Board reviews sketch plan for 36-unit Thornton Street condominium; parking, easements and pedestrian access remain unresolved

The planning board heard a sketch plan presentation for a 36-unit four-story condominium proposed at 5 & 9 Thornton Street. Austin Fagan of BH2M and architect Chris Delano presented a consolidated single-building design (36 units) and said the team is pursuing off-site parking in the Pearl Street parking garage and working on access easements; staff said multiple outstanding items—access agreements, loading zones, turning movements and pedestrian safety—must be resolved before a preliminary submission.

Board members pressed the applicants on potential prescriptive easements where historic access exists, the feasibility of loading areas on the undersized Thornton Street right-of-way, and how residents would cross Elm Street to reach the parking garage. Staff asked for a targeted peak-hour trip count and clearer loading/turning analyses on the next submittal; the meeting did not include a vote because this was a sketch plan review.