The Project Review Committee on Nov. 14 reviewed proposed site-plan changes for Breeze Apartments at 121–125 Lake Street, including a change from a cast-in-place concrete retaining wall to a segmented block retaining wall, relocation of a dumpster enclosure, and updates to landscaping and transformer screening.

Project lead Eric told the board that additional soil uncovered during brownfield cleanup and the site’s limited ability to over-excavate — excavation would cross property lines and trigger EPA oversight — made the previously proposed poured wall impractical. Contractor Mike Farabella of DJA Builders said a poured wall would require over-excavation and formwork on both sides in confined space, which creates safety risks on the site’s steep slope. "With the segmented retaining wall, we are able to install that wall from the front, meaning from the parking lot side of the project," Mike said, adding the segmented approach avoids over-excavation and is safer.

The team proposed relocating the dumpster to avoid off-site excavation and described a cedar enclosure screened with evergreen arborvitae plantings. The project team confirmed the cedar enclosure would be roughly 8 feet tall and said arborvitae would likely be 4 to 6 feet at installation. The team has staged retaining-block samples on-site near Lake Street for board members to inspect without entering the project property and agreed to provide larger photos of full installed walls and detailed elevations for the board packet.

Board members asked the project team to provide additional materials for the full planning-board meeting: full sections and elevations showing how the segmented block wall will sit against exposed bedrock, elevation details for the wall top course and cap, an updated landscape plan showing arborvitae locations and transformer screening, and clearer depictions of the ramped/accessible path so the board can distinguish ramped elements from general circulation.

No formal action was taken at the Nov. 14 meeting; staff said that if the requested drawings and details are submitted, the board may consider approval of the changes at the next meeting.

The committee did not take a vote at this meeting; the project team will submit the requested drawings and planting plan as part of the planning-board package.