Southampton Planning Board 8/19/26

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[0:29] Well, I can’t see them, but they’re supposed to be able to see me. Channel 191 there. When are we on start? Was. When were you on select board? I’m about to formally opened the Southampton Planning Board meeting for August 19th, 2026. We have a quorum. Bob rigs down the end.
[0:51] Jim LaBrie, Mark Donald and myself. Paul Dean and very short agenda tonight. And I’m going to take out of order because it’s it was a late coming in, but I will take it out of order in A&R for uh.
[1:21] The Cheryl Parker, trustee of the Nancy Prisoner prisoner trust at 35 Cook Road map 31, parcel 14 and Ricky attorney Ricky resources here to explain the swap of land here. Yeah, sure. Please. Yeah. I already seen this guy. We all have copies of the plan in front of us. Great. My name is attorney Ricky Rizzo.
[1:51] So I’m here from Parker and O’Grady on behalf of Sheryl Parker, who is the trustee and owner of the parcel that you’re looking at at 35 Cooke Road. We’re here presenting an A&R plan for subdivision for the property. The donor donated her property upon her death to Mass Wildlife, who owns adjacent property to the parcel.
[2:21] However, Mass wildlife didn’t have use for the house parcel itself, so we had the thought to subdivide it, give them the portion that they wanted to take, and then we’ll be able to sell the house parcel and gain another Southampton resident. Um, with the remaining land. I’m sorry, you just said on the subdivision. Um, it was the mass wildlife who was receiving the property under the trust. So they didn’t want the property. They wanted her subdivision mass. Violet.
[2:44] Not a subdivision. They’re dividing the parcel into two parcels. I think if you see the plan, you’ll. Be able. If you want to look at. It’s just. It’s just adding land to an existing parcel. Oh, okay. Correct. It’s not subdivision in the term of their building property on it.
[3:03] There is a house they didn’t want, the house. They wanted the land. So they are taking the land. Yeah. And they’re going to sell the property around the house as a sale. Correct? Correct. Did you want to? Well, I understand now. I thought it was something like. No, no major subdivisions. There’s already. A house there. They’re just adding that a two to it.
[3:28] Okay, okay. So there. So which part is you donate for them? I mean, I know her her house is going for sale. It’s A2 correct? Yes, yes. They’re donating that parcel in the back, selling the house parcel. And then the proceeds will also be donated to wherever the trust designates. Oh, wow. Okay, great. Thank you.
[3:56] Questions from the board on that. Anyone? Pretty clean cut. I think. So.. I’m good. I have. You had that, uh, inquisitive look on your. Face for me? I just want everything to be out of here at 706 or 708. How fast was. I? No. But, um. No, I have no questions on this.
[4:24] All right. Given that if everybody is satisfied with it, I want a motion to endorse the ANR for the trustee of Nancy Prisoner Trust at 35 Cook Road. So moved. Like I have a. Second, second. Motion’s been made. And second. Any other further discussion? All in favor? Aye aye aye. That was painless, Ricky. Thank you.
[4:53] Let me give you the mylar. You want this back? I think. I do. Oh you do? Okay. Do you want a paper one for yourself. I kept one, uh. So there’s your mylar. It’s a nice. We all don’t have to sign them. We used to all have to sign every plan.
[5:32] Yeah. Oh, yeah. He’s got a planning board. Everybody. With six signatures. Are we done? Yeah. So we figured out the. This is yours. To set up. A. All the way. to make sure. So. Okay, that requires you to.
[6:09] Next on the agenda there was a continuation of a public hearing for Atlantic Communications for cell tower at one Cook Road. That was supposed to be heard tonight, but we received a communication from the attorney, Francis Parisi. And I just. Want to. Read the letter for. You. There was an email that. Just came right from Atlantic Sauer. Atlantic Tower, LLC. From the Parisi Law Associates.
[7:12] Dear members of the Southampton Planning Board, as I indicated, my email to Paul Damon and Richard Harris on August 6th, the the Planning Board requested the Atlantic Tower Company to look into an alternative location on the same property that required that the surveyors go back on the site to survey the new location, which has been done. By the civil engineers to revise the site plans.
[7:33] Once the survey is done, which is close to being done. I believe, and the RF engineers to revise the coverage plots, which I am still waiting for. We also advertised and conducted a visibility demonstration at the new location, and I’m awaiting a revised photo in SIM package.
