By Theresa Knapp 

Pro-Painting, Inc. of Clinton has proposed two 6,600 square foot prefabricated metal warehouses at 370 South Main Street, across from Hopedale Business Park and among several single-family homes. 

At the May 1 meeting of the Planning Board, Chair Stephen Chaplin said the town’s peer review by Graves Engineering should be completed by the middle of May. 

A peer review is “the practice of obtaining an independent, unbiased evaluation of the adequacy and application of engineering principles, standards, and judgement from an independent group of professionals having substantial experience in the same field of expertise,” according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

Chaplin said, “This applicant has been waiting patiently. This is the General Business A zoning district where warehousing is allowed as a matter of right…I think pretty clearly, by the bylaw, this is an approval subject to conditions.”  

The board discussed potential conditions with the hope of getting a signed decision to the applicant in June. 

Chaplin read an email from Hopedale Water and Sewer Department Manager Tim Watson who said, in part, the developer will be required to install a six-inch water main from the street to a location past the second warehouse to end with a fire hydrant; and each unit will require a separate service line and meter.  

Board member Carole Mullen expressed concern over potential fire suppression issues related to painting inside the building. Applicant Gabriel Praxedes said “The building is to store my equipment, not to store any paint or any chemicals…I have no reason of storing any chemicals.” 

Board member Christopher Chase reiterated the board’s request for traffic information. Praxedes said he would provide the information before the board’s next meeting. 

The hearing was continued to June 5 at 7:15 p.m. 

For more information on the project, visit www.hopedale-ma.gov/planning-board or bit.ly/370southMainStHopedale.