The Chelsea City Planning Board on an evening hearing approved two special permits to allow driveway openings and related side‑yard parking at 57 Palmer Street and 75 Palmer Street. The board approved the permits with standard conditions and required the use of permeable pavers for the new pavement.

The applications were presented together but voted on separately. James Christopher, one of the principals of 686 Architects, told the board the request concerned “the easement and parking between 75 and 57 Palmer,” and said the parking and easement had been part of an earlier application and is now being sought as relief as the project closes out. Planning staff reported the planning board recommended approval with standard conditions and that the applicant planned to use permeable pavers as proposed.

Board member Marilyn moved to approve the first case with the standard conditions and permeable pavers; another board member seconded and the chair called the vote. The board then took a separate motion on the second Palmer Street case and approved it with the same conditions. The decisions were recorded as approvals; the planning department will prepare the written decisions and staff advised the applicant to coordinate with the department about timing for issuance.

The permits cover driveway openings that are not permitted within required front yard setbacks or within five feet of side lot lines or walls containing windows; the board imposed the planning board’s standard conditions and the permeable‑paver requirement in order to reduce stormwater runoff.

The approvals close the public hearing on these two Palmer Street cases. Staff told the applicants the written decisions will take some time to prepare and that they should follow up with planning staff about timing.