The Town of Blackstone Planning Board voted to authorize signing a release of covenant and a tripartite bond agreement to allow Pickering Estates to obtain building permits.

The action followed an update from Howard, a representative of Pickering Estates, who told the board that telephone poles were moved roughly three weeks earlier, “the water main is in, the sub grading's in” and that “almost 2 thirds of all the drainage is finished.” Howard said four of five lots are under agreement for sale and that he and Jimmy Sullivan had “agreed on the amount” for the bond and that he would bring the paperwork to the next meeting.

The board discussed signing the release and the tripartite agreement outside a public meeting and having the town clerk notarize the documents. Planning Board members said they could hold occupancies even if some permits were released early. The board also noted the tripartite agreement and the release of covenant would require signatures from the developer and the board and likely notarization before recording.

The board took a formal motion to sign the covenant and the tripartite agreement and to arrange notarization after documents are circulated. The motion was seconded and approved in a roll-call vote with Owen, Kirk, Joe Bellrose and the chair recorded as voting yes.

The board asked Howard to deliver the final tripartite paperwork and the release of covenant so signatures could be arranged with the town clerk’s office prior to the next meeting.

Board members also discussed that, should weather permit work to proceed, the developer could be allowed to pull some building permits while occupancies would be held until infrastructure is complete. The board did not set a specific bond amount in the meeting minutes; Howard said the amount had been agreed with Jimmy Sullivan but the exact figure was not read into the record.

Planning board consultant Gino Carucci and other members indicated the agreements would be circulated for signature and notarization once delivered. The board did not vote to release any bond funds at the meeting; it authorized signing the documents once the paperwork is presented.