The Manchester-by-the-Sea Planning Board debated hiring consultants to help the board review the details of the proposed Cell Signaling Technology project during its meeting on Oct. 10.
CST proposes to build a research and development laboratory off Atwater Avenue on land just north of the Manchester Athletic Club. The project will be built in two phases, with half the laboratory built in each phase. A parking garage will also be constructed as part of phase one and expanded during phase two.
In total, more than 500 employees will work at the new facility.
The Planning Board generally agreed that consultants on stormwater and traffic would be needed. Board Chairman Ron Mastrogiacomo said former interim Town Planner Betsey Ware had identified Linden Engineering and Beals and Thomas as possible consultants for stormwater and Beals and Thomas as possible traffic consultants.
Board member Laura Tenney suggested that the board might want to hire a wildlife biologist to study the project's impact on area wildlife.
Mastrogiacomo responded that “Beals and Thomas and Linden Engineering both have expertise in that area to complete that review.”
Board member Sarah Creighton added that Cell Signaling “added a wildlife person to their team.”
Board member Christine Delisio suggested that a consultant to analyze the geothermal impact of the project should also be considered.
“CST has hired Haley and Aldrich, a nationally known firm, to complete a study on the effects of geothermal on the (town’s) well,” said Mastrogiacomo.
Delisio said the board would still need someone to make sense of their analysis.
“We need someone to review it,” said Delisio. “Just like with the wildlife, unless we have an expert on the board?”
Delisio added that she would like to see a different firm handle the traffic analysis from the one that was hired by the town to analyze the traffic at the proposed Shingle Hill 40B project last year. That project is on the opposite side of School Street from the entrance of Atwater Avenue.
“I would like to see another firm, not the same firm as the 40B,” said Delisio. “Just to get a different opinion, not the same take. ... I’d be curious to see what someone else came up with.”
Town Administrator Greg Federspiel agreed to find consultants for traffic and stormwater for the board.
But the board had less agreement when it came to discussing a financial consultant. Mastrogiacomo said that the Finance Committee would conduct an analysis on the impacts the CST project would have on town services as well as any benefit the town will receive through taxes and fees.
But Delisio disagreed. “For us to rely on another internal board is the same as wildlife,” she said. We need a “financial report that looks at schools, fire, etc. I don’t know who’s doing that.”
Board member Mary Foley agreed with Delisio.
“I’m the one that has been pushing for the financial analysis,” said Foley. “The scope (of the project) extends past what FinCom does. It’s one thing for them to review something that the applicant puts together. ...We need that financial analysis piece and it is important.” Creighton suggested a compromise. “We should ask the FinCom to conduct that analysis and then if we need a consultant, certainly, we can hire a consultant,” said Creighton.
But Delisio said it wasn’t the FinCom’s job to do a financial analysis of the project.
“I just don’t think it’s their purview,” said Delisio. “It’s ours. We’re doing the special permit.”
Mastrogiacomo suggested having the FinCom come to a Planning Board meeting and discuss any concerns.
“I think the chair of the FinCom felt comfortable doing this,” said Mastrogiacomo. “My feeling is to have them come in and let’s ask them if they feel comfortable doing this. If they don’t, we can move on to a consultant.”
Federspiel pointed out that CST would be providing a financial analysis of the project.
“If you want to have that peer-reviewed, it’s certainly fine to do that,” he said. “You have the Finance Committee to comment on that financial report that they provide, but you can also have a consultant do a similar review.”
In other matters:
Federspiel reported that the search for new town planner was back to square one after the leading candidate turned down the job. He said the job was being readvertised and he was looking for a possible interim town planner.
Delisio and Foley questioned why the board had not been informed about the previous candidates. Federspiel said it was mostly a matter of timing.
Mastrogiacomo said it was Federspiel’s job to hire the new town planner, not the Planning Board’s.
The board will hold a public hearing on a minor amendment to the zoning bylaw to allow family members to live in quarters that are part of an existing garage, stable, or structure. The current bylaw only allows “employees.” The public hearing will be held Oct. 23. Board member Chris Olney, also the chairman of the MBTA Zoning Task Force, said the Task Force would hold a public gathering on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m. on the Town Green to try to answer the public’s questions about the work of the Task Force. He said the Task Force was still working to hire a consultant and hoped to bring a zoning plan to the Planning Board in time for either the 2024 annual Town Meeting or a special Town Meeting later next year.
Mastrogiacomo, with the board’s approval, said he would write a letter of appreciation to Betsey Ware, who had been serving as the interim Town Planner. Ware’s last day was Oct. 6.
