Sequence of Project Approvals Process for Typical Development Project

Preliminary Brookline Specific Steps

Project Launching (informal):

often at neighborhood level directly by developer,

usually with at least Town Meeting Members

Formal process begins:

--meet with planning and building department staff to review zoning

--declaration of major impact project

Pre-Preliminary Presentation to Planning Board

--leads to appointment of Design Advisory Team

to oversee design review of project

--neighborhood concerns identified early on

Design Advisory Team begins meeting regularly, meeting is public and neighbors often attend--creates good forum

for resolving issues around the design*

Developer meets with Town staff to determine analyses needed:

--Historic preservation, if any demolition envisioned
--Conservation, if open space eliminated or buildings planned for wetlands
--Building, for zoning and building code compliance
--Fire, for safety code compliance
--Transportation, for traffic impacts--traffic report must include access and egress plans, documentation of existing conditions, evaluation of impact of proposed project on traffic on street, at nearby intersections, and anywhere around the project that the Transportation Director has deemed relevant

Town departments review analyses done by developer and issue their report to the Planning Board within their area of expertise. General expectation is that developers need to fundamentally satisfy all relevant Town Departments for project to get approval.

"Preliminary" presentation to the Planning Board (really interim)--a public meeting where progress is reviewed, and neighborhood residents are invited to speak about their concerns.

Planning Board final review

Developer presents project to board, with comments from Town departments, neighbors and members of the public. Planning Board votes whether to recommend project approval, and if so with what conditions.

Board of Appeals hearing

Project is presented to the Board of Appeals in public session. Neighbors and members of public welcome to comment. Hearing often goes on for several weeks for complex projects. Developer must get unanimous consent of 3-member Board of Appeals for project to go forward. Board of Appeals usually adopts Planning Board conditions and can add additional ones.

If project is approved, no changes to basic design or project scope are permitted without reopening the process.