The mission of the Town of Duxbury is to deliver excellent services to the community in the most fiscally responsible and innovative manner while endeavoring to broaden our sense of community and preserve the unique character of our town.
Town of Duxbury
Massachusetts
Planning Board
Minutes 01/09/06
Approved 01/30/06
The Planning Board met in the Town Office Building, Monday, January 9, 2006.
Present: Amy MacNab, Chair; George Wadsworth, Vice-Chairman; Angela Scieszka, Clerk; Aboud Al-Zaim, John Bear, Jim Kimball and Harold Moody. Associate Member Douglas Carver arrived at 8:38 PM.
Absent: No one was absent.
Staff: Christine Stickney, Planning Director; and Diane Grant, Administrative Assistant.
The meeting was called to order at 7:38 PM.
OPEN FORUM
Mr. Al-Zaim announced that he will not be running for re-election to the Planning Board when his term expires in March 2006. Instead, he will run for the Board of Selectmen. The Board wished him well in his endeavors.
WORK SESSION
Wamsutta Way Surety: Ms. Stickney referenced a letter from Mr. Walter Amory providing a surety estimate for remaining work at Wamsutta Way, which includes installation of nine concrete bounds identifying the roadway layout and conservation restriction layout. She noted that the owner, Mrs. Andresen, has requested a cash surety. Ms. Stickney advised the Board that the subdivision approval was still under 20-day appeal time frame, but the vote tonight would prepare staff for when the appeal time ends.
MOTION: Mr. Bear made a motion, and Ms. Scieszka provided a second, to accept a $4,000.00 surety estimate for cash in lieu of a bond as a performance guarantee for work on the roadway of Wamsutta Way. There was no discussion.
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously, 7:0.
Subdivision Review: Ms. MacNab suggested postponing discussion of recent subdivisions until the January 30, 2006 Board meeting to allow members more time to drive by and review them. Ms. Scieszka recommended Board members also drive by Parkers Grove and Hillside Lane, which are recent subdivisions as well.
Housing Coordinator Proposal: The Board reviewed Mr. Al-Zaim’s recommended changes from an email distributed by staff earlier that day regarding a description of duties for a Housing Coordinator contract position proposed by the Community Preservation Committee and the Local Housing Partnership for 2006 Annual Town Meeting. The LHP had agreed to review the Board’s suggested revisions to this document that would be available to voters at ATM. Ms. Stickney will distribute the revised document to LHP members at its January 12, 2006 meeting. Mr. Al-Zaim recommended that the LHP be prepared with information to reinforce the potential for the Housing Coordinator to become a self-funding position.
ZBA REFERRAL – 60 ELDER BREWSTER ROAD / COUSINS
The applicant, Mr. Charles Cousins, was present for the discussion on this application for a special permit to add a covered porch addition on a lot with an existing non-conforming setback. Mr. Bear noted that the renovations were due to a 2003 house fire. Ms. MacNab noted that although the proposed porch is non-conforming to the required 25-foot set back, the non-conformity was reduced by two feet in the proposed plan. Ms. MacNab further noted that site coverage is not an issue with this application. Ms. Scieszka confirmed with Mr. Cousins that the set back to his dwelling is consistent with the neighborhood.
MOTION: Mr. Al-Zaim made a motion, and Mr. Wadsworth provided a second, to defer judgment on the Special Permit application for 60 Elder Brewster Road to the Zoning Board of Appeals since there are no planning issues involved. There was no discussion.
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously (7:0).
ZBA REFERRAL – 69 GURNET ROAD / SWEENEY
Mr. David Gould, builder, was present to represent the owner, Ms. Julia Sweeney, for the Board’s review of a Special Permit for proposed demolition of an existing garage and rebuilding a larger garage with a second story on a non-conforming lot. Ms. Stickney distributed revised plans to the Board that delineate the flood plain in relation to the property. She noted that the property lies outside of the flood plain.
