HANSON PLANNING BOARD
Minutes of Meeting of
FEBRUARY 7, 2001
Members Present: Philip Lindquist, Chairman
David Harris, Vice Chairman
Gerard LeBlanc, Clerk
Joan DiLillo, Member
Gordon Coyle, Member
Others Present: Town Planner Noreen O’Toole
Administrative Assistant Barbara Ferguson
I. CALL TO ORDER - 7:30 p.m.
II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Minutes of Meeting of January 31, 2001
Motion to Accept the Minutes of the Meeting of January 31, 2001: Gordon Coyle
Second: Gerard LeBlanc
Vote: 3-0
III. TOWN PLANNER REPORT
Master Plan Committee
Town Planner Noreen O’Toole told the Board that the next meeting of the Master Plan Committee is scheduled for February 14, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. Carol Thomas of Thomas Planning Services, Inc. will be present for a review of the drafts of the Open Space and Economic Development components of the new Master Plan.
Hanson Trails Committee
Ms. O’Toole said that there are no meetings of the Hanson Trails Committee scheduled.
In-Law Apartment Committee/Zoning Bylaw Committee
Ms. O’Toole said that meetings of the In-Law Apartment Committee and Zoning Bylaw Committee are scheduled for February 26 at 7:30 p.m. which she hopes to combine into a joint meeting if the In-Law Apartment Committee is amenable. There is also a meeting of the Zoning Bylaw Committee scheduled for February 12.
O.C.P.C. Transportation Committee
Ms. O’Toole said that the next meeting of the Old Colony Planning Council Transportation Committee is scheduled for February 15 and she will be unable to attend because she will be on vacation.
Update on Other Issues
Ms. O’Toole advised Board members of a Department of Housing and Community Development sponsored Comprehensive Permit Workshop scheduled for March 3 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Middleborough Town Hall. Any board member wishing to attend, she said, should call the office. She said she would also make sure the Board of Appeals had been notified.
Mr. O’Toole shared with the Board a copy of a memo she sent to Building Inspector Michael Kennedy on February 1, 2001 advising him of past action by the Planning Board regarding Assessors’ Map 70, Lot 27D, Birch Street and also a letter to the owner from the Conservation Commission.
Ms. O’Toole also presented the Board with copies of a license recently signed by the Board of Selectmen granting the current residents of Charles Street and their invitees the right to use the paved traveled surface running from Hancock Street to Charles Street for access to their homes. The property (Lot 2-658) is owned by the Town of Hanson.
The Board also discussed a January 25, 2001 letter from Town Clerk Sandra Harris seeking written confirmation from the Planning Board of its official procedure relating to the submittal of plans and a draft of Chairman Philip Lindquist’s reply. Ms. O’Toole was asked to contact Donald Schmidt of the Department of Housing & Community Development for his interpretation of relative sections of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 41 before a reply is sent to Mrs. Harris.
IV. APPOINTMENTS
8:00 P.M. Continued Definitive Subdivision Public Hearing
1248 & 1258 Whitman Street
Rick Grady of Grady Consulting of Kingston told the Board at the continued definitive subdivision public hearing for 1248 and 1258 Whitman Street that the amended plans for the subdivision are not yet ready for presentation. He showed the board the latest plan which depicted a shortened Litchfield Lane and a possible connection of Irene Circle to the neighboring Rye Hill Estates. The new plan would result in the elimination of one lot. Mr. Grady said that he had communicated both with Kenneth Crosby, the owner of Rye Hill Estates in Whitman, and Sheila Niksa, owner of Rye Hill Estates in Hanson, and determined that the only possible link would be to Mrs. Niksa’s land as 1248 and 1258 Whitman Street does not abut Mr. Crosby’s land.
He said Mrs. Niksa did not want to discuss the issue until she has completed the Conservation Commission phase of the project. If the final plans do not change from the current plan, Mr. Grady said, the length of roadway waiver request will be withdrawn. He said that the promised staking of the roadway should be soon be completed and that percolation tests would also be done within the next two weeks.
