Planning Board talks sidewalks, marijuana | News

TEWKSBURY — The Tewksbury Plan­ning Board met on Sept. 12, 2022 in Tewksbury Town Hall.

Town Planner Alexandra Lowder shared that the former Wood Haven retirement community at 2580 Main St., which closed ab­ruptly in January, is being redeveloped into 55 and over residential housing. The owners have submitted a site plan review and special permit application and the board will hear more at a future meeting.

Lowder also noted that Wamesit Lanes is seeking to expand its rear parking lot, but there are several outstanding issues, including an old as-built submission and drainage concerns, for which the town is holding a $20,000 bond.

In addition, Lowder also recommended that the board reach out to the town engineer to focus on allocating funding from sidewalk fees from developers to aid sidewalk development throughout town.

The board approved a fa­mily suite special permit application at 61 Briar­wood Road.

The board approved a family suite special permit application at 51 Regina S Drive.

The board discussed a proposed retail marijuana by­law amendment for consideration at Town Meet­ing. As­sistant Town Mana­ger Steve Sadwick explain­ed that un­der the proposal, Tewks­bury would be limited to three retail marijuana dispensaries. Under Article 8 on the Town Meeting warrant, this reflects 20 percent of the number of liq­uor li­censes the town au­thorizes.

The article also sets general compliance requirements for marijuana retailers, including maintaining a host community agreement, adhering to all state and local laws, and engaging in patron age identification.

The article places licensing power with the Select Board.

Article 9 updates the town zoning bylaw’s use table to allow licensed retail sale of marijuana with licensing from the Select Board and site plan review approval from the Planning Board, and limits retail marijuana sales to the South Village Business District, the Gen­eral Business District, the Industrial 2 District, and the Interstate Overlay Dis­trict.

Article 10 proposes a three percent local excise tax rate on the sale of retail marijuana. The board vo­ted to recommend adoption of the articles.

Town meeting will be held Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. at TMHS.

The proponent of 1879 Main St. withdrew their ap­plication for a site plan re­view. S & C Realty Invest­ment Co., LLC had requested several continuances, and had planned to build a car wash on the former Fun­land site. Issues arose when the proponent could not gain the rights to use Air­port Road, a private way, as an exit for cars that need­ed to leave the site.

The board continued a dis­cussion on a site plan re­view, land disturbance permit, and special permit at 30 Commerce Way.

The next meeting is sche­­­­­­duled for Sept. 26, 2022. Re­sidents may find previously recorded meet­­ings at youtube.com/Tewks­bury­TV. The meeting may be view­ed on Com­cast channel 99 and Veri­zon channel 33 or at­tend in person at town hall.

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