The Braintree Planning Board voted to approve a major modification to the special permit and site plan review for 125 Union Street on April 8, 2025, allowing Torrington Properties to build a revised retail center that replaces a previously proposed Chick-fil-A with other tenants including Shake Shack and Brookline Bank.

The board’s decision follows staff and peer-review reports showing the revised plan reduces projected traffic compared with the prior approval. The vote to approve the modification was made by Member Kent, seconded by Member Connolly, and carried on a voice vote with the five voting members present all saying “aye.”

Torrington’s attorney, Frank Marinelli, told the board the developer has invested roughly $9,800,000 in acquisition and site work and presented a two‑building layout with a smaller 4,251‑square‑foot building at the east end and a larger approximately 10,180‑square‑foot building at the other end. Marinelli said letters of intent have been submitted for the larger building’s end pads, including one from Shake Shack and another use‑by‑right tenant for the western end, Brookline Bank; materials identify a second letter of intent as “CABA.”

Assistant Director Murphy summarized staff’s recommended draft decision and conditions, saying many changes reflect the new development program and lowered traffic. Murphy read condition 45(b), which requires the applicant to coordinate with the Braintree Police Department and town staff 90 days before any request for temporary or permanent certificate of occupancy to develop a grand‑opening traffic and parking management plan. The condition allows the police department to require police details and, if traffic from authorized activity creates a public nuisance, to require measures such as reduced hours or limited drive‑through offerings. Staff recommended removing prior language that referred to closure, while preserving other mitigation developed for the earlier Chick‑fil‑A approval.

Board members and the applicant discussed traffic, access and pedestrian improvements. Jeff Dirk, the applicant’s traffic engineer, and project manager Sean Donahue answered technical questions about trip counts and turning radii. Staff and the applicant said peer reviews of traffic and civil engineering had returned favorable results. Member McCamey and others said they appreciated retaining robust mitigation despite an estimated 44% reduction in vehicle trips compared with the prior plan. The applicant also agreed to install sidewalks along Ivory Street to improve pedestrian access from the MBTA stop.

The public hearing on the modification drew no public commenters in the chamber. The board entered correspondence into the record and closed the hearing before voting to approve the draft decision and conditions as discussed on the record.

Members asked and received construction scheduling and phasing information from the applicant; Sean Donahue estimated site development and building core-and-shell work could be completed by mid‑November with tenants fitting out afterward. The applicant said construction would be coordinated to avoid on‑road stacking of construction vehicles.

The approved decision retains extensive traffic mitigation originally drafted for the Chick‑fil‑A proposal but substitutes language focused on drive‑through limits and management rather than closure. The decision and conditions will be incorporated into the record; the applicant must satisfy remaining peer‑review comments and coordinate final plans with staff before construction permits are issued.

Planning action on a separate nearby application (a Simon Property Group item at 250 Granite Street) was continued to May 13, 2025.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve major modification and site plan review for 125 Union Street — Mover: Member Kent; Second: Member Connolly; Outcome: approved (voice vote; five voting members present all in favor).