By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

Planning board members this week raised concerns that the town did not receive proper notification of the recent meeting about the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review of the Paragon Dunes project. Abutters to the site also said they were not informed.

“The planning board is supposed to be in the mix somewhat…we are supposed to be cc’d on communications, and as far as I know we were not,” member Jeanne Paquin said at Wednesday night’s meeting.

Director of Community Development and Planning Chris DiIorio said his department received the information late, and would investigate what happened.

According to Paquin, the planning board did learn of the Zoom MEPA hearing from a message forwarded to them by DiIorio; she and Nancy Boyce noted they logged in by telephone.

“We should be in the loop to know what the concerns are…they did have concerns about the building relative to water flow-through,” said Paquin. “The DRB [Design Review Board] sat on the hearing they should be included too.”

“They were throwing a lot of stuff out at the meeting…until we see something in writing, it is hard to know which way they will go,” said DiIorio.

Boyce also stressed a lot was covered at last week’s “very powerful and eye-opening” MEPA review, where complications and issues the developer had already assured the town were taken care of were once again brought to the forefront.

Paquin said state officials said all buildings should be on pilings, which would affect other commercial development in the Nantasket Beach Overlay District; they also voiced concern of water deflection to surrounding properties. She requested that DiIorio ask for a recording or transcript of the meeting.

Susan Mann, vice chair of the beach management advisory committee, pointed out “the state is tightening their permitting processes; making it more difficult to get permits in floodplains.”

Members of the public, as well as the planning board, expressed concern the MEPA review meeting was not well publicized and the public commentary period will be ending on Tuesday, May 28.

Resident Lisa French said she is concerned about the process and lack of public notification. The state placed a notice in The Patriot Ledger; however, French said it was not reasonable to expect Hull residents would see this information. Member Harry Hibbard said the state dictates how notifications are made; however, issues should be brought to the attention of the select board.

Susan Green, an owner at the Horizons condominiums abutting the Paragon Boardwalk site, said she received nothing in the mail about the MEPA hearing.

“It is a requirement to notify abutters of the filing of an application; I don’t think there is a notification requirement after the filing of the application,” said Hibbard.

“If abutters get no notification that is a problem, and we need to address it,” DiIorio said.

Green said she would follow up with the state regarding the lack of notification she received as an abutter.

Paquin assured members of the public that any changes to what the planning board approved must be reviewed locally before final approval.

“One of the conditions is they must obtain all state and federal licenses and permits,” said Hibbard. “The ConCom [conservation commission] must also approve the project to allow the special permit to go forward,” said Hibbard.

The planning board suggested that citizens contact Director of Climate Adaptation and Conservation Chris Krahforst or the conservation commission regarding the submission of comments in the MEPA review process.

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