HANSON PLANNING BOARD
Minutes of Public Hearing
Rye Hill Estates
OCTOBER 18, 2000
Members Present: Philip Lindquist, Chairman
David Harris, Vice Chairman
Gerard LeBlanc, Clerk
Gordon Coyle, Member
Joan DiLillo, Member
I. CALL TO ORDER - 8:00 P.M.
A. Chairman Philip Lindquist notified all present that the meeting was being tape recorded and filed.
B. Clerk Gerard LeBlanc read the following public hearing notice published in the Hanson Town Crier on September 28 and October 5, 2000:
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The Hanson Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, October 18, 2000 at 8:00 PM in the Hanson Town Hall, 542 Liberty St., Hanson on a definitive subdivision plan showing a six (6) lot residential subdivision off Whitman Street, Hanson. The plan is further identified as Lot 23 on Assessors’ Map 110 and consists of approximately 9.011 acres of land. Deed to said property is recorded in the Plymouth District Registry of Deeds, Book 16535, Page 48 and Book 17001, Page 81. The subdivision is located in Hanson and is dated August 8, 2000. The Plan was submitted by Sheila Niksa, c/o Deborah Brennock, P.O. Box 481, Hanson, MA 02341 and was prepared by John W. Delano and Associates, Inc., 220 Hudson Street, Halifax, MA 02338.
A copy of the subdivision plan is available for review in the Hanson Town Clerk’s office.
Philip R. Lindquist, Chairman, Hanson Planning Board.
C. Administrative Assistant Barbara Ferguson said that all abutters had been notified of the public hearing by certified mail as required.
II. PRESENTATION OF PLANS FROM APPLICANT/ENGINEER
John Delano of John W. Delano and Associates, Inc. of Taunton and Halifax presented the definitive subdivision plan for the six-lot subdivision off Whitman Street entitled Rye Hill Estates. The parcel is owned by Sheila Niksa of Milton and is located across the street from Holly Ridge Drive approximately 1,000 feet from the Whitman Town Line.
The Board was also presented a letter, dated October 18, 2000, from its engineering firm for the subdivision, P.M.P. Associates, LLC of East Bridgewater, outlining its recommendations based on an initial technical review of the subdivision plan. Mr. Delano said that his client had no problem with any of the changes recommended in the letter.
Mr. Delano said that his client will be seeking a waiver from the length of the dead end street based on the shape and topography of the land. He said the road will have a sidewalk on one side with cape cod berms, and granite curbs where required. Trees will be retained wherever possible.
Mr. Delano said the plan calls for the collection of stormwater from the intersection with Whitman Street in two catch basins. The water will then be piped to a detention basin system. The concept, he said, is that everything from Whitman Street easterly toward the wetland will be captured by the roadway except for a portion which will flow into the wetland as it does now. His client has no problem, he said, with changes to the drainage system recommended by the Board’s engineer.
He also said that his client, as recommended by P.M.P., is prepared to go before the Conservation Commission to discuss any wetland issues related to the subdivision. Any changes requested by the Conservation Commission will be incorporated into the final plan, Mr. Delano said.
Noting that P.M.P.’s letter states that a sediment forebay, properly sized, should be provided and that the regulations have a limit for the distance from the edge of the way to the drainage outfall pipe and require a headwall, Mr. Delano said that he would be asking for a waiver of the headwall requirement.
The sight distance as shown on the plan at Station 3+00 also is less than the Board’s requirements, Mr. Delano said. He concurred with P.M.P.’s contention that the situation presents a serious safety concern and agreed a permanent sight distance easement should be added to Lot. 6 that would prevent the erection of any fences or the planting of any shrubbery.
Mr. Delano said that he had no problem with revising the grading at the cul-de-sac as recommended by P.M.P. The revision would include, he said, another basin at the entrance of the cul-de-sac and the addition of one more manhole. Mr. Delano noted that, when his client met previously with the Board, it was suggested that discussion be initiated with parties interested in creating a subdivision on abutting property. A discussion was initiated with the surveyor for the other project, he said, and it was determined the project would not be moving forward in the near future. If there is a change in plans, he said, a land swap could be arranged for a connector road.
III. QUESTIONS FROM ABUTTERS
Stephen & Joanne Langenfeld - Not Present
Thomas & Jean Butler - Not Present
Robert & Patricia Charbonnier - Not Present
Wayne & Jane Sylvia - Not Present
Martha & Salan Ea - Martha Ea asked Mr. Delano for a clarification of buildable areas. She also asked about septic systems which it was explained fall under the jurisdiction of the Board of Health. She was provided an explanation of how the detention system would work. She also expressed concern for the preservation of woodlands and the impact on wildlife. She later stressed that there is a water problem in the area and that traffic is also a problem.
