DPW maintenance funds to cover costs.

Engineer Craig Hill detailed the technical layout, noting that the plan places handicap-accessible spaces directly adjacent to the building and at that doorway at the rear of the building to improve accessibility. However, board member Peter expressed reservations about the focus on the rear entrance, stating, the basement door looks more like a maintenance or employee entrance... I'm not happy with it. Despite these concerns, the board focused heavily on the aesthetics and environmental impact of the landscaping plan. Dan criticized the proposed use of thornless honey locust trees, arguing the species is not indigenous to this area, and warned that it has the tendency to have cankers and can be a troublesome tree. Paul offered an alternative, asking, What about ginkgo? I think that provides a good alternative for a street tree. And it provides that yellow foliage in the winter.

The board also debated the screening requirements for the adjacent residential property. To save costs, the town proposed replacing a planned $48,000 brick-faced dumpster enclosure with a commercial-grade black vinyl fence. The Chair insisted that the savings be balanced with better privacy for neighbors, suggesting that if we're going to take away from the brick that we add a chain link fence with the screening along the adjacent property. Motion Made by an unidentified member to approve the modification with conditions to swap Honey Locusts for Ginkgos, use an 8-foot fence for the dumpster, and install 6-foot Techny arborvitae along the property line. Motion Passed (Unanimous).

The Board also took aim at non-compliance at the Camden Street Mini Storage facility. The Chair noted that HVAC units on the roof are clearly visible from Route 27 and were not set back or screened as required by the original site plan approval. If you look at it from Route 27 right now... all you can see is a bunch of units that are way out towards the front, the Chair remarked. Bill Roth recommended that the board refer this to the building commissioner and the code enforcement manager for enforcement of our code. Motion Made by the Chair to forward the enforcement issue to the Building Commissioner and hold the project's landscape bond until the issue is resolved. Motion Passed (Unanimous).

In other business, the board continued the public hearing for the new elementary school at DeStefano Way. While the Chair read the notice for the 101,590 square foot project into the record, Bill Roth confirmed the town was requesting a continuance to a future date. The board also heard updates regarding the Dayspring Chapel proposal at 1076 Central Street. Roth reported the applicant is revising and reducing the size of the building after hearing the board’s previous concerns that the 22,500 square foot facility over-burdened the site. Motion Made by an unidentified member to continue the Dayspring Chapel hearing to June 11th. Motion Passed (Unanimous). Finally, the board addressed internal appointments. Motion Made by an unidentified member to reinstate Richard Terry as the Planning Board representative to the Community Preservation Committee. Motion Passed (Unanimous).