This is a lightly edited transcript of the Revere Planning Board meeting of Tuesday, September 29, 2026, made from the RevereTV recording. Speech recognition software produced the text and separated the voices; we then labeled speakers from context, corrected names and misheard words, removed filler and repeated words, and marked passages we could not make out as [unclear]. Otherwise the words are as spoken. Roll-call answers are labeled with the name the clerk called. Other questions from members are labeled “Board member” and may come from different members; “Chair” is the member presiding. The zoning section number read aloud for the body art amendment was not clear on the recording. Timestamps count from the start of the video. For anything you plan to quote or rely on, check the video.
Our report on this meeting: Revere Planning Board backs a new Overlook Ridge entrance and signal on Salem Street, and drops the tattoo shop buffer.
Agenda: Call to order and roll call · Public hearing: deleting the body art buffer rule · Public hearing: Overlook Ridge Drive layout as a public way · Developer presentation · Board questions · Vote on Overlook Ridge Drive · Regular meeting: minutes of the previous meeting · Adjournment
Call to order and roll call
Chair [0:00:13] Good evening and welcome to the meeting of the planning board. Today is September 29, 2026. Frank, do you want to begin us? Roll call.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:00:26] Mr. Abrams.
Mr. Abrams [0:00:27] Present.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:00:28] Mr. Castanza is absent. Ms. Hoffman.
Ms. Hoffman [0:00:33] Present.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:00:34] Present. Mr. Rivera.
Mr. Rivera [0:00:37] Here.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:00:38] Present. Ms. Simmons-Herrling.
Ms. Simmons-Herrling [0:00:41] Here.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:00:42] Present. Mr. Stamatopoulos. Absent. And Mr. Sullivan.
Mr. Sullivan [0:00:47] Here.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:00:47] Present. Okay,
Public hearing: deleting the body art buffer rule
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:00:47] first order of business is the public hearing on a zoning amendment regarding the body art establishments. If I can pull it out. This is Section [number unclear] is deleted. This section is going to be deleted in its entirety. And what that section reads is that body art establishment may not be located less than 500 feet from each other, 500 feet from schools, playgrounds and houses of worship. So the Board of Health, since we’re allowed body art establishments in the general business district, that would preclude any body art establishments getting a certificate of occupancy because of these strict regulations. this hearing is basically to amend that section to eliminate it in its entirety. And that’s all. It is simple, that one sentence. So
Chair [0:02:04] thank you. Are there proponents to speak on this here tonight? Hearing and seeing none. Are there opponents here to speak on this tonight? Hearing and seeing none. Do members of the board have any questions on the body art change?
Board member [0:02:24] Do we have any body art or tattoo parlors here presently in Revere yet?
Chair [0:02:29] Not off the top of my head, Frank. Do you know them?
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:02:31] Yeah, the Board of Health has approved a few already that exist, but they’re not already developed. They weren’t regulated under the ordinance. Now we have an ordinance that regulates where they can go.
Board member [0:02:45] What section of Revere are they going to now?
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:02:48] They’re allowed in the general business district, which is basically Broadway, Shirley Avenue, Highway Business, Squire Road and those areas.
Board member [0:02:58] What are the hours of a tattoo art place?
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:03:01] It can’t be open later than 11 p.m. and they’re regulated by the Board of Health. And a lot of the beauty salons do tattooing now, which is included in the body art establishment because they do the eyebrows and this and that. So that’s all covered now. It’s not the old tattoo days where you go in, get a tiger on your shoulder or something like that.
Board member [0:03:31] Barbers also are just beauty salons.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:03:35] Anybody who undertakes that.
Board member [0:03:36] Yeah.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:03:37] Could be a barber. Yeah. Hairstylist, beauticians, usually. So body art establishments are now kind of equal to that type of establishment. And you’re seeing more and more of those in the city. So they wanted to make it less difficult for them to start a business in Revere.
Board member [0:04:00] All right, we don’t have one all right,
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:04:07] we do. The board of health has issued licenses, but only to like beauticians to do like body piercing and, you know, the eyebrow piercing and that sort of thing. But this is a regular body art establishment. Allow people to go in for tattooing of other their body parts.
Board member [0:04:28] So there is a policy already in place.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:04:30] We already have an ordinance that’s been adopted.
Board member [0:04:33] Okay.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:04:33] Okay. And this is a small, tiny amendment to that ordinance.
Chair [0:04:44] Do you want to take roll call on that?
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:04:51] We have a motion to.
Chair [0:04:52] Yes. Motion to take roll on that.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:04:55] Is there a second by anybody? We have a second.
Board member [0:04:59] Second.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:05:04] Okay. On the motion to recommend to the city council the amendment of Section [number unclear] by deleting it in its entirety. Mr. Abrams.
Mr. Abrams [0:05:20] Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:05:21] Mr. Castanza is absent. Ms. Hoffman.