[7:56] Moving the site will also require revised Nepa analysis, which will commence once we get revised site plans. The applicant also needs to amend its ground lease with the landowner. Accordingly, we would respectfully request that the Planning Board meeting on August 19th, 2026 be continued without discussion until October 21st, 2026.
[8:23] Regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Board, please note that I originally requested a continuance until the September 16th Planning Board meeting, but understanding Mr. Harris is unavailable, which he is not available that night, and agreeing that this presence is helpful, we have requested a continuance until October 21st.
[8:51] I anticipate having revised information to the town and peer reviewer well before September 15th, and continuing the public hearing in October until October 21st should give the peer reviewer plenty of time to review the revised information and the applicant to respond to any follow up questions the peer reviewer might have in light of this continuance, the applicant agrees to extend the date by which the Planning Board must, pursuant to the Federal FCC
[9:14] Communications Act 332 shot clock regulations adopted pursuant thereto until November 30th, 2026. Thank you for your consideration. Francis Parisi, Esquire. So, given that for you folks that I’m assuming we’re here for this, this hearing, it’s now October 21st.
[9:44] And the main reason for that was because of all the information I just told you and the peer review company that we hired, um, cannot conduct anything until they get all the information from Atlantic, which they don’t have yet. So it’s it’s well behind schedule. Okay. Um, also, the peer reviewer, uh, fee, which Atlantic has to prepay before the review is done, has not been received yet.
[10:11] And I received another email this afternoon from attorney Parisi saying that he will be in town next week for another meeting of some sort with someone, and he is going to drop the check off then, because the peer review company technically cannot review anything until the money is in our account deposited.
[10:31] So that’s where that stands. So for all intents and purposes, I would ask that a motion that this meeting for Atlantic cell Tower be continued to October 21st until at 7 p.m.. I have a motion. Uh, so moved. I have a second. I’ll second it. Any further discussion? Bob, you had some questions. Well, I just.
[11:03] My discussion is that in that email also, you’re asking for, um, an extension of the shot clock or a waiver, however you want to word it. Um, and based on the first go over by the peer reviewer, the chosen peer reviewer, they’re not eligible for that. Um.
[11:30] So are we not doing anything about that tonight? And the clock is running. Richard Harris was copied on it, and he didn’t have a comment on the shot clock issue at all. And I’m in no position to. Well, I guess my only. Interpret that. So if we’re not going to make a motion one way or the other regarding the shot clock, then I have no issue tonight.
[11:52] So it’s it’s running right now. And I mean, given given the continuance, if you would like to and feel safe with that to continue so that the shot clock is extended to November 30th, I don’t have a problem with that. If that’s. What. I’m not interested in extending it.
[12:09] I just I’m not sure that we want to. I’m just I don’t know, it doesn’t appear that they have the legal right to do so. I would think if there was, with Richard copied on all this communication, I didn’t want to call him over here just for a continuance.
[12:24] But I thought that if there was anything that he had an issue with or a comment, he would have, he. Would have been, okay. Well, if we’re leaving it be, then I have. No, I’m I’m totally fine with it. How about. It’s fine? Explained why they continue everything else. Explain fine. Why the continuance is being requested. Yeah, yeah.
[12:46] I’m good. Are there other than that, just that question. For those of you who just came in, if you’re here for the cell tower. Yeah, right. It’s been a they asked for a continuance because the peer review hasn’t been conducted.
[13:09] And all the information that, uh, of the revised plan has not been, um, submitted. So it’s going to be October 21st, two months out before we’re going to address this again, because of all the information that’s required. Okay. Sorry to sorry that you had to come out tonight. I wish I had you know, I wish there was a way I had everybody’s email.
[13:33] I emailed a couple of the people from Easthampton, the Butters that I knew had some some interest, vehement interest in this project. And I let them know and ask them to spread the word.
[13:53] But if you have any, um, possibility to get on the Southampton website to keep track of meetings, that’s the only way I can do it, because we can’t just send out a blanket email to everyone, right? But you can sign up also to get the email that this meeting is happening, and you can click on the link and it will tell you what’s happening that night. So it can be just sent to you.
