Special to the Record
The City of Chelsea, invites the Chelsea community to attend the August 26 Planning Board meeting to discuss Boston Provisions’ request for a Special Permit to allow it to relocate its businesses Wulf’s Fish and Savenor’s to 100 Justin Drive in Chelsea.
Boston Provisions submitted a formal Special Permit petition to the Chelsea Zoning Board of Appeals to gain a “fish processing” use of the building located at 100 Justin Drive. Boston Provisions’ company, Wulf’s Fish, needs to have a Special Permit to operate in Chelsea because the City’s zoning ordinances do not currently have a “fish processing” option among its building uses. Although Wulf’s Fish is not a fish-processing plant – it’s a wholesaler that cuts fish to order and distributes filets to private chefs, local restaurants, and supermarkets – this is the name of the Special Permit that most closely aligns with its operations.
Boston Provisions’ Special Permit petition includes a plan to return the currently vacant and industrial-zoned property at 100 Justin Drive to use after the 2021 closure of Signature Breads. Key elements of the proposal include interior and exterior renovations that will include extensive landscaping, upgraded lighting and building façade, and re-grading the parking lot for better drainage that total approximately $15M.
Boston Provisions has indicated that the project could bring approximately 125 existing jobs to Chelsea, with about 30% of those positions currently held by Chelsea residents. The petition also outlines the potential creation of an additional 125 new jobs, with an expressed commitment to local hiring. The company has also proposed community-focused programming, such as culinary education initiatives, donations to local food programs, and outreach specifically designed for Chelsea residents.
As part of Chelsea’s regular Special Permit process, public hearings are being held by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) as well as the Chelsea Planning Board. At these hearings, the ZBA and Planning Board have the Petitioner make a presentation to explain what he/she is seeking to do. The board then asks questions of the Petitioner. After the board’s questions are answered, the hearing is open to the public for comments.
The Planning Board in particular is tasked with reviewing the proposal for compliance with the City’s ordinances and conducting a Major Site Plan Review. During the Major Site Plan Review, the Planning Board considers the proposed site layout, including parking, pedestrian access, lighting, signage, drainage, and landscaping. Once complete, the Planning Board provides a recommendation to approve, or deny, the permit. All board and commission meetings, including these ZBA and Planning Board meetings, are open to the public, with legal notice provided two weeks or more in advance.
We encourage all residents to attend these upcoming public hearings, ask questions, and get information directly from City staff, and resident-members of Chelsea’s Zoning Board Appeals and Planning Board. Like all projects, this proposal will be evaluated based on its compliance with City bylaws, environmental and health regulations, and community feedback.
No decisions on the permit will be made without thorough review or public input, and no permits will be issued until all inspections are complete, and the company is expected to remain responsive and collaborative in addressing ongoing community feedback.
For more information about the public process, upcoming hearings, or the proposal itself, please contact John DePriest, Director of Permitting and Land Use Planning at [email protected], or Will Cecio, Planner/Land Use Planner at [email protected].