Ms. Hoffman [0:05:25] Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:05:26] Mr. Rivera.
Mr. Rivera [0:05:27] Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:05:28] Ms. Simmons-Herrling.
Ms. Simmons-Herrling [0:05:29] Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:05:30] Mr. Stamatopoulos is absent. And Mr. Sullivan.
Mr. Sullivan [0:05:33] Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:05:34] Yes. So ordered. So that recommendation will go to the city council. Their public hearing, I think, was last evening. So it’ll go to the council for next week.
Board member [0:05:47] Okay.
Public hearing: Overlook Ridge Drive layout as a public way
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:05:50] The second public hearing is held with respect to the Overlook Ridge Drive layout to be adopted as a public way as shown on the plan of Revere and Malden dated July 1, 2025, prepared by Hancock Associates. So this is a layout for Overlook Ridge Drive. Right now they have a temporary curb cut and driveway on Salem Street. The master plan provided a new thoroughfare cutting right through Overlook Ridge Drive.
Board member [0:06:37] And.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:06:37] And it basically eliminates the existing curb cut and creates a new curb cut and driveway entrance right in front of the fire station on Salem Street. So this is important for the city to accept this layout as a public way because Mass Highway Department, the city received a $4 million grant from Mass Highway Department to design and construct the intersection and the layout of that driveway. So that’s a little bit about the history of it they’ve gone through. And the proponents will probably explain it thoroughly. Gone through an intense environmental review process and review by Mass highway department. So I’ll leave it up to any of the proponents want to speak on it.
Chair [0:07:32] Thank you. Let’s do the opponents first. Are there any opponents here to speak on this evening? Hearing and seeing none. Are there any proponents here to speak this evening?
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:07:45] Yes, we are the proponents.
Chair [0:07:48] Feel free to come up and share.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:07:58] Whatever you prefer is. Okay, great.
Chair [0:08:24] Thank you.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:08:26] Thanks.
Chair [0:08:37] Sure.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:08:37] Okay.
Developer presentation
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:08:42] Could you state your name and for record?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:08:46] My name is Sam Randall representing the proponents. I’m also joined by Jen Schultz. Sorry.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:08:56] Press that button for the mic.
Chair [0:08:58] Great. Under the base of the microphone. There’ll be a button.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:09:01] Yes, thank you. Okay, I’ll start over. My name is Sam Randall. I’m representing the proponent. I’m also joined this evening by Jen Schultz, our legal counsel, as well as Wayne Amico. He is our project engineer, transportation engineer. So I will need the cord. Okay, great. So it looks like he’s able to zoom in. Stand to the side. So we have a brief presentation this evening. There we go. As Frank mentioned, we’re here tonight to request the Planning Board’s recommendation to City Council for the layout of parcel A1, which I’ll walk you through. This project is, has been in the planning stages and implementation stages for many years. It starts started in 2001 with the master planning of the previous quarry site. So since that time, about 2,000 residential units have been built out at Overlook Ridge Drive. And part of that initial planning phase required MEPA review. So, Environmental Protection Agency review. Since 1999, there have been a series of updates to that permitting. We’re actually at notice of project change number five at this point, which was issued in January 2024. So the process to date specifically regarding this, the relocation, as Frank mentioned, of Overlook Ridge Drive from its temporary location into its. What will be its permanent location started if you go back, putting MEPA aside for a minute. In 2023, the joint planning Task Force, which included representatives from both Revere and Malden, approved the new drive location as it’s proposed this evening. At the end of that same year, the city of Revere wrote a letter to MEPA supporting notice of Project Change 5, as well as the associated roadway improvements. We were also in parallel working with MassDOT, as Frank mentioned, on permitting because this requires a new state highway layout. It’s quite an in depth process with MassDOT. So it required a 25% design submission which occurred in June of 2024, followed then by a 75% design submission to MassDOT which was at the end of June of this year. I should mention that both of those design milestones were reviewed by Revere as well as Malden because this project touches both municipalities. So we were sure to have sign off before we submitted to MassDOT with those designs. We also held Wayne and I held a fire chief joint meeting, which I thought was an important milestone here, back in March of 2025 to review the new design as well. So that all led us to last month when we made this application. One of the requirements as part of the MassDOT permitting is that this little stretch of roadway so parcel A1 be deemed public. And it’s really because the infrastructure that we’re putting in that road just. It needs to be in a public way. It requires signalization. That’s really the main driver behind it will have signalization for the fire station to allow them to egress and in a an emergency situation, safely out onto Salem Street. So I think I covered this one. I think the key from this slide is just that, like I mentioned, we’re on notice of project change number five, which did require this roadway redesign. The roadway redesign itself. What does that entail? So it’s essentially realigning Overlook Ridge Drive to meet Salem Street on the other side of the joint fire station. It’s the signalization of that same intersection with turn lanes widening, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, as well as MBTA bus stops. To reiterate, the location of the relocated Overlook Ridge Drive was approved in 2023 by the joint planning task force, which was actually established back