Planning Board Continues 548 South Street Subdivision Hearing to June 3

BRIDGEWATER — May 20, 2026 — Bridgewater Planning Board continues 548 South Street subdivision hearing after road safety and aquifer concerns dominate public comment. The board voted 3-0 at its May 20 hybrid meeting to continue the four-lot subdivision public hearing to June 3, after Chair Patrick Driscoll pressed applicant engineer Rebecca Baptista of Silver Engineering to drop a waiver request that would have allowed the existing home parcel — carrying only 79 feet of frontage — to be conveyed before the new subdivision road is built. Building Commissioner Stephen Solari, participating remotely, backed Driscoll: "You cannot, this cannot be released unless, until the roads put in because they're going to need to require the frontage on the new street to give them the 125 plus." Abutter Elise Burden of 526 South Street argued that undersized lots over a Zone 2 aquifer should be limited to two bedrooms each under a 10,000-square-foot-per-bedroom standard, and called the 14.5-foot road entrance "insane" for emergency access. The board also received a briefing on a draft 10-year Open Space and Recreation Plan prepared by consultant Beals and Thomas; Town Planner Shane O'Brien said the plan must be submitted to the state by the end of June before an EEA technical assistance grant expires, and the board indicated it would take up a formal letter of support at a future meeting. O'Brien also announced a $509,525 Shared Streets Program grant for Park Avenue pedestrian improvements near the MBTA platform.