Spring Street Roadway Reconstruction Delayed Again for Soil Testing
Fall River Planning Board Member Honored for 19 Years of Service
Single-Family Home Development Approved on Highest Road After Prior Denial
The Fall River Planning Board meeting on July 8, 2026, began with a roll call and the tabling of an old business item concerning the roadway reconstruction plan for Spring Street. At the applicant's request, the board voted unanimously to table the matter until the August meeting to allow for soil testing scheduled for July 16th. The primary focus of the meeting then shifted to a ceremony honoring former board member Mario Luciola for his 19 years of service. The mayor presented Mr. Luciola with a citation, and several board members shared fond memories of his tenure. Mr. Luciola gave a heartfelt speech thanking his friends, family, and the city. Under new business, the board reviewed a Form A application for an Approval Not Required (ANR) plan for a property at 200 Highest Road, submitted by Rosendi Residential LLC. The plan proposed subdividing a lot, which staff confirmed met all zoning requirements for frontage and area. After a brief discussion confirming the plan's compliance, the board voted unanimously to endorse the plan. The meeting concluded with the unanimous approval of the meeting minutes from May 13, 2026, and June 10, 2026, followed by a motion to adjourn.
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Council
City Officials
Public / Other
All right. I'd like to welcome everybody to the uh Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 meeting of the Fall River Planning Board.
0:07Pursuant to the open uh meeting bylaw, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any media.
0:17Attendees are therefore advised as such recordings or transmissions are being made, whether perceived or imperceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. The city charter section 9-18 mandates that all municipal member bodies develop and adopt rules or policy for public input.
0:36We have adopted such a policy which in short provides for citizen input on planning board specific matters at the end of the meeting. There's a signup sheet that's located in the back of the room. Uh we've got Craig Salvador with us from Ford River TV, Dan Aguar, city engineer. Uh Felicia Parker, the recording clerk. Uh we got um attend uh Gloria present.
1:03Beth present.
1:05Michael present. Orlando present.
1:08And I John Ferrer and present.
1:12All right. Under old business number one, roadway reconstruction, Spring Street, section 66-185, city ordinance, considering the roadway reconstruction plan and profile of Spring Street. This petition was previously tabled at the April 13, 2026, May 13, 2026, and June 10th, 2026 meeting at the request of the applicant.
1:41Mr.
1:42Um so again the applicant is requesting that the matter be tabled again. Uh they do have soil testing scheduled for the 16th of July. Um we had asked them to get some information regarding the drainage system and some test pits. So they'll be getting that done next week.
1:57So I would anticipate they would have something back into us for the August meeting. So with that I would recommend the matter be tabled.
2:03All right. Do we have a motion to table the matter till the following meeting?
2:07Motion to table.
2:09I second the motion. Second by Michael.
2:13All in favor? Beth?
2:14Yes.
2:15Gloria?
2:16Yes.
2:16Orlando?
2:17Yes.
2:17And Michael?
2:18Yes.
2:18And myself vote yes as well. Under new business, citation. Presentation of a citation recognition of service to the Far River Planning Board. Mr. Mario Luciola.
2:30We believe we have the mayor here.
2:38So, uh, first of all, I've known Mario for a long time. He lives right down the street from me. Uh, and his efforts on the planning board over 19 years are exceptional. He's done a great job representing the city with class, dignity, and professionalism. He's always there when you need him. He's uh his role on the planning board is minor compared to what he does for the Italian community in the city of Fall River.
3:05Whether it's his dinners, whether it's his trips down to Bsentennial Park to honor those that have passed away, uh he's done great things for the city of Fall River. And I the city does not want to let that go unagnowledged. So, in honor of that, um, in honor and recognition of his 19 years of dedicated service and commitment to the city of Fall River Planning Board, the citizens
3:26of Fall River want to extend him their best wishes and express their heartfelt continued good faith and success in all he does. CONGRATULATIONS.
3:44You want to say a few words, Mario?
3:45That'd be great.
3:47The only thing that I can say I say to the guy up above when drive home from the lottery and bra I don't know what I was at that time I had a four heart attacks.
4:04I found my car had Dr. Schwartz's number. So I call him and I says I don't know what I am. I says, "I know." He says to me, "I know where you are. You're going to come up my office right now."
4:19That was the news.
4:21And I spoke to the guy up above. I says, "I'm not ready to come up here." He says, "No, I don't need you. I have too many pain here. So, I don't need you.
4:29Stay well."
4:31And I talk positive. One day at a time, you know, my daughters, my friends throughout, do I miss do I miss this place? Do I miss all of you? Yes. Do I miss the city of forever? No. I'm here for the city and I'm here for all my friends. So again, I think one day at a time and I think everything is positive that are the people asking me how old am I?
4:59I told the guy before I left the Clifton he says you were 72 and he says I'm old.
5:08Next year I'm going to be 90.
5:12and in good health because all the friends, all the family that I have didn't give me nothing but strength to be around and not to say I can do it will do it if I can do it and I have family and friends that they're there for me and I always want to be there for them in the city of Forever since 1954.