in 2001. When this master plan develops development begun through the land reclamation agreement. Frank also mentioned this. Also relevant is that we do have a $4 million MassWorks grant to fund the signalization and these transportation improvements. So it’s notable that neither city will have to pay for any of these improvements since we have a grant for it. The signalization is necessary because it unlocks 617 additional residential units on the remaining to be developed parcels at Overlook Ridge Drive. And it’s notable because there are currently actually no affordable units out in Overlook Ridge Drive today. And this will add a significant number of affordable homeownership units as well as rental units. But the signal has to be done before we can actually build those. So the request. So you can see in the presentation, actually on the cover sheet, I highlighted parcel A1. So we are just asking tonight that the board recommend to the City Council that this parcel be laid out as a public way. It will. Oh, the other thing I should mention is obviously that it will result in a safer intersection. This intersection has been studied widely and it’s not currently very safe. And I think everyone has experienced the traffic in that area. So the idea here is a much safer intersection with the signalization, which helps with traffic queuing as well. I mentioned the housing that it will unlock that no city funds will need to be expended. There are some other community benefits that we put here just that have been as a result of the master plan community. I don’t need to spend a lot of time on that. So I’ll just flip back to this just gives you The. It’s really the ANR plan that was approved in both Revere and in Malden because you can see the city line sort of touches on the corner of parcel A1. So it’s really just what’s highlighted in yellow that we are asking for action on tonight, the proposed intersection. Like I mentioned, we have our transportation engineer here tonight if there are any questions. But it’s really just a new signalized intersection, marked crosswalks, so an improved pedestrian experience, bus stops, MBTA bus stops on the road, as well as being coordinated with the Route 1 northbound off ramp and fire station. So that was important to make sure that coordination happened well ahead of the design. So I don’t need to say this again, but it’s really the layout now is what we’re asking for. So this board turn recommend that the city council layout Parcel A1 as a public way. And that meeting is scheduled for October 26th. And that will allow us to really utilize the MassWorks funds that we’ve been granted to improve this area. This vote does not accept the road or the easement. It’s just the recommendation to city council. And then ultimately city council would vote on the layout acceptance. We would be able to construct and signalize the new drive once we have full sign off from MassDOT, which we’re in the process of obtaining. And then we would ultimately return to the council for acceptance of a public access easement, which would happen over parcel A1. So that’s kind of how the sequence of events will happen. And that is it. That is the end of the presentation.
Board questions
Chair [0:19:19] Thank you. Does anybody have questions?
Board member [0:19:24] Parcel A1, is that right now currently owned by Overlook Ridge since it’s not a public way or.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:19:30] Yes, it’s owned by an Overlook Ridge entity.
Chair [0:19:33] Okay,
Board member [0:19:38] So basically this is along Salem Street, right?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:19:41] That’s right.
Board member [0:19:41] Is that correct? So this is not the main entrance that you’re talking about?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:19:45] It will be. So it’s not the current main entrance. The current main entrance is actually like at the top of the plan. You can kind of see where it says drive, but we are proposing to relocate it as part of this process.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:20:04] So that main entrance will be abandoned once this new driveway is completed and its new roadway layout is completed. And that space will now become developable for commercial development. I think what’s proposed There is roughly 10,000 square feet of commercial space. So there’ll be a landscape buffer zone between Salem Street and this development, and it would be accessed by the Overlook Ridge, new Overlook Ridge Drive.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:20:37] So if you go to page seven. It might actually identify it a little bit easier for you. So I call it plan. Right. So all the way to the right of that plan is the current Overlook Ridge drive location that will be abandoned, as Frank just described, to allow additional commercial development of 10,000 square feet in that area. And then the new intersection is darker. It’s kind of like in the middle of the plan on the other side of the fire station, if that makes sense.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:21:11] Sam, a question has been brought up to me regarding the northbound ramp from Route 1 onto Salem Street. And will that be signalized as part of this plan?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:21:25] Wayne, do you want to answer that
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:21:26] at the bottom of Salem Street?
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:21:31] Hi, guys. Wayne Amico from VHB, for the record, yes. To answer Frank’s question, that will be signalized, the intersection as proposed on sheet 7. As Sam noted, there’ll be a signal on Salem Street and there’ll be an emergency signal in front of the fire station on the new relocated Overlook Ridge Drive. And all those approaches will have signalization and pedestrian accommodations.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:21:56] I bring that up because it removes what’s currently a severe safety hazard with traffic coming off that ramp. Visibility and sight distance is very low. And vehicles coming onto Salem Street from Route 1 conflict with vehicles heading west on Salem Street. So it’s another additional safety feature to this plan.
Board member [0:22:22] Are you going to have railings for the pedestrians on the ramp?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:22:26] Railings?
Chair [0:22:27] Yeah.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:22:31] Can you repeat the question?