[14:08] You don’t have to go looking for it. You just have to go to the town website to sign up for that. Okay. Thank you. So without further discussion. So I motion was made by Mark and seconded by Bob to continue this on October 22nd, 21st 2026. All in favor? Aye aye aye. Uh, let’s see.
[14:37] I would ask your, uh. Two building permits came in since our last meeting, and one of them was the residential stormwater permanently issued for 50 Crooked Ledge. Our last meeting, which I signed off on. And another one was for 160 East Street, which is, um. Orchard, the solar people finally are starting.
[15:18] Starting to, um, do some work up there at this, just as far on East Street there with a solar voltaic. Voltaic. Up there is is what we’re about is that is that at the end? That’s the. Orchard at the orchard. Yeah. But on the hill. Okay. They’re just okay.
[15:37] I wasn’t sure because I know there was something going on down further. They had a they had a solar plant approved. It’s in fact they came in for an extension because it had gone beyond the two years for any construction. So it’s over three years.
[15:53] And they just now we’re starting to get stuff ready to assemble there I guess on site. So can. I ask what they’re doing? What’s that? Can I ask what they’re doing? I didn’t. Know the solar. Yeah, it’s. A solar field. Um, not a solar field. They’re doing like the one on Pleasant. Street. Agro voltaic.
[16:13] That’s going to be over some of the apple trees in the orchard. Okay. Yeah. It’s that there’s no battery energy storage systems. But there is one unit there. Yes. This is before we had any vegetables. Yeah. Mm. And that one, that one.
[16:37] The only person that showed up at the meeting at for the butter was somebody across the street to wish them well. No one, no one came forward at all. For that. No comment. Um, how big is the battery energy storage system? This is one. It’s just one small unit. Not a huge one. No, it’s not. Very big. The best system. Yeah, yeah. Well, you can get them for residential too.
[16:59] I mean, so they, they get that small. Yeah. This is, this is a pretty big. This, this was, this was. It’s sealed. Yeah. Really? Yeah. Pretty good size. How expensive is this one? Just curious. What new megawatts is it? I can’t remember. Okay. I can dig something up on it and send it to your, um. Bob. Yeah, just.
[17:19] I’m just. Because years ago, they put solar for their house and, um, barn storage in the back, which they had previously, but this one is voltaic. It’s another system, you know, to generate for the lease from the company. And. Okay.
[17:44] And they were able to minimize, um, from what I recall, they were able to minimize the cutting of trees that they did up there. You know, how many apple trees had to be removed? So they’re going to be over the apple trees? Okay. Apples will be smaller. Um, and the. trees will probably die. But anyways, between the heat from the collectors and. Anyway. Those sunlight.
[18:06] Those two were previously permitted. But do I have a motion to just approve my my approval? On those two building permits? I wasn’t a board member at that time. Can I vote on this? You don’t have to. Do I have a motion? Uh, I move that we, uh, concur with your approval of the.
[18:32] Motion made by Mark. Do I have a second? Second? All in favor? Aye. As long as I can, I will. Yeah. Other than that, that is it. Um.
[19:13] The only other thing I have to offer is that the fire chief will sent me an email saying that, uh, that project at 38 College Highway, uh, seeing as it didn’t have it, didn’t need sprinklers because it was under the threshold. But he was still doing some, um, calculations on turning radius for fire apparatus. So he might have a report when we get the continued hearing on that for. Turning. When are they coming back? I thought maybe.
[19:43] September, cuz it was the first meeting in. So I. Think it’s the second. Okay. Oh, a second. That the first Wednesday. I think it is. Yeah. I believe so. And the solar is right now I believe the 16th however that that’s all contingent upon the peer review.
[20:12] If it’s back in time for that too, because I just got the check last. Just this week, one day I got the check for the peer review. So I signed the contract and they have it. So now they can start. So whether they have it done by then we’ll go. Motion to adjourn. Jim Jim, I told you.
[20:41] You know, Mark, I don’t want you to move. I want Jim to move because he made such a. Stink of it. I make a motion. We all go home. He started it before the meeting started. I tried, I just knew it was gonna be a quick night.
[20:53] Just looking at the agenda. So I’ll make a motion. We adjourn. I’ll second it. All in. Favor? Aye. Hey. Yeah, yeah, I have a question. Maybe you want this, or. Unofficial. I just got back