Richard & Theresa Faenza - Not Present
William & Theresa O’Brien - Not Present
Kevin & Nancy O’Brien - Nancy O’Brien asked about a common ditch that is shared with her house that tends to fill with water. Water from the O’Brien property Mr. Delano said, will shed into the subdivision drainage system. Trees on her property which act as a buffer will not be affected, Mr. Delano said. She asked about the detention basins and was told they will not be fenced. The maximum depth at the time of a storm, Mr. Delano said, is three feet which will peak in about 12 hours and be gone within 24 hours.
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Albert & Florence Miller - Mr. Miller said that he is concerned because the road to the subdivision will be across the street from his driveway. He expressed concerns with drainage due to wetlands in the area and also for the safety of the 17 young children who already live in the area. Cars travel too fast on Route 58, he said. Chairman Philip Lindquist suggested that the Highway Surveyor be contacted to request that appropriate signage be placed on Route 58.
James & Gail Hobbs - Mr. Hobbs asked about perc tests and was told that two were done on each lot unless the area was determined previously to be suitable for a septic system and that each lot would require a successful test in order to obtain a building permit. If the lot lines change for any reason, Mr. Delano said, another perc test might have to be done on some of the lots. Mr. Hobbs asked about what the impact would be on this subdivision if a subdivision were developed on an abutting parcel. He was told a connector road would be the responsibility of the subsequent developer. Mr. Hobbs asked about buffer zones and was told by Mr. Delano that they fall under the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission. Mr. Hobbs also received an explanation of line of sight. He asked about the length
of the road and was told by Mr. Delano that the plans called for a 956 foot road and the Planning Board regulations allow for a 500 foot road which will necessitate a waiver request.
Scott & Patricia Griffin - Patricia Griffin asked if abutters are notified when the lots are discussed by the Board of Health and Conservation Commission and was told by Mr. Delano that abutters are notified of Conservation Commission hearings but receive no notification from the Board of Health although the board’s meetings are open to the public. She said that she was surprised that the perc tests were satisfactory for six homes based on the clay soil and water table in the area. Mr. Delano explained how the drainage system would work and said it should improve drainage in the area. She was told that the lot size for the district is 40,000 square feet. She asked what types of homes would be constructed and was told they would be comparable to what is currently being built in
town. She said she was also concerned for the safety of children in the neighborhood and for the Millers and reiterated Mr. Miller’s belief that signage should be installed stating speed limits and warning drivers to slow down because of children.
Dennis & Claire Anctil - Not Present
Town of Hanson Conservation Commission - Not Present
Timothy & Patricia Ryan - Not Present
Paul & Maureen Simmons - Not Present
Timothy and Shannon Larsen - Not Present
Paul & Pamela Johnson - Not Present
Melody Lindsay - Not Present
Dennis & Ellen LaVersa - Not Present
Anthony & Linda Palaza - Not Present
Peter & Elizabeth Bigham - Not Present
Lawrence & Margaret Mishou - Not Present
Scott Wills & Patricia O’Connor - Not Present
Bekier Sinaci - Not Present
David & Dawn Weber - Not Present
When the abutters were through voicing their concerns and asking questions, Town Planner Noreen O’Toole advised them that they would not be notified by mail of any continuations of the hearing. She also outlined the responsibilities of the Planning Board relative to subdivisions and explained the hearing process. Martha Ea of 1198 Whitman Street consented to be the abutter who would be notified of continuations by the office and be responsible for advising only those abutters who attended the advertised hearing session. She was given a copy of the abutters’ list compiled by the Assessors’ Office and gave her telephone number to Ms. O’Toole.
IV. Questions from the public
There were no questions from the public.
V. Questions/Comments from other Town Boards/Departments
There was no response to the hearing notice from any other town board and no response from the Planning Boards in any neighboring communities.
VI. Questions from Planning Board members
David Harris asked Mr. Delano if the center of the road had been staked and was told that it had not. Mr. Harris said that he would like to walk the site. Mr. Delano said that it would take a week to get the staking done. Other board members said they would also be interested in a site visit. Mr. Delano said that he would call Town Planner Noreen O’Toole when the road has been staked.
Gerard LeBlanc asked why the sidewalk was on the side depicted on the plan rather than on the other side and was told by Mr. Delano that decision was based on the entrance radius and the existing property line on the south side. Mr. LeBlanc noted that the decision placed the sidewalk right at the steepest point of the road. Mr. Delano said that the current design meets slope requirements. Most of the houses on the side of the road in question, Mr. Delano said, will be walkouts and fairly level with the road.
Philip Lindquist asked, in light of the high water table noted by abutters, if there were subdrains on the high side of the road. Mr. Delano said they had not been incorporated in the plan. Mr. Lindquist said, if the issue is not addressed, the road could be lost. Mr. Delano said the drains could easily be incorporated into the plan revisions.
VII. Findings
The Board concluded that the hearing should be continued to allow Mr. Delano time to incorporate into the plans revisions outlined in the review engineer’s letter and noted at the hearing and to prepare the site for a visit by Board members.
Motion to continue the hearing to November 15, 2000 at 8 p.m.: David Harris
Second: Joan DiLillo
Vote: 5-0
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