Board member [0:22:33] Would they be railings for pedestrian when they go down the ramp from Overlook Ridge? Yeah.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:22:39] No, there’s no railings necessary. Based on the grade of the road.
Board member [0:22:47] I’m a little confused. Maybe you can help me out. I always thought in front of the fire station, it was North Salem Street, and then Salem Street would be adjacent to Bennett Highway. That’s the way I always thought it was.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:23:05] I think if I. If memory serves me correctly, North Salem is coming from Lynn, and then it turns into Salem Street in this area at the town line. Does that make sense?
Board member [0:23:19] Or from Lynn? Yeah, I’m stuck in Malden. How did you get to Lynn?
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:23:25] Sorry? From the direction of Lynn.
Board member [0:23:27] Oh, Lynn Street. I thought he’s talking about the city of Lynn.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:23:33] I didn’t say that correctly.
Board member [0:23:36] All right, so Lynn Street. So I know you’re coming out of Saugus. You go by the fire station. That’s North Salem. And then you go underneath the highway. Isn’t that North Salem?
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:23:50] No, Salem ends at the.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:23:53] At the town line.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:23:54] Town line, yeah. And then it picks up. It’s Lynn Street. So it’s the same continuous roadway but it changes names from Salem to Lynn Street as it crosses the town line.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:24:03] Sorry if I confused you, but I think.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:24:05] Don’t ask me why.
Board member [0:24:09] The way it’s right here, it’s showing North Salem going from the fire station towards Malden. And then if you want to go on the highway, that’s Salem Street.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:24:22] Yeah. Because you’re still in Revere. It’s still Salem Street.
Board member [0:24:25] Yeah. And not in Salem Street. If you go down Salem Street, you have cars coming. I believe you have cars coming off the highway and cars going on the highway. Is that what you’re talking about? These traffic controls?
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:24:45] You familiar with the site where the fire station is now?
Board member [0:24:50] Yeah. It says it’s North Salem Street. Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:24:53] Okay. That fire station driveway would now become Overlook Ridge driveway. So it not only accommodates the fire apparatus coming in and out of the site, it accommodates.
Board member [0:25:05] That’s it right there.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:25:06] All traffic going in and out of Overlook Ridge.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:25:09] We’re going to try to bring up a map to go over this a little easier, but what Frank said is accurate. In essence. Where the existing Overlook Ridge driveway is where people are heading northbound, they take a left to go into Overlook. Now, that driveway will be abandoned. It’ll be moved about 300 feet towards Route 1.
Board member [0:25:29] Okay.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:25:29] And there’ll be a new intersection created there. The Route 1 offbound ramp will be realigned slightly and there’ll be a traffic signal put at that location.
Board member [0:25:39] All right. Now, presently there is a. If you go. If you’re on Route 1 and you want to go to Overlook, there is a down ramp that takes you more or less in front of the existing fire station. If you go further, probably another 50, 100 yards, people come on off of. I’m calling it. Well, Salem Street, you take a right and you go onto the highway.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:26:12] Correct.
Board member [0:26:13] What is going to happen at that is also called Salem Street, isn’t it?
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:26:17] That. I think it’s. You may be right. Technically, I think it may actually be an extension of Salem Street that turns into Vining street at the end.
Board member [0:26:28] Yes.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:26:28] And so that roadway, that section of roadway and those ramps under this project will remain as they are.
Board member [0:26:35] Nothing happening there because there’s no real. If you’re going on the highway, people just. There is no yellow light, red light. You just go on the highway.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:26:50] Correct.
Board member [0:26:50] And they. There was no stopping there. Isn’t that where most of the accidents happen that you’re talking about?
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:26:58] I’m not sure of the actual number of accidents, but as part of this project, the mitigation that was Mandated by MEPA was to signalize this location. There is a future phase of the project, if the cities decide to go forward, that tries to alleviate some of the congestion on Route 1 and those existing ramps. But that’s not what we hear about tonight is just the Salem Street at the reoriented Overlook Ridge entrance.
Board member [0:27:29] But when Overlook first came, when they took over the quarry, if I remember correctly, wasn’t there supposed to be an off ramp that you had proposed to build?
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:27:39] That’s what I just referenced is a second phase of this project that’s now a second phase.
Board member [0:27:44] That was a primary phase when you first we’re looking for.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:27:48] I don’t know all the history.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:27:49] Well, I would say it’s evolved through the MEPA approvals. So that may have been true, you know, back in 1999 when the initial MEPA certificate was issued. I’m not sure. I wasn’t working on the project at that time. But based on what I reviewed, I do know that the mitigation has evolved as the project has evolved. Originally Overlook Ridge was going to have more commercial space as an example. Now it’s more residential in nature. So MEPA always analyzes how the projects change and they tell you basically what the required mitigation is.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:28:26] If I can. The second phase is a new interchange at the northern end of Overlook Ridge Drive in Malden. So you know the curve as you come around Route 1 just before you hit Cappy’s, where the Sozio signs are, the little billboards, there would be a new interchange there. So residents in Overlook Ridge Drive can get onto Route 1 north.
