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The Fall River Planning Board met on October 14, 2026, to address several old and new business items concerning roadway reconstructions and Approval Not Required (ANR) subdivision plans. In old business, the board voted unanimously to table the roadway reconstruction plan for Spring Street to November at the applicant’s request. The board also reviewed a roadway reconstruction application for a vacant wooded lot off Bark, Norwood, and Monarch Streets. After reviewing technical recommendations with Director of Engineering and Planning Daniel Aguiar, the board voted unanimously to approve design standard waivers—including relief on curve radii, leveling slopes, pavement width, and street trees—and approved the reconstruction plan subject to conditions governing pavement width, crest elevation, and drainage mitigation reviews by the Department of Community Utilities.
Under subdivision surety reviews, the board evaluated a request from Highland Woods Subdivision to reduce their $225,000 letter of credit to $100,000. Board members voiced concern about the lack of an itemized cost estimate and the fact that revised as-built plans were submitted just hours before the meeting without review by the Department of Community Utilities, leading to a unanimous vote to table the matter to November.
In new business, the board unanimously endorsed Form A ANR plans for 107–111 Lewis Street (subdividing a parcel into two lots), 302 Orswell Street (subdividing a through lot into two parcels following ZBA relief), 503 Highland Avenue (subdividing the former Feitelberg Mansion parcel into two conforming lots), and 846 Brayton Avenue (carving out a 26,000-square-foot lot fronting Jefferson Street for a residential apartment project). An ANR plan for 99 Jones Street was tabled to allow the applicant to properly reference a previously endorsed two-lot subdivision before subdividing into three lots. The board concluded the meeting by approving the minutes of September 9, 2026.
Topics discussed
- 1:43 · Spring Street Roadway Reconstruction Tabling
The board received an email from the applicant requesting that the matter be tabled to the November meeting because final designs are still underway. - 2:34 · Table the roadway reconstruction of Spring Street to the November meeting — tabled
Table the roadway reconstruction of Spring Street to the November meeting - 2:49 · Monarch, Norwood, and Bark Streets Roadway Reconstruction and Waivers
Discussion and voting on design standard waivers and technical conditions, including pavement width reduction to 22 feet, crest elevation reduction to 240 feet, and drainage tie-in review near Ledge Street. - 4:28 · Approve Condition 3 reducing crest elevation on Norwood Street to not exceed 240 feet — approved
Approve Condition 3 reducing crest elevation on Norwood Street to not exceed 240 feet - 4:40 · Approve Condition 2 reducing pavement width to 22 feet for the Bark/Norwood/Monarch Street project — approved
Approve Condition 2 reducing pavement width to 22 feet for the Bark/Norwood/Monarch Street project - 4:40 · Approve Conditions 4, 5, and 6 regarding drainage structure illustrations, drainage mitigation at Ledge Street, and DCU/Engineering sign-offs — approved
Approve Conditions 4, 5, and 6 regarding drainage structure illustrations, drainage mitigation at Ledge Street, and DCU/Engineering sign-offs - 4:51 · Approve all requested design waivers for Monarch and Norwood Street reconstruction (Sections 6.105, 6.106, 6.20, 6.203, 6.211, and 6.213) — approved
Approve all requested design waivers for Monarch and Norwood Street reconstruction (Sections 6.105, 6.106, 6.20, 6.203, 6.211, and 6.213) - 18:17 · Table the Highland Woods Subdivision surety reduction request to the November meeting — tabled
Table the Highland Woods Subdivision surety reduction request to the November meeting - 18:24 · Highland Woods Subdivision Letter of Credit Reduction
Discussion regarding whether to reduce a $225,000 surety bond to $100,000 before city departments have fully reviewed late-submitted as-built plans. - 25:43 · 107–111 Lewis Street ANR Endorsement
Review of an ANR plan creating an 8,037-square-foot lot with two existing dwellings and a new 6,062-square-foot buildable lot in an R-4 zone. - 27:18 · Endorse Form A ANR Plan of Land File No. 26-1687 for 107–111 Lewis Street — approved
Endorse Form A ANR Plan of Land File No. 26-1687 for 107–111 Lewis Street - 27:27 · 302 Orswell Street ANR Endorsement
Review of an ANR plan dividing a through parcel into two lots fronting Orswell and Aetna Streets, granted variance relief by the ZBA. - 29:10 · Endorse Form A ANR Plan of Land File No. 26-1688 for 302 Orswell Street — approved
Endorse Form A ANR Plan of Land File No. 26-1688 for 302 Orswell Street - 29:14 · Endorse Form A ANR Plan of Land File No. 26-1689 for 503 Highland Avenue — approved
Endorse Form A ANR Plan of Land File No. 26-1689 for 503 Highland Avenue - 29:14 · Endorse Form A ANR Plan of Land File No. 26-1681 for 846 Brayton Avenue — approved
Endorse Form A ANR Plan of Land File No. 26-1681 for 846 Brayton Avenue - 29:21 · 503 Highland Avenue ANR Endorsement
Review of an ANR plan subdividing the Feitelberg Mansion estate into two large parcels of 24,426 square feet and 41,882 square feet in an S zone. - 31:57 · 99 Jones Street ANR Procedural Revisions
Discussion of a three-lot subdivision plan that needs revision because it must reference the two-lot subdivision plan endorsed two months prior. - 33:53 · Table Form A ANR Plan File No. 26-1683 for 99 Jones Street pending plan revisions — tabled
Table Form A ANR Plan File No. 26-1683 for 99 Jones Street pending plan revisions - 34:08 · 846 Brayton Avenue ANR Endorsement
Review of an ANR plan separating an approximately 26,000-square-foot parking area on Jefferson Street from the Mattress Warehouse site for an apartment development. - 36:59 · September 9, 2026 Minutes Approval
Formal motion and vote approving the previous meeting minutes. - 37:18 · Approve Planning Board meeting minutes from September 9, 2026 — approved
Approve Planning Board meeting minutes from September 9, 2026