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 05/14/07
Approved August 6, 2007
The Planning Board met in Duxbury Town Offices, Small Conference Room, lower level on Monday, May 14, 2007 at 7:30 PM.
Present: Amy MacNab, Chairman; George Wadsworth, Vice-Chairman; Brendan Halligan, Clerk;
John Bear, Jim Kimball, Harold Moody, and Angela Scieszka.
Absent: Associate Member Douglas Carver.
Staff: Christine Stickney, Planning Director; and Diane Grant, Administrative Assistant.
Ms. MacNab called the meeting to order at 7:33 PM. There was no discussion under Open Forum.
SUBDIVISION DEADLINE EXTENSION:
SONG SPARROW ESTATES, OFF FOREST STREET
Mr. Jay Woodruff and Mr. William Devine were present for the discussion. Ms. Stickney reported that Town consulting engineer, Mr. Tom Sexton of Mainstream Engineering, Inc., had been inspecting progress at the site. The two-year anniversary is coming up on June 7, 2007, which represents the subdivision approval deadline. Mr. Woodruff distributed a letter to the Board requesting a deadline extension until September 30, 2007.
Ms. MacNab advised the applicants that Mainstream Engineering rates had remained the same throughout the approval process. With the subdivision extension the rates would increase by $15.00 per hour to reflect the engineer’s current rates.
Mr. Devine advised the Board that he and Mr. Woodruff had filed a consumer protection complaint against NStar because they have caused the construction delay. Ms. Stickney reported that growth had occurred already after loaming and seeding, but noted that September is preferable to allow the grass to fill in during the summer months.
MOTION: Mr. Wadsworth made a motion, and Ms. Scieszka provided a second, to extend the completion date for the Song Sparrow subdivision off of Forest Street, to September 30, 2007. There was no discussion.
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously, 6-0.
WORK SESSION
Planning Board Administrative Procedures: The Board deferred discussion on this topic until the following week.
Comprehensive Plan (1999) Action Plan Review: The Board reviewed the Planning Board’s goals from the 1999 Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Stickney stated that with periodic Board review, the Comprehensive Plan will be more current when it comes time to update it in 2009. Ms. MacNab stated that she felt the Board had met its goals on land use recommendations. Ms. Scieszka noted that under Economic Base Recommendations, the Administrative Site Plan Review could be added, as well as the requirement for preliminary plans under Planned Development projects.
Ms. MacNab noted that more work needs to be done on Natural & Cultural Resources recommendations, especially regarding limiting uses allowed in the Aquifer Protection Overlay District. She suggested a joint effort between the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) members to work on Zoning Bylaws.
Ms. Stickney noted that the Planning Board and Local Housing Partnership (LHP) had made significant progress on Housing recommendations. Ms. MacNab reminded the Board that the Design Review Board has requested input on potential Zoning Bylaw revisions that relate to them. Mr. Bear suggested that the Historical Commission could provide input as well. Ms. MacNab noted that the ZBA members did not have issues with mansionization that the Planning Board has.
Mr. Wadsworth questioned the value to updating the Comprehensive Plan because census data is available only every ten years. The next census results will be published in 2010. Ms. Stickney recommended updating the plan every five years to review progress. Mr. Wadsworth noted that some action plans from the 1999 document are no longer relevant.
Ms. Scieszka noted that the Transportation recommendation to review permitted uses and dimensional requirements in the Zoning Bylaws could not be carried out because there were no proper tools to do it. The purpose of the strategy was to resist development pressures that would increase the amount of commercially zoned land within the Town. Ms. Stickney noted that transportation has changed significantly since 1999, with the Route 3 expansion study, the Greenbush line, and the commuter rail.
Ms. MacNab noted that updating the Comprehensive Plan will require funding, and Ms. Stickney stated that there are no grants available at this time. Ms. Stickney estimated that it would cost around $100,000 to $150,000 for a new plan, and approximately $50,000 to $75,000 to update the current plan. Ms. MacNab suggested that the Board consider potential sources of funding.