Chairman Philip Lindquist noted that no roadways with a width of less than 26 feet have been allowed in any existing subdivision. Mr. Grady also showed the Board a blowup of a United States Geological Survey map in response to a prior request for a map showing the area beyond the proposed subdivision for a better determination of the potential impact on other properties from runoff. Mr. Grady said that the map indicated drainage will follow the existing pattern but at a reduced rate. Vice Chairman David Harris said consideration should be given to diverting some of the runoff into the Taunton Watershed.
Mr. Grady said that a new plan will not be formally submitted until after he has met with the Conservation Commission. Member Gerard LeBlanc said that privacy screening should be shown for the abutter on the 1264 Whitman Street side of the road and Mr. Grady said he would attempt to match the existing trees and bushes. The Board also asked for a detailed plan of the intersection with Whitman Street. Rockland abutters in attendance again expressed concern with the possibility of flooding. Chairman Philip Lindquist asked Mr. Grady to explore having a single entrance to the two subdivisions when he speaks with Mrs. Niksa about a connecting roadway.
Motion to continue the hearing to March 21 @ 8 p.m.: David Harris
Second: Gerard LeBlanc
Vote: 5-0
Meeting with Bernard Munro of Land Planning
St. Joseph the Worker Church Site Plan
Bernard Munro met with the Board to discuss the Planning Board’s comments to the Zoning Board of Appeals on the site plan for St. Joseph the Worker Church. He explained that the drainage system had been designed to prevent water from flowing on to adjacent properties. Board members expressed concern that there could still be flooding when the system is blocked by snow. In response to another concern, Mr. Munro advised that it would not be practical to put a sidewalk in front of the church as a new sidewalk will soon be installed on the opposite side of Maquan Street. He said a striped walkway is planned from the church across Maquan Street to the parking area for Sullivan Funeral Home.
9:00 P.M. Continued Definitive Subdivision Public Hearing
Audubon Estates
The Board met with Dennis Leary and John Burns of Hudson Park Associates, engineer Gary James of Hanover, and John Keefe of Keefe Associates of Pembroke for a continued definitive subdivision hearing on Audubon Estates off Brook Street. Mr. Jones told the Board that the revised plans for the 11-lot subdivision pretty much comply with the recommendations contained in a February 5, 2001 communication from the Board’s review engineer, Bernard Munro of Land Planning, Inc. Chairman Philip Lindquist read Mr. Munro’s review aloud for the audience. A copy of the letter is available for review in the Planning Board office.
The drainage has been revised with the recharge area designed to handle a 100-year storm, Mr. Jones said, and another test pit was dug on Lot 1 to assure that the drainage system will not create any problems for homeowners on the adjacent lot. A monitoring well will be installed.
Mr. Leary said that a land swap was being arranged with the Yakavonis family to provide sufficient frontage for a retreat lot.
Chairman Philip Lindquist expressed his desire for an easement to conservation land to the rear of the site. The proponents said an existing cart path will be upgraded in addition to being used for a water main connection out to Old Pine Drive. Mr. Lindquist said that it should be 10 feet in width with gravel. Vice Chairman David Harris asked if the electric company had been notified and was advised that the process calls for notification following approval by the Planning Board.
The Board determined that there were items remaining from Land Planning’s review that still needed to be addressed and the hearing should be continued.
Motion to continue the hearing to February 21, 2001 @ 8:30 p.m.: David Harris
Second: Joan DiLillo
Vote: 5-0
V. NEW BUSINESS
Notification from Attorney General
Approval of Zoning Amendment
The Board noted a January 31, 2001 letter from the Attorney General’s office advising of approval of Zoning Article 23 adopted by voters at the October 2, 2000 special town meeting.
Memorandum from Kopelman & Paige
Calculation of Majority Votes
The Board noted a January 31, 2001 memorandum from Kopelman & Paige, town counsel, regarding the calculation of majority votes which states that a majority of the full membership of the Planning Board is required to approve a subdivision plan.
Memorandum from Kopelman & Paige
Regulation of Body Art Establishments
The Board noted a January 26, 2001 memorandum from Kopelman & Paige, town counsel, regarding the regulation of body art establishments including Board of Health regulations and zoning considerations.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn: David Harris
Second: Gerard LeBlanc
Vote 5-0
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