Board member [0:28:50] When you say interchange, you going on
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:28:53] Route 1, going off Route 1 into the site and onto Route 1.
Board member [0:28:58] So there is entrance and exit. Okay, all right, two separate ramps. And that’s on the second phase now.
Chair [0:29:04] Yes.
Board member [0:29:05] How long ago? How long?
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:29:07] I can sort of speak to that.
Board member [0:29:09] Okay, sorry to bring it up.
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:29:12] No, look, this is a 25 year and counting project. So we understand. So I think the most relevant, you know, piece to what you’re asking is what happened in the most recent MEPA updates to the project. By notice of project change, followed by a certificate from working with DOT is it ended up splitting. So this came from MEPA and dot IT sort of split the mitigation itself into two pairings with what would be developed and then the mitigation that would be tied to that phase of the development. And so what happened? I think Sam mentioned 617 units. So in order to unlock the this next phase of housing the 617 units and then the 10,000 square feet of retail that Frank was describing that could ultimately be sort of on the far side of the fire station. The requirement, MEPA called it local roadway improvements, even though it’s actually a state highway layout. We’ll just use their nomenclature. And so that is the phase that we’re talking about now is in order to unlock the 617 units of housing the retail at that intersection area, all of this signalization, widening, reorienting of the roadways, that’s what’s required. And then if a final or further phase of the project does come forward, because there is still developable land on sort of the far end, we call it lot 15.
Board member [0:30:49] But is that Revere? I’m sorry, Excuse me. Okay. I’m sorry to interrupt you. I’m just wanna know where we are.
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:30:55] No, that’s fine. The majority of the future, you know, final potential phase is in Malden with roadway crossover into Revere. And so if the developer or future developers of sort of the final piece that has been master plan approved comes forward and says, I really do want to build this now, then there is a requirement to do the other sort of ramping and roadway mitigation. So hopefully I made that better, not worse.
Board member [0:31:33] We’re almost there.
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:31:34] Let’s go.
Board member [0:31:35] So how many units presently are there now?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:31:42] It’s, it’s about 1900 units currently.
Board member [0:31:45] And you’re looking for phase two to be another 650.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:31:50] 617, right?
Board member [0:31:51] 617, yes.
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:31:53] Okay, that’s on three different development.
Board member [0:31:56] So when you build. Well, in order to get into the area for the 617 proposed units, will this phase two roadway be built or will it have to wait again until you finish the 617 units?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:32:18] So we are allowed to build the 617 units under just the signalization. If we want to build over and above that 617, it would require the second phase that Jen described of the on and off ramps.
Board member [0:32:32] And how many more units would be on the second phase that.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:32:37] Well, it unlocks a commercial building, an additional commercial building that would actually be in Malden as well. As I want to say, it’s like
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:32:45] I think 150 additional units, let’s say give or take 150 units are master plan approved at this point, MEPA approved, but are not individually site planned approved. And then as Sam said, there is a commercial lot that cannot be residential. It’s been restricted, but sort of tbd what it might eventually be what would
Board member [0:33:10] it take to get more concrete answers on the signalization and what we were talking about for phase two to move it up. Right now it’s still, it never was built for over the 1900 units and it wasn’t, it’s not going to be built with the 617 units. And I always thought that was one of the most important parts of the proposal from the beginning when you started taking over the quarry, how long do we have to wait for that improvement?
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:33:49] So tough question to answer because I think it’s a combination of, and you probably remember this, that this sort of all began with DOT having very grandiose visions of all the realignment of Route 1, everything that they wanted to do. And then from the DOT perspective, I mean, and I can’t say what led into their thinking, but what we saw and experienced was oh no, we’re not going to do that, we’re going to do something else. And then it became this. And then DOT over the course of the last three, four years they have been solely focused and will only talk to us about the Salem Street intersection with what will be Overlook Ridge Drive. And so I can’t say from the DOT piece of it of what it will take for them to even say if they still would approve new on and off ramps to their highway. I don’t know because they will not talk to us about anything other than what is in front of them right now. From the development perspective, I am going to presume it’s market driven of when and if a commercial development can be absorbed or sort of supported there and whether there is any desire by a developer and the cities to want further and additional housing in the site.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:35:16] The last thing I would mention is also the funding of the roadway improvements. We, as I mentioned we have a grant from the state to construct the roadway improvements at the intersection of Salem Street. But this would require a, you know, further significant grant because there is a lot of ledge in that area where the on and off ramps would occur at the end of Overlook Ridge Drive. So I think the funding is another relevant piece to the puzzle of the puzzle.
Board member [0:35:48] And that will be on Malden side, right?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:35:52] That’s right, yes, that’s right.
Board member [0:35:53] So as of right now, what you’re saying is that first you gotta relocate the entrance and after that you will work on the 10,000 square feet of rent retail.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:36:05] That’s right, yes.