Open Space Planning Board Goals Review: Ms. MacNab noted that Ms. Pat Loring would be attending next week’s meeting to discuss an update to the Open Space and Recreation Plan. Ms. Stickney noted that the Wamsutta Way Conservation Restriction could be added to the document.
Mr. Wadsworth reported that he is working on a proposed water management plan that would eliminate any Chapter 40B projects within Zone II. The plan would describe protections currently in place and also present new proposals. Ms. Stickney suggested that the Water Department could use an enterprise fund to help pay for a water management plan. Mr. Halligan offered to help Mr. Wadsworth write the proposed plan.
The Board agreed that new goals that could be added to the Open Space Plan should include Conservation Restrictions, a proposed Water Management Plan, and a drainage plan in conjunction with the Conservation Commission.
OTHER BUSINESS
Planned Production Plan: Ms. Stickney stated that she had passed on Planning Board comments to Mr. Phillip Mayfield, the housing consultant who is creating the document. She noted that the executive summary had been revised to define production.
Ms. Scieszka stated that the plan should emphasize preservation as a major strategy toward creating affordable housing. She stated that she would like to see the plan prioritized differently to apply specifically to the Town of Duxbury rather than as a generic plan. Mr. Wadsworth noted that the plan needs to meet state requirements that require a different emphasis. Ms. Scieszka suggested that the Town consider creating its own affordable housing plan so that the Planned Production Plan is not used as a blueprint for developers. Mr. Moody pointed out that State approval of the Planned Production Plan will create flexibility in the Town’s development of affordable housing.
Ms. Scieszka stated that she would like to see more of an emphasis on conversion of existing housing, and less of an emphasis on Chapter 40R (smart growth) projects. After a recent Local Housing Partnership (LHP) meeting, she believes that (LHP) members might be more favorable toward the Chapter 40B and 40R approach to affordable housing than she is. Ms. Stickney stated that she has a different impression from the same meeting than Ms. Scieszka.
Mr. Wadsworth recommended that it may be appropriate for the Board to meet with the LHP periodically. He expressed that some LHP members may blame the Zoning Bylaws for a lack of affordable housing in the Town of Duxbury. He felt that the real issue is that affordable housing is not a priority for the Town at this time. He suggested that the Planned Production Plan provides an opportunity to create new ideas such as using CPA funds and mortgage buydowns. Mr. Halligan noted that approval of the Planned Production Plan would also help toward achieving affordable housing goals. Ms. MacNab and Mr. Kimball agreed that the Planning Board should meet with LHP members at a future date.
MOTION: Mr. Bear made a motion, and Mr. Wadsworth provided a second, for Planning Board approval of the Planned Production Plan to be submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development. There was no discussion regarding the motion.
VOTE: The motion carried 6-0-1, with Ms. Scieszka abstaining.
OTHER BUSINESS
Engineering Invoice:
MOTION: Mr. Kimball made a motion, and Mr. Halligan provided a second, to approve payment of Mainstream Engineering invoice #20958 in the amount of $369.00 for services related to the Song Sparrow subdivision.
DISCUSSION: Ms. MacNab asked staff to point out to the applicants that the billing is for the old rates, and new rates will go into effect after June 7, 2007, when the subdivision extension date begins.
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously, 7-0.
Meeting Minutes:
MOTION: Mr. Wadsworth made a motion, and Mr. Kimball provided a second, to approve meeting minutes of February 26, 2007 and March 5, 2007 as amended. There was no discussion regarding the motion.
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously, 7-0.
ZBA Liaison to Planning Board: Mr. Bear suggested that the Board consider creating a ZBA liaison to the Planning Board. Ms. MacNab agreed that this would be a good idea, and recommended Ms. Elizabeth Lewis for the position.
ADJOURNMENT
The Planning Board meeting was adjourned at 9:56 PM. The next meeting of the Board will take place on Monday, May 21, 2007 at 7:30 PM at Duxbury Town Offices, Small Conference Room, Lower Level.
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