Approved 02/04/08
Town of Duxbury
Massachusetts
Planning Board
Minutes 01/28/08
The Planning Board met in Duxbury Town Offices, Small Conference Room, lower level on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 7:30 PM.
Present: Amy MacNab, Chairman; George Wadsworth, Vice-Chair; Brendan Halligan, Clerk; James Kimball, Harold Moody, and Angela Scieszka.
Absent: John Bear; and Christine Stickney, Planning Director.
Staff: Diane Grant, Administrative Assistant.
Ms. MacNab called the meeting to order at 7:34 PM.
OPEN FORUM
Peer to Peer Grant: Ms. Stickney reported that the Town was awarded a $1,000.00 Peer to Peer Grant to develop a zoning layer on the Town’s GIS property maps. This will allow residents to view current zoning and determine if a property lies within a Conservation buffer zone.
Ms. Stickney and Mr. Bear then departed to attend a Board of Selectmen meeting.
MBTA Advisory Board: Mr. Kimball reported that he had attended a recent meeting. The MBTA is in a financial crisis and may increase fares and parking rates in 2010. Complaints from riders are increasing and ridership numbers are decreasing overall.
SONG SPARROW AS-BUILT APPROVAL
Ms. MacNab noted that the applicant has requested to defer discussion until next week’s meeting, February 4, 2008.
ZBA REFERRAL: 16 OCEAN AVENUE / CURRIER
Mr. Shawn Dahlen was present to represent the applicant for this special permit referral. Mr. Dahlen explained that the applicant is proposing to install a new porch and to replace an existing deck. He referenced an 1895 photograph of the dwelling and stated that the applicants wish to restore the look of the exterior.
Ms. MacNab noted that the proposed covered porch would increase the nonconformity of the setback from 14.5 feet to 6.6 feet. Mr. Dahlen noted that Ocean Avenue is a paper road and most of it has been turned into a lawn by property abutters. Mr. Wadsworth asked who owns Ocean Avenue, and Mr. Dahlen replied that he is not sure.
Mr. Moody asked if the applicant’s access is from Marshall Street, and Mr. Dahlen replied that their access is from the end of Ocean Avenue onto a grassy area. The applicants use the dwelling as a second home during the summer primarily.
Mr. Wadsworth asked about the building coverage, which is increasing slightly from 17.5 percent to 20 percent. Mr. Dahlen noted that it is an acceptable increase under current Zoning Bylaws. Ms. MacNab noted that the new deck would be slightly larger than the existing one.
Mr. Dahlen distributed digital architectural renderings of the proposed plans. He stated that features such as vertical siding and a hexagonal window would reflect the look of the row of cottages as they originally appeared.
MOTION: Mr. Halligan made a motion, and Ms. Scieszka provided a second, to defer judgment to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding a special permit application for 16 Ocean Avenue LLC, James P. Currier, President, parcel #200-096-090, noting the following:
§ An increase in building coverage is proposed, from 17.5 percent to 20 percent.
§ An increase in setback nonconformity is proposed on the Ocean Avenue side.
§ An increase in footprint is proposed with the enlargement of the existing deck.
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously, 6-0.
OTHER BUSINESS
Duxbury Farms: Ms. MacNab noted that she is awaiting a response from Town Counsel to her letter dated 01/23/08. She reported that, in the absence of his response, she had called Ms. Elizabeth Lewis, Acting Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) at 5:00 PM on January 24, 2008, just prior to the ZBA meeting. Ms. MacNab requested that the ZBA defer their decision. Ms. MacNab stated that she is looking to Town Counsel for direction on how to proceed with enforcement of Subdivision Rules and Regulations.
Discussion with Zoning Board of Appeals: Ms. MacNab referenced a January 25, 2008 a memo from Town Manager’s office regarding a proposed facilitated meeting between members of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. She noted that Mr. Halligan and Mr. Kimball are unavailable on that date. Ms. Scieszka and Ms. MacNab expressed that they would prefer all Board members to be present. Staff was asked to contact the Town Manager’s office to determine if ZBA members had any conflicts with the proposed meeting date.
Meeting Minutes:
MOTION: Mr. Halligan made a motion, and Mr. Kimball provided a second, to approve meeting minutes of January 7, 2008 and January 14, 2008 as amended.
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously, 6-0.
11 Washington Street ASPR: Staff noted that an application had been submitted for Administrative Site Plan Review of 11 Washington Street, and the initial public meeting has been scheduled for February 11, 2008. The applicants had questioned whether peer engineering review is required since there are minimal changes proposed. Board members reviewed the submitted plans and noted that some existing conditions, including drainage and septic, are not depicted. Board members requested more information before determining whether a consulting engineer is required. The issue will be addressed at the next Board meeting, February 4, 2008.
Annual Town Meeting 2008: Board members discussed the process of presenting articles at Annual Town Meeting, and updated Ms. Scieszka on recent public hearings on warrant articles for Town Meeting.
Staff reported that Mr. Jeff Chandler of the Agricultural Commission has requested for the Board’s recommendation of a proposed Right to Farm bylaw for Annual Town Meeting. Board members questioned how this local bylaw compares to the State Right to Farm bylaw. They noted that the proposed bylaw is a General Bylaw and does not pertain to Zoning Bylaws. They expressed concern that there may not be enough time to learn enough about the proposed bylaw to provide a recommendation. It was agreed to invite Mr. Chandler to a future Board meeting to present the proposed bylaw and answer any questions.
ADJOURNMENT
The Planning Board meeting was adjourned at 9:05 PM. The next meeting of the Planning Board will take place on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 7:30 PM in Town Offices, Small Conference Room, lower level.
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