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Site Plan Review-Notice of Decision


Applicant: Benedictine Fathers, Inc.
c/o Rev. Thomas O’Connor
16 Hull Street
Hingham, MA 02043

Premises: Glastonbury Abbey
0 Hull Street
Hingham, MA 02043

Date: February 28, 2018

Summary of Proceedings
In accordance with § I-I and § III-B.8.ii the Hingham Planning Board considered this application for Site Plan Review with a request for waiver from the requirements of Section I-I for the submittal of a utilities plan, lighting plan, drainage calculations and traffic study for the Glastonbury Abbey, located at 0 Hull Street, for a proposed addition, structural changes and associated improvements to an existing building, property zoned Residence C at their regular meeting of February 26, 2018. Planning Board members Jennifer Gay Smith, Gordon Carr, William Ramsey and Sarah Corey were present. The applicant team included John Cavanaro, PE, Sarah Foley, Architect, Abbot Thomas, Chris Nagle, Peter Kitler, and Jack Doolan.

Background and Findings
The Applicant has applied for site plan review with partial waivers for the project which includes building an addition to the main building with a new covered entry to relocate existing bedrooms of the monks to one area with dedicated living space for them outside of the public areas of the facility. There will also be a new covered walkway outside. The use is not intensifying or increasing occupancy. The septic system has sufficient capacity and the area that is currently living quarters will be repurposed for use as a library or storage.

The Board discussed the limited scope of the review under § III-B.8.ii, and that the site plan review was limited to reasonable regulation. The Board discussed the front façade of the building and if the stone work on the rest of the building might be replicated on the addition. The applicant team said that they might be limited by availability of stones, or cost, but would certainly try to have stones on the bottom portion of the façade of the additions if possible. The Community Planning Director noted that there would still be review by town staff during the building permit process.

Decision and Vote
After considering the scope and substance of the request, in conjunction with the legal scope of review the Planning Board moved, seconded and SO VOTED to Waive Site Plan Review for the project as proposed with the application materials, and as presented.

For the Hingham Planning Board,



Jennifer M. Gay Smith, Chairman


cc: Town Clerk, Building Commissioner