Mr. Wadsworth noted that the Marshfield Board of Health should be notified about the proposed additional bathroom since the dwelling is tied into the Marshfield sewer system, and that the Town of Duxbury Board of Selectmen should also be notified as acting sewer commissioners.
Ms. Scieszka asked if it is necessary to tear down the current garage, and Mr. Gould replied that it is in poor condition but that the main building will remain the same. Mr. Wadsworth noted that the dwelling would increase from five to six bedrooms, and Mr. Gould responded that one bedroom would be lost because it will provide the entrance from the main dwelling to the new addition.
Ms. Stickney advised Mr. Gould of the potential concern that the partial addition above the garage would be converted into an accessory apartment. Mr. Gould said that the residence is used seasonally, and that although the new addition would have heat, the main building does not. Mr. Al-Zaim noted that the site coverage would increase its non-conformity from 15.2% to 17.6% by adding the bedroom over the garage.
MOTION: Mr. Bear made a motion, and Mr. Wadsworth provided a second, to notify the Zoning Board of Appeals that although there are no planning issues in the application for a Special Permit for 69 Gurnet Road, the Board notes a further increase in site coverage non-conformity from 15.2% to 17.6%, and notes the proposed additional bedroom.
AMENDMENT: Mr. Al-Zaim amended the motion to add that the Marshfield Board of Health and the Town of Duxbury Board of Selectmen (acting sewer commissioners) should be notified, and Mr. Bear accepted the amendment.
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously (7:0).
OTHER BUSINESS
Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles: Ms. MacNab referenced the current draft list of articles on the 2006 Annual Town Meeting warrant, and noted the resolution on an affordable housing policy that is proposed by the Local Housing Partnership. She requested that staff email the proposed policy to the Board for their information, and expressed concern that the policy may add to residents’ concerns over creating a Housing Consultant.
Deer Run Conservation Commission Correspondence: Ms. Stickney noted that the Conservation Commission is currently not recommending street acceptance for Deer Run until the deed restriction has been recorded and the Commission issues a Certificate of Compliance.
Mainstream Engineering Rate Increase: Ms. Stickney referenced a notice about a rate increase for 2006 for this consulting engineer. The Board requested that she confirm that the new rates do not apply to current cases, and notify the principal, Mr. Tom Sexton, that the Board requests that he reconsider his fees to keep them at the 2005 rates and that the Board intends to evaluate its current consulting engineers.
Delano Farms – Water Department Proposed Subdivision: Ms. Stickney advised the Board that the Town of Duxbury Water Department has submitted an application to subdivide a parcel of Town-owned land off of Cordwood Path into three parts: one for a potential Town well site, one for conservation land, and one for creating community housing. The Board was advised that Planning fees were waived for this application. Staff agreed to include information on this application in the Board’s next meeting packet.
Pratt Circle Revised Homeowners Association: Ms. Stickney advised the Board that earlier that day Atty. Robert Galvin had submitted a revised Homeowners Association document now that he has made contact with the homeowners to notify them that the document had not been recorded. The Board recommended that staff review the document before determining whether Town Counsel should review it. Ms. MacNab and Mr. Moody volunteered to review the document.
Meeting Minutes:
MOTION: Mr. Kimball made a motion, and Mr. Bear provided a second, to approve the minutes of the December 12, 2005 Board meeting as written. There was no discussion.
VOTE: The motion carried, 6:0:1 with an abstention from Ms. Scieszka.
MOTION: Mr. Kimball made a motion, and Mr. Bear provided a second, to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2005 Board meeting as written. There was no discussion.
VOTE: The motion carried, 6:0:1 with an abstention from Ms. Scieszka.
ADJOURNMENT
The Planning Board meeting was adjourned at 9:58 PM. The next meeting of the Duxbury Planning Board will be held on Monday, January 23, 2006 at 7:30 PM in the Duxbury Town Offices.
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