Board member [0:36:05] And then from there you will go to the 300 something units. 15. Is that so?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:36:12] Actually the 10,000 square feet of retail and the 617 additional units can happen in tandem.
Board member [0:36:20] So 1700, is that what you’re saying?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:36:23] 670.
Chair [0:36:24] Yeah.
Board member [0:36:25] Where is that going to go? Exactly?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:36:26] Sure. You can pull that up.
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:36:29] So there is.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:36:30] Is it okay if I. Yeah. Okay, go ahead. So this is the current Overlook Ridge Drive. Current Overlook Ridge Drive. The to be relocated Overlook Ridge Drive is on this side. The developable parcels. The only one that’s actually in revere. Well, it’s two. One is the 10,000 square foot retail, which will happen at the front of the site. And then another is this lot, which is lot 15, which will be 310 units of residential. And then the remaining developable parcels are really back here in Malden. And this is where the on and off ramp in phase two, if it happens, would be.
Board member [0:37:18] Yeah, but you’re saying 17. I mean, 617, that will go. You’re talking about that on the last part of Revere is only 310. So where is the other 307?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:37:31] So it’s three buildings. It would be one here, and then one like approximately here. And those are being done by WinnDevelopment, which is a nationwide, you know, like, housing developer.
Board member [0:37:48] So that will be done by Winn. And this one will be done by who?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:37:51] So currently it’s Veris, that is, and formerly Roseland that is proposing it. They may build it. I don’t know. I actually don’t know what the plan is.
Board member [0:38:02] Okay.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:38:02] But it may be them.
Board member [0:38:05] All right. And the other thing that. Now that you have that up and what we can use is. So what he was talking about earlier. Right. Is when you go on Route 1 and you take that exit to go into the overlook, when you come down the ramp that’s facing maybe directly to the fire department. And then what is it like about maybe 60 feet? That’s what the other entrance is going to be relocated.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:38:28] It’s about right here.
Board member [0:38:29] Yeah. Now, when you go down the ramp, they’re gonna put a signal in there or anything like that. Which exit is this now?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:38:37] So wait, I don’t know if you know it by sight. So. Overlook is on the right.
Board member [0:38:45] Yes. And the current entry is right up a little bit.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:38:50] Yeah.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:38:52] What specifically is the question? It’s probably easier to refer to this plan on sheet seven. This shows the proposed conditions.
Board member [0:38:59] We try to look at it’s kind of small. Are your monitors on?
Chair [0:39:06] On your desk?
Board member [0:39:07] Mine? It is on. No, I mean your monitors.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:39:11] Can you see what I.
Board member [0:39:12] No, this should be powerful.
Chair [0:39:16] I can see on this one,
Board member [0:39:22] I think he’s working. Oh, it came up. Thank you. Which button you press? The last one to the right.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:39:30] So if you look at sheet 7. To the right, part of that plan sheet, let’s call it, you see some dashed lines going up to the left. That’s where the existing Overlook Ridge Drive is now.
Board member [0:39:48] Right.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:39:48] The proposal is to relocate that about 300 feet to the left, where you see the vertical lines going straight up from
Board member [0:39:55] Salem Street on the other side of the fire department. Right.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:39:57] On the other side of the fire station.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:39:59] Correction.
Board member [0:39:59] Yes.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:40:00] Slightly realign the northbound off ramp to Salem Street and put a signal at that location. So all of those acts, all of the approaches will be signalized and the fire station will have its own emergency signal. And they’ll be connected. The two signals will be connected.
Board member [0:40:17] All right, Frank, if you can explain this to them, this is where I’m interested in, please. Sorry. [unclear] Here is the fire station. Then when you take this. Right. This is the area right here. The these. Is that going to be redone? Is that phase two right here? See how you. This is how you get back on the highway.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:40:52] That would be eliminated.
Board member [0:40:54] That’s going to be eliminated.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:40:55] Once the new interchange is to the north of the site.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:40:59] As part of phase two.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:41:00] As part of phase two.
Board member [0:41:01] All right, so how far down is this into the interchange going to be? You mean the new entrance? So this one is going to be
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:41:12] eliminated as part of the phase two, where there’s a new off ramp and a new on ramp to Route 1 northbound.
Board member [0:41:18] Okay.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:41:18] Those two ramps will come up.
Board member [0:41:20] All right. And you’re going to be down here further.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:41:24] Yeah. If you zoom out a little bit, I can show you. I don’t want to touch the screen.
Board member [0:41:28] Frank, can you move to a little left to the right so we can see?
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:41:33] So the new ramp will come like this.
Board member [0:41:36] Yeah.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:41:38] To the end of Overlook.
Board member [0:41:39] Oh, okay.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:41:40] From the end of Overlook and come up here right before the Cappy’s liquor store.
Board member [0:41:44] I got it.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:41:45] Okay.
