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The Raynham Channel
Board of Appeals 3/12/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
The wheels of local government turn in favor of small business growth as the Raynham Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approves a special permit application that promises both economic development and environmental improvement. Machine shop owner John Evangelo, who has operated his business in town since 1994, received approval to expand his operation from a cramped facility to a more spacious location just 100 feet from his current shop.
What makes this case particularly noteworthy is the careful balance struck between business expansion and environmental protection. The property sits within Zone 2 of Raynham's Water Resource Protection Overlay District, requiring special consideration for potential impacts on water resources. Rather than simply maintaining the status quo, Evangelo's plan significantly upgrades environmental safeguards by implementing a comprehensive drainage system where none currently exists. The new facility will feature deep-sea catch basins with oil grid separators and a water recharge system that will clean and treat runoff before it enters the ground.
Serving municipalities, the electronics industry, and local residents with custom manufacturing solutions, Evangelo's business represents the kind of skilled manufacturing operation that communities often lose to larger industrial areas. "Thanks for staying in town," remarked one board member, acknowledging both the economic contribution and personal connection Evangelo has established over nearly three decades. Their shared memory of a custom part created some 30 years ago highlighted how deeply intertwined small businesses become with the communities they serve. This approval ensures that relationship continues while establishing stronger environmental protections than either property currently provides.
Have you ever needed a specialized part made or modified? Local machine shops like Evangelo's provide essential services that keep municipalities running, support other businesses, and solve problems for residents. Share your experience with local manufacturers in the comments below!
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What's that? What's that? Thank you, alright, we call the say 20th, march 20th Board of Appeals meeting to order at 7 o'clock to 12. Did I say that? What did I say? Sorry about that, folks. March 12th, I'm ahead of myself. I'm 12. I'm ahead of myself. I'm the chair tonight. My name is John Teixeira. I'll ask the gentlemen to introduce themselves. Paul Voli, ron Costner. Okay, I'm over here tonight. If you'll read and notice, I appreciate it in notice.
Speaker 2:The random zone border fields public hearing on Wednesday, march 12 20 25 at 7 pm at Rainham Veterans Memorial Town Hall, 558 South Main Street. On application for special permits in accordance with random zoning bylaws, section 50-6, point 2, 8, subsection 1 change of the use of non-conforming structure, section 350-11.5 to allow light manufacturing in zone two of water resource protection overlay district all at 140 broadway. Assessors map 7, lot 14, ring and mass application. Application is submitted by John Evangelo, the third, north Dighton, athens thank you, okay.
Speaker 1:Anyone who's going to speak either for or against this? I would ask you to stand and take the oath, please. And who's gonna speak? You?
Speaker 2:want to speak, you gotta get to take the oath, okay ready?
Speaker 1:do you solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give this board shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? So help you, god.
Speaker 3:I do fantastic.
Speaker 1:Okay, this story is going to go. Someone, I assume from silver engineering, is going to tell us about the project. Then we're going to have our turn with questions and then we'll open it up to anyone else in the world. Okay, introduce yourself.
Speaker 4:We're here for special permit to change the use or residential to the light manufacturing in the protection. So some of those elements that we used to to meet your requirements for the aquifer was we're on sewer, so we don't have a septic, which eliminates one of those requirements. The other one was to have all of our impervious surfaces in new impervious surfaces to be cleaned and treated prior to research. One of those things that we have is a deep-sea catch basin and oil grid separator and then recharge. Another thing we've done is the roof and some of the new pavement in the rear of the building will all be recharged into the, into the recharge system for water quality and water quantity, with all of that paperwork that we supplied to you.
Speaker 4:There was one other requirement, I believe, for the Water Protection District that I just wanted to say that we did touch upon. Our impervious services are 15% on water. We did make sure that 15% of our new impervious services were being directed to this water quality treatment, the catch basin, the sediment, the trap and the recharge area. So there's no net increase in runoff from the site even with a little bit more impervious services we have. The other special permit we're requesting is the use right. I'm hearing this right. We're asking for residential to light manufacturing and we're hoping that you'll see this change is consistent with what's in the development district now. In fact, tool and Die is currently adjacent to this property and they will be moving to this new location and moving the operation right next door.
Speaker 1:I think I've leveraged it, okay, all right, hot chart Paul.
Speaker 2:Well, you talked a lot about the infiltration and drainage. Was there pre-existing drainage currently, or is it just sheet flowing out?
Speaker 4:It was just sheet flowing. Can I look? Sure drainage. Was there pre-existing drainage currently, or is it just she's blowing off? No structures, no drainage controls, it's all just, we have that in our package you have page three. Yeah, Page three has the new pavement and the new grate and the structures. Now, in this view of the renderer, show me what it could look like when they're all done with the box and the um keeping it on the.
Speaker 2:I don't know. I was just saying. It looks like you're also flattening out the back so that it won't have the natural downhill runoff. Yes, we're curving it, we're cur of it so we're going to capture it.
Speaker 4:Perfect Part of that rating will allow us to capture it in the tent basin and the post area will really look to harmonize it Anything else?
Speaker 1:No, I think that's it Rob.
