The Braintree Town Council on April 29 unanimously voted to grant a property owner petition to allow excavation for a gas-service upgrade at 899 Washington Street, commonly identified in the hearing as Richmond Hardware. The council waived the town's 2015 excavation moratorium for this specific work and approved permit conditions recommended by the Department of Public Works (DPW).

The council's action followed a unanimous favorable recommendation from the Department of Public Works committee earlier the same evening. A town staff representative told the council the gas main sits about eight feet from the granite curb on the same side of the street as the property and that the work will be within an on-street parking lane rather than the roadway proper.

DPW staff outlined required restoration, including an immediate temporary patch after backfill, saw-cut edges, eight-inch compacted backfill lifts, and a one-year maintenance period before final paving. The DPW recommended a permanent patch the following May consisting of a 10-foot-long milled patch from the curb across the parking lane with a minimum of two inches of asphalt applied in two lifts, tack coat and joint treatment (infrared or rubberized sealer), permanent thermoplastic lane markings placed after paving, and replacement in kind of any disturbed concrete sidewalk panels or accent brick. The DPW also required that no contractor close any street or direction of travel without authorization from the DPW director or highway superintendent; the chief of police may authorize closures for emergency public-safety reasons. If a closure is authorized, signage, police officers and other traffic-control measures must be in place per a written plan approved by the police department.

A representative for the proponent confirmed discussions with National Grid and said the proponent understands the cost and restoration responsibilities and is willing to assume them. The council approved the petition by voice vote; the record shows the vote was unanimous.

Why it matters: The waiver allows a commercial tenant to obtain sufficient gas pressure for planned equipment, potentially enabling occupancy of a presently vacant storefront in the South Braintree Square area. The DPW conditions aim to limit long-term damage to the street that is currently under a multi-year excavation moratorium.

Councilors asked procedural and technical questions during the discussion, including whether the tie-in would be in the parking lane (it will) and confirmation that patching will be monitored for settling during the one-year period prior to final paving. The DPW’s restoration specification and the prohibition on closures without authorization were explicitly incorporated into the permit recommendation.

The council made no change to the moratorium ordinance itself; the action was a site-specific waiver with conditions.

Ending: With the motion approved, DPW and the proponent will proceed within the conditions set by the council and the DPW. The council's approval requires the proponent to coordinate traffic control, final paving the following May after a one-year observation, and replacement of any damaged sidewalk or decorative brick features as approved by the highway superintendent.