Board member [0:41:45] Okay.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:41:46] And then when those are. Once those are open, these ramps will be removed. This road will be maintained because it has residential access, but that will basically be a dead end.
Board member [0:41:57] Okay, so to go back to her question, which was our statement that there’s a lot of ledge in this area, which there is. Do you presently blast? Do you chip away and hammer? Probably. Depends on the condition.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:42:17] Yeah.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:42:18] Sometimes the hoe ram can take it out. Others. Other times it’ll be blasting. Realize that’s all next to Route 1. If phase two goes forward. That’ll all be removed under MassDOT’s supervision. There’ll be separate blasting permits through the state and through the fire marshal local, you know, in this case, probably Malden and Revere fire chief, plus the state fire marshal, rolling roadblocks, et cetera.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:42:43] If blasting happens there, I can add, a lot has already been removed. If you go inside the quarry and see how low it is compared to what it used to be, it’s almost at the same elevation as Route 1, except for that ledge in front of it.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:42:58] That’s right.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:42:58] That would have to be taken.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:42:59] So what will happen as part of those ramps if they go forward is based on the grade at Route 1. If you’re driving up there, you can see the ledge outcrop that Sam is referring to. And as Frank just noted, the site is much lower than that. Basically, the proposal would be to, like, cut a channel through that where the ramp is going on, both the north, northbound, off and on ramp.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:43:25] And I think it’s something like 25 acres that was donated by the developer for the construction of this interchange. So that saved a lot of money on the state level because they wouldn’t have to purchase it to construct this interchange.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:43:42] Sam has a good picture up here if you look. Guys, look at the screen. Right, so this is directly at the end of Overlook Ridge. Now to the left. Is it a touch screen?
Board member [0:43:51] No.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:43:53] Yeah, it’s Malden.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:43:54] Yeah. So to the left, that northbound off ramp would be coming through that ledge outcrop that you see there in the distance. And then it would meet where we were just standing at the end of these container boxes.
Board member [0:44:07] You can see the height differential.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:44:08] Correct.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:44:09] And then the on ramp to Route 1 would come from here and go through that ledge outcrop that Sam is zooming to now, right where that front end loader is and then connecting to Route 1.
Board member [0:44:20] And that’s in this new proposal, or is that on the phase two?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:44:24] That’s phase two.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:44:24] That’s phase two.
Chair [0:44:26] All right.
Board member [0:44:27] So phase two will mostly be continued or accelerated because of economic conditions, probably.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:44:36] Well, and I think it’s also that MassDOT is looking at them as, like, two separate permit projects. So currently we’re just moving forward with the phase one permitting at such time that we decide we want or we need to move forward with phase two. We would go through this whole permitting exercise with MassDOT again. So submitting the 25% design, submitting the 75% design, and then ultimately the final design prior to construction.
Board member [0:45:06] So that will be Malden that’s right.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:45:10] The majority is.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:45:10] The majority of it.
Wayne Amico, VHB [0:45:12] Some of it is in Revere, because part of that phase two proposal would be to slightly widen Overlook Ridge from where these improvements stop down near Salem Street up to these new ramps. So there’d be a little bit of work in both.
Board member [0:45:26] And just one other final point of interest. So with the proposed, you have 1900 units now, and you’re looking for. With this other change that you’re on. 617, not counting another 150. Where is all the sewerage going? Which way?
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:45:48] Malden.
Board member [0:45:48] This is all going to Malden. Just going down Salem Street.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:45:52] They have a designated trunk sewer going to Malden. Revere system cannot handle this?
Board member [0:45:58] No, there’s a lot.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:45:59] The agreement has been that it goes to Malden, which is closer to the MWRA and they can handle this connection. I can’t speak for Malden.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:46:09] They have told us that they can. We’ve undergone site plan approval with Malden for many of the new units in question. And the sewer capacity is not an issue.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:46:23] So Revere sewer goes through Malden.
Board member [0:46:27] Does Malden have a pumping station, Frank, you think, or does it have some kind of sewer works? Yeah,
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:46:36] yeah. Our pumping station up there could not handle the additional flow.
Board member [0:46:42] Very good.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:46:42] If you’re familiar with the area, you know that our trunk sewer goes up from that area. The sewer force main goes underneath the seaplane basin to not, you know, we
Board member [0:46:54] have seaplane basin. So
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:47:03] the bottom line is that this is important to Revere in Malden into the development because it’s a major improvement over the existing conditions of that dangerous intersection that’s not unsignalized. And moving that driveway entrance further west or south takes it further away from that nasty curve on Salem Street. As you’re coming from Saugus, coming around that curve, which is as soon as you come around the curve, you’re right there at the entrance drive right now. And there’s been some accidents there that have been severe. So now you have cars slowing down because you have an intersection that’s signalized and you have an organized driveway entrance going into the site.
