Bellingham Planning Board reorganizes, continues three hearings to July

BELLINGHAM -- June 12, 2025, Bellingham Planning Board unanimously reorganized Thursday and continued three pending development hearings to July 17. The board elected Bill Divine as chair, Bill O'Connell as vice chair, and Liz Barthollette as secretary-clerk at its June 12 meeting, with all three votes passing 4-0. Three public hearings, Prospect Hill Village and two separate Hartford Avenue projects covering addresses at 182, 186, 190, 194, and 198 Hartford Avenue, were each continued to July 17 with decision deadlines extended to August 31, a process required to allow new member Marty to be re-notified and participate as a voting member. The board also advanced a two-story office building proposed for 12 Main Street, directing applicant representative Stephen Bald to submit architectural renderings and agreeing to condition any approval on a Mass DOT access permit, a structural engineer's stamp for a retaining wall, and dark-sky-compliant lighting with no freestanding poles; the town planner said a draft decision could be ready for a potential close-out vote at the July 17 meeting.