5:39I said this is my home and I'll never say I don't want to leave it forever and the guy up above it says no they need you I don't need you up here staying stay in good health but thank you it's good to see all of you so good congratulations CONGRATULATIONS give you one good Mario Lucola story here we go I was I used to sit on the other side of
6:07these tables but I remember during the co meeting. Patty was the clerk. We see her Christmas decorations in the back.
6:12And the co meetings were fantastic. So before the meeting, 10 minutes, we're all logging on and we're just making small talk. Here comes Mario walking out of his kitchen, glass of red wine in his hand. Salute. Before the meeting, he was so happy. That that that's what I remember. Always a smile. Always a glass of red wine. And uh you are you are missed. You are missed. But we're glad you're still here.
6:34Thank you so much.
6:35It was an honor being on the board with you, my friend. Sure was.
6:39It was an honor for me. I still be an honor.
6:42I know. You still use your pen.
6:46We all have them.
6:47Anytime. Anytime you I pay you. I didn't pay you. I I write a picture.
6:54I'll write a check with it.
6:57Thank you very much.
6:58Thank you. It's good to see all of you.
7:01I was lucky enough and I get myself lucky with family, good family, good friends. And when I look at each one of you, not only my friend, the welcome, my good friend, the man. You're my family.
7:15That's the way I look at it. And I want to keep going there.
7:18And we feel the same way.
7:20Keep plugging along. You are loved by many people.
7:22Good health. You'll never say where are they, where they are, and where they are. Every day of my life, always think about the past and the future.
7:34Excellent.
7:34I love you all. Thank you.
7:37Hi Mario.
7:38Very nice. Very nice.
7:44Let's go get a glass of wine.
7:49Salute.
7:50Okay. Thank you. Don't forget the same size when you come up.
7:53Okay. Thank you.
7:55Thank you. Thank you all. Love you all.
7:56Thank you.
7:57Thank you.
7:59All right. It was uh it was a pleasurable treat seeing Mario again and walking in on his own and with being missed for for so long but he won't be forgotten.
8:13All right, going back to uh new business form a application for endorsement of plan believed not to require approval and our plan of land file number 26-1682 owner applicant Rosendi residential LLC Steven Rosendi's manager property location 200 highest road assesses map U-9 lots 0017 Seven.
8:42So this is an approval not required plan of land actually going for the board of appeals and deny the reason that they were denied was that they could subdivide the lot and be in compliance with uh with the zoning bylaw um and get an additional lot out of it. At that time there was a conversation about constructing three single family homes and that's why they needed the relief for um the neighbors
9:13were opposed to that the board was as well. So we denied that petition um and now he's just moving forward with a normal ANR plan um meets all the requirements for area and frontage for the S zoning district of 100 ft of frontage and 12,000 square feet meets all of the building setbacks as well. So with that, I would recommend that the plan be endorsed.
9:37Funny concoction to get that 107 though on the on the front and be able to meet all the sideyard setbacks and it's not easy, but we made sure that they that they met them all.
9:49So they have any uh comments or questions by the board?
9:54Gloria, no.
9:55Michael, no questions.
9:57Orlando, no questions here.
9:59All right. Do I have a motion to approve or deny?
10:05Make a motion to approve the AMF.
10:07I'll second.
10:08Hey, we got the by Gloria.
10:13And second was by Orlando.
10:15Yes.
10:16All right.
10:18All in favor? Gloria?
10:19Yes.
10:20Beth?
10:20Yes.
10:21Michael?
10:22Yes.
10:22Orlando?
10:23Yes.
10:24And I John vote yes as well.
10:27We're going to go to approval of the minutes of the meeting. Believe everybody's got a copy. Uh we'll go with the first one, the May 13th, which I was at. Um who was Mario was the only one that was missing. Do I have a motion to accept the May 13th minutes of the meeting?
10:48I have a motion to accept the uh Michael meeting minutes.
10:52Orlando wasn't here at the time. Nope.
10:56Do I have a second?
10:57A second.
10:58Second by Gloria.
11:00All in favor? Gloria?
11:01Yes.
11:02Beth?
11:02Yes.
11:03Michael?
11:04Yes.
11:04Orlando?
11:05Yes.
11:05And I, John, vote yes as well. I will go on to the June 10th uh meeting, minutes of the meeting.
11:13I was not here here on Norbeth. Uh so it would just be uh the other three, Michael, Gloria, and uh Orlando. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting?
11:29I'll make a motion we approve the minutes of the uh June 10th uh meeting.
11:33Gloria, I second the motion.
11:35Orlando.
11:39All in favor? Gloria?
11:40Yes.
11:40Beth?
11:41Yes.
11:41Orlando?
11:42Yes.
11:43Michael?
11:43Yes.
11:44And I John Fer vote yes as well. Uh that's that citizens input. I don't believe we have any.
11:50Danny, you got anything to say?
11:52No.
11:52Okay.
11:53All right. Stay cool.
11:58Uh, do I have a motion to adjurnn?
12:00Motion to adjurnn.
12:01Beth, second.
12:03Second. Second by Mike. All in favor?
12:06Gloria?
12:07Yes.
12:08Michael?
12:09Yes.
12:11Orlando?
12:11Yes.
12:12Beth?
12:12Yes.
12:13And I, John, for our vote, yes. As well.
12:15Have a great night, everyone.
12:17See you next month.