BURLINGTON — The Planning Board recently voted unanimously to approve minor engineering changes for H-Mart Boston, Inc., the Asian grocery store and food court replacing the former Decathlon Sports and La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries site at 3 Old Concord Road.

The property is located behind the busy Market Basket off Middlesex Turnpike in Burlington.

H-Mart Boston, Inc., had its special permits approved in March, but no significant work has commenced since then for several reasons, Planning Director Tony Fields said in a telephone interview.

First, the company had difficulty hiring an architect for internal renovations, Fields said.

When that person was finally hired, some "internal reconnaissance" of the building turned up hazardous materials in the form of old light fixtures that required removal, according to Fields.

"Some other things might also have happened since then," Fields said.

One of them is the handicapped-accessibility ramp requirement, one of the minor engineering changes along with a double-door vestibule entrance and grease traps for cooking.

Planning Board member Paul Raymond asked about the site, and James White, an engineer representing H-Mart Boston, Inc., said there will be 98 seats in the food court, as well as "a bakery and other food vendors."

* The planners voted unanimously to continue to tonight's meeting a public hearing on proposed amendments to the zoning bylaws relevant to affordable housing requirements.

Fields said it mostly centers smaller developments, 10 units or less, which "may not have the economy of scale" to contribute units to the town's 10 percent affordable housing stock.

There are a "variety of affordable housing bylaws across the state," Fields said, and Burlington is attempting to establish its own.

What is being considered by the board is an "affordable housing trust fund" — a cash donation in lieu of units.

"I would like to see a fund for six or less (units) established," said Planning Board Chairwoman Ann Cummings. "We want to help the 'middle' people."

* The Planning Board voted 5-1 to approve a special permit and site plan for Verizon Wireless, which will construct a unit for 12 wireless antennas to go atop a commercial building at 1 Mountain Road.

In May, Town Meeting voted to amend the zoning bylaw to rezone this parcel to the Wireless Communications Overlay District.

Attorney Michael Giaimo, representing Verizon Wireless, said these 12 antennas "will fill a coverage gap that currently exists within the town," and the amount "is standard installation for Verizon."

It will be four units each mounted on three sides of the unit, with an equipment shelter and a parapet, Giaimo said.

"There will be no ground-based equipment," said Giaimo. "This will be strictly a rooftop facility."

Board member Ernie Covino recused himself as he customarily does during wireless antenna applications, as the company he works for is sometimes involved in pouring foundations for these facilities.

Joseph Impemba was opposed.

While he stated no reason publicly, Impemba has maintained in the past that the town should adhere to the Wireless Communications Overlay District established in 2000, and that if new facilities are to be accepted, the bylaw should be revisited.

* With a unanimous vote, the Planning Board approved minor engineering changes for the Longmeadow Place assisted living facility at 42 Mall Road.

Those include an upgrade to the main entrance to the facility, which will consist of a roof covering and architectural columns.

Also, there will be changes to pavement and landscaping, and a walking path in rear of the building will be constructed.

* The planners voted unanimously to approve a site plan and special permit for the Dellaria Salon, which will now add massage to its Burlington Mall location.