Board member [0:47:54] I’d like to thank you for your patience. This is a new board, and we’re just trying to get familiar with some of the areas, especially when it’s partly in Saugus, partly in Malden, partly in Revere. But thank you very much for being patient when it comes to the retail space. Do you know exactly what’s going to go in there?
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:48:14] We don’t know yet, but It’ll be about 10,000 square feet of retail.
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:48:19] It’s laid out conceptually as two approximately 5,000 square foot buildings, you know, more or less side by side, which sort of hits the right size for whether it’s a moderate sized convenience store or small grocer or a restaurant, dry cleaner, things like that they. When we went through site plan review on that, the sort of commitment was to figure out what the community needs and wants. And that would be the obvious choice of what is built because they would like their retail to be utilized.
Sam Randall, for the developer [0:48:53] Right.
Board member [0:48:55] Thank you. Okay.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:48:59] Okay.
Board member [0:49:00] Thank you. Any.
Vote on Overlook Ridge Drive
Chair [0:49:03] Are we ready to make a motion for roll?
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:49:10] So right now we’re looking for a recommendation to the city council. I can tell you that the fire chief, DPW superintendent, and the city engineer have reviewed these plans thoroughly with VHB in the proponent, and a lot of things have been worked out and everybody’s in agreement now. And this is the plan that they’ve approved.
Chair [0:49:31] Great. Okay, thank you.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:49:40] So we have a motion to favor. Recommend this to the city council. Public layout.
Board member [0:49:46] Yes. Second.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:49:48] Motion by Mr. Abrams. Second.
Board member [0:49:50] Yes. Second.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:49:51] Mr. Rivera. On the motion. Mr. Abrams.
Mr. Abrams [0:50:00] Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:50:01] Yes. Mr. Castanza is absent. Ms. Hoffman.
Ms. Hoffman [0:50:04] Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:50:05] Yes. Mr. Rivera.
Mr. Rivera [0:50:07] Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:50:08] Ms. Simmons-Herrling.
Ms. Simmons-Herrling [0:50:09] Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:50:10] Mr. Stamatopoulos is absent. Mr. Sullivan.
Mr. Sullivan [0:50:12] Yes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:50:13] Okay. Voted. So ordered. A recommendation will go to the city council. And you’re scheduled to go before the city council when?
Jen Schultz, counsel for the developer [0:50:20] October 26th.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:50:22] October 22nd.
Chair [0:50:23] Okay.
Regular meeting: minutes of the previous meeting
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:50:25] All right, that ends the public hearing segment.
Chair [0:50:31] Thank you. We’re all set. Motion to adjourn.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:50:37] We’re going to regular meeting. We just need approval of previous meeting minutes. I think.
Chair [0:50:41] Perfect.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:50:49] Mr. Rivera can sign them
Board member [0:50:53] on the regular meeting minutes.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:50:55] Yeah.
Board member [0:50:57] For the. Was that the Ocean Ave. Project that I wanted those things inserted that I forwarded for the meeting min. So there was a motion made by myself and Mr. Castanza that the board grant and consent to 1290 North Shore Road. And we have, I think, seven things that we all talked about. The proposal on owner development. And if we could have. I believe they did not put their names when they first came here. We don’t really have it on the minutes. Exactly who they were and the soundproofing to be added. That’s number two. The traffic drop off plan to be recommended. Front entrance of Wonderland station plan. How they get in and out. Parking plan for the building. What was it? 190 unit. How many units? That was 310. 310. I’m sorry. A trash room that we talked about and trash collection plan. Mechanical. I didn’t. I didn’t have it on there. But yes, we can put mechanical. We didn’t talk about it. And the final approval of occupancy requirements. And the other thing, Frank, have they had conversations with the T station? Do they have the developer and the T station? Do they have ongoing conversations?
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:52:29] Yes, because if the parking for this development is only 90 parking spaces, residents. So they’re going to have to park at the T station lot, which means it’s not going to be free. They’re going to have to pay to park there. So if you have a car and you don’t have a parking spot, you have to pay for a parking space daily or rely on the T and not have a car. And that’s the intent here as a train transit oriented development, that more people will use public transportation, pay for the
Chair [0:53:03] parking spot if it’s in the T lot or not.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:53:10] But there will be valet parking under the current proposal for the residents who park underneath the building.
Board member [0:53:16] So can you include those seven things that I.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:53:19] Absolutely. I’ll add those in. Thank you.
Board member [0:53:22] Thank you. Oh, just add in mechanical. I forgot to put that in that you talked about.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:53:29] If you have it here, I’ll add
Board member [0:53:30] it with the trash room. If you could just write in mechanical.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:53:34] Okay.
Board member [0:53:35] Sorry about that.
Adjournment
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:53:43] Okay. Those will be added to the minutes. No other further business. You can adjourn the meeting.
Board member [0:53:53] Okay.
Chair [0:53:54] Motion to adjourn.
Frank Stringi, planning department [0:53:56] Second meeting adjourned.