Braintree Planning Board Backs Allen Street Layout Change for $9 Million Rebuild

Planning Board · Meeting of September 10, 2026

Braintree Planning Board clears $9 million Allen Street layout change and two housing permits. Town Engineer John Thompson told the board the reconstruction, running from Shaw Street to Quincy Avenue, is fully funded by state and federal transportation dollars and requires incorporating three easement areas secured in a September 2 Town Council order of taking; the board's favorable recommendation now heads to a September 15 Council vote. Members also approved a special permit converting a vacant second-floor unit at 335 Washington Street to housing and a 10-townhouse, 34-parking-space development at 1157 Washington Street that removes 54 percent of the site's impervious surface.

The latter drew pushback from Member Robert Kane over identical building colors, who called the uniform gray design "my version of hell," prompting a new condition requiring the developer to submit a final color palette for staff review. All votes were unanimous.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of September 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.