The Planning Board has continued the First Parish Church’s public hearing on the site plan review on the Stearns Room project until April 14 at 8:45 p.m.
The hearing that began on February 24 and continued on March 10 was for the purpose of gathering information and public input on the plans for drainage, landscaping and roof design of the a new version of the Stearns Room. The church has already gotten approvals for the project from the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Historic District Commission (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Feb. 24, 2015).
At the March 10 session, church neighbors expressed concern that the material proposed for the metal roof of the new structure would reflect too much light, so the church has agreed to present a material with a duller finish. Engineers need to drill another test pit to ensure that the proposed drainage system will work properly, and the board must also settle on the nature of the landscaping between the church and neighbors’ property.