Speaker 4:No, I think that the CEC is a problem. No, I'm fine with that. The biggest thing is the light manufacturing what type of?
Speaker 1:what is the?
Speaker 3:My name is John Evangeline. I currently rent 150 Broadway which is the general machine shop in town. We've been in there since 1995. And we're primarily a job shop. So we do a lot of work for municipalities in town and also electronics industries. But we have basically a lot of. We have two big CNC machines and we run a standard lathe and a bridge board and so forth. The two big CNC machines. They have cooling in them and it expires in about six months and we have safety clean come in with the barrels and we just empty it to that and we can furnish paperwork for years if you guys like.
Speaker 3:On that also we make mostly for the electronics industry is what we manufacture parts for. And you know any standard um, you know item that you know somebody would need to manufacture specifically, say the sewer department they have. They bring you the valve. You know they have a lot of sensors they have to add to the valves and you know we use pipe taps and everything to make sure they can adapt their sensors to that, so you're not going to be doing anything different from what you do now no, the issue we have now we're only 800 square feet and we've got growing up facility.
Speaker 3:You know tremendously. So now we're going to move to 2100 square feet possibly, but just continue with the same business.
Speaker 1:Everything's the same just, I'm sorry, I need to step up. Yeah, no, that's fine.
Speaker 4:And then you guys are currently right next door to this, yes, adjacent.
Speaker 3:We're about approximately going 100 feet south.
Speaker 4:Yeah, okay, good, um, obviously the new building for all the drilling and oils and whatever they get, to tell yourself contain anyways.
Speaker 3:So um, the biggest thing is, if you said a change down the road just that one over there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a change that you say that becomes yeah again for the same thing even the lightning manufacturing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, it was something else in that industry. Just to make sure, because the area that we're in, you know I'm content with their business.
Speaker 3:They're right there now they're familiar with the area and the house that they're at now doesn't have any of these means of you know you don't keep.
Speaker 4:No, exactly, I mean there's grass, there's, there's no drainage, it's nothing, so oil or anything. Still it's going into the ground. So yeah, okay, we're just moving forward that's it.
Speaker 1:Uh, I'm told that the water department has seen this and they, uh, they don't have any problem with it because you are in the water protection and they don't have any problem with it because you are in the water protection zone. So that's good thing. So to me it sounds like there's an expansion of business. There is we're very.
Speaker 1:I always think that's good for the town. Right, and that's good. I don't have any other questions. I think the gentleman here you've covered any concerns and so forth have anything else to add before I see if there's anyone who wants to speak against?
Speaker 4:I want to inform the board that we're actually still to plan for it. We have next week. We're going to make a quick revision. We're going to add a path, because he still may be using the other location, so we're going to add a walking path.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I've been told that you were referred to us by the planning board. Is that correct? Yeah, I've been told that you were you were referred to us by the planning board. Is that correct, they asked? They suggested you come to us as opposed to them, because you needed a special permit rather than just a proof of this idea.
Speaker 2:You need to hit all three boards yeah, as a matter of requirement yes, okay, anything else.
Speaker 1:Does anyone else want to speak? Huh, okay, is there any correspondence? Uh, maureen, does anyone else want to speak? No, okay, is there any correspondence, maureen? No, okay, okay, I'm going to make sure I follow my agenda properly, given that I couldn't get the date correct in the beginning. Okay, I think that's about it. We're going to close the public hearing while the board goes into executive session to discuss the matter.
Speaker 2:Gentlemen, we're good, yeah, it seems like we have a little problem.
Speaker 1:It's a good plan. I talked with Bob this afternoon, which I always do before these meetings, and he's okay with it. Typically, that's a good sign. Yeah, I'm all for improving up the hearing Absolutely, absolutely. There's a number of other things that I'd like to improve on here, but this is a good start. Okay, then I'll call the executive session to close and reopen the public hearing. All right, let's take a vote. Any exceptions or no? No, you second it? Okay, any discussion? None. All in favor? Aye, Ms June Alves, thank you.
Speaker 3:Mr Jones, thank you for being here, Thank you. Thank you very much.
Speaker 1:Thanks for staying in town.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, I know my other option was to go back to Dighton, but I've been in. You know, I've been in Rainham since 1994. I had this machine job.
Speaker 1:So I really I've been in that facility, have you? Yes, you made a little tiny piece that I had. It was connected, something I couldn't get a piece, I went in there and you made it for me. Oh, all right, very good.
Speaker 3:That's gotta be 30 years ago yeah yeah, well, thank you.
Speaker 1:thank you All right okay, now everybody wants us to sign our lives away here in a few places. We have some minutes we don't have a copy, just he has it read okay, so you're gonna be motion to approve without reading yes, well, I know that.
Speaker 2:I know that they had emailed to me and I've read them. Yeah, all the women just have that were involved.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, so I wasn't involved because I can get out. I'll make a motion to approve the february 12th meeting minutes. Second all in favor? Aye, aye, okay, so approved, thank you. Uh, all right, you, we can entertain a motion to adjourn the meeting. I guess All moved to adjourn Second. Okay, all in favor? Aye. Meeting is closed. Thank you.