HANSON PLANNING BOARD
Minutes of the Meeting of
April 3, 2002
I. CALL TO ORDER - 7:45 p.m.
Members Present: Philip Lindquist, Chairman
David Harris, Vice Chairman
Gerard LeBlanc, Clerk
Gordon Coyle, Member
Joan DiLillo, Member
Others Present: Town Planner Noreen O’Toole
Administrative Assistant Barbara Ferguson
II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Minutes of Meeting of March 6, 2002
Motion to Accept the Minutes of the Meeting of March 6, 2002: David Harris
Second: Joan DiLillo
Vote: 4-0-1 (Gerard LeBlanc abstaining)
III. TOWN PLANNER’S REPORT
Master Plan Committee
Town Planner Noreen O’Toole advised the Board that consultant Carol Thomas of Thomas Planning Associates had attended the April 1 Master Plan Committee meeting to give a progress report. She said the next Master Plan Committee meeting has been scheduled for May 13 at 7:30 p.m. Ms. O’Toole said she had obtained buildout maps on disk from the Old Colony Planning Council which she would be bringing to Ms. Thomas on Tuesday so they can be incorporated into the Master Plan.
Hanson Trails Committee
Ms. O’Toole said that no meetings of the Hanson Trails Committee have been scheduled.
Zoning Bylaw Committee
Ms. O’Toole said the next meeting of the Zoning Bylaw Committee is scheduled for April 8 at 7:30 p.m. The Committee will be discussing a bylaw amendment proposed by Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer Michael Kennedy relative to pre-existing, non-conforming lots as well as other amendments that may be proposed for the October Special Town Meeting.
Old Colony Planning Council Transportation Committee
Ms. O’Toole said that the next meeting of the Old Colony Planning Council Transportation Committee is scheduled for April 18. Chapter 90 funding, she said, has been the main topic of discussion.
Other Matters
Ms. O’Toole told the Board the town had not been successful in obtaining a state grant through the Department of Environmental Protection’s Aquifer Land Acquisition Program to fund all or a portion of the land acquisition costs related to the Pleasant Street wellsite. Funding was limited, she said, with the town placing 24th among 46 applicants. Ms. O’Toole said she had also recently assisted the Fire Department and Council for Elder Affairs with the submission of grant applications.
IV. APPOINTMENTS
7:45 p.m., Meadowbrook Estates
Complaint from Residents
Request for Extension
The Board met with Edward Johnson, developer of the Meadowbrook Estates subdivision, Steven Wry of Land Planning, Inc., of Hanson, Johnson’s engineer on the project, and several residents of the subdivision, who filed a written complaint with the Board on March 26, 2002 which included a list of 10 items that need to be addressed immediately.
Town Planner Noreen O’Toole said the last construction cost estimate was done by the Board’s engineer two years ago with little progress apparent since that time. There is currently $90,000 remaining in the bond for Meadowbrook. The residents said they expected the roadway and other items under the Planning Board’s jurisdiction to be completed before the last house was built. Ms. O’Toole explained the bond reduction procedure to the residents. A March 28, 2002 letter from Land Planning seeking an extension of the completion deadline indicated the subdivision is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2002.
Chairman Lindquist told Mr. Johnson the Board would need a written list of items to be completed and their anticipated completion dates before any consideration could be given to granting an extension. Mr. Johnson said that the street lights have already been installed. He asked for consideration of a substitute for hemlocks for street trees as they are reportedly diseased at the present time. It is the decision of each individual homeowner, Ms. O’Toole said, whether trees are planted. The boulders, he said, will be removed when the sidewalks are installed. Ms. O’Toole recommended the street sign be installed immediately. Mr. Johnson said he needs the approval of the East Bridgewater Department of Public Works.
There was discussion as to whether a fence was to be located around the detention basin on Lot 9 and when gates would be installed at the power line access road. Mr. Johnson said he would be discussing the gates with Massachusetts Electric. The owners of Lot 9 were not present at the meeting. The Board said it would be up to the lot owners whether a fence is required. At the conclusion of the discussion, it was decided that Mr. Johnson should return with his completion schedule on April 17 at 9 p.m. and that felled trees, rocks, construction equipment and hay bales would be removed before he returned.
8:00 p.m., Alden Way
Residents & Engineers
The Board met with Steven Gioiosa of SITEC for a progress report on the Alden Way subdivision. Mr. Gioiosa said that a punch list for completion of the project has been provided to the contractor by his client, Tedeschi/Gray. A list of items and their scheduled dates for completion, he said, would be provided to the Board the following week. Chairman Lindquist said that the Board’s biggest concern is the amount of water that is being retained in the basins. Mr. Gioiosa said that access to the basins will be stabilized and certification that the basins comply with the approved plans will be provided. Ms. O’Toole noted that the basin that was moved because it was on the wrong lot did not retain water before it was moved. Mr. Gioiosa said
that the Board’s engineer for the project, Land Planning, Inc., will be notified when the contractor is going to be on site and test pits will be excavated in each basin to verify soil compliance. The Board scheduled its next appointment for Alden Way on April 17 at 9:30 p.m. at which time the completion schedule is slated for discussion.
9:00 p.m., 40B Informal
Warren Lane
The Board met informally with Warren Lane of Land Use Associates of Plymouth, Architect John English of Plympton, Steven Wry of Land Planning, Inc. of Hanson, and property owner, Kenneth Marston, to discuss a comprehensive permit development proposed off Phillips Street. Mr. Lane told the Board that the project to be called Depot Village is conceived as a 38-unit rental townhouse and apartment development. Plans call for 26 of the units to be two-bedroom townhouse style homes and 12 to be one-bedroom apartment flats. The units would be placed in four buildings, with three of the buildings having 6, two-bedroom townhouses in the middle and four one-bedroom apartments, one-over-one at each end of the buildings. The fourth building would have 8,
two-bedroom townhouse units.
Of the 38 total units, 10 will be rented as affordable units to individuals or families making no more than 80% of the area median income and spending no more than 30% of their total income on housing costs, Mr. Lane said, with the rest rented at market rate. The affordable units will remain affordable for at least the minimum period required by statute which is currently 35 years. He noted the dire need for rental units on the South Shore and the fact that in a rental development all units count toward the state’s 10% affordable-housing requirement. Approval of the development, he noted, would raise the town’s compliance percentage from 3.57% to 4.77%. Mr. Lane said that the principal zoning relief needed will be from the allowed uses within the zoning district
as most of the site is zoned Commercial-Industrial and possibly some lesser relief as to setback requirements. Board members expressed concern with the proximity of the development to a cell tower. Mr. Lane said that he expected to bring the development before the Board of Appeals by the end of May.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Colonial Heights
Letter from Highway Surveyor
Letter to Roy Vinton
The Board noted the receipt of an April 3, 2002 letter from Highway Surveyor Richard Harris stating that the condition of the Colonial Heights subdivision is deplorable and steadily getting worse. Among the items he said needed attention were the drainage system, the binder course, water flowing from lots, the shoulders of the roads and unbuilt lots, and street signs. Ms. O’Toole noted there is a pool of water on Valley Forge Road. She said that a certified letter had been sent to developer, Roy Vinton, regarding the flooding and the Board’s engineer, Merrill Associates of Hanover had been notified. She said she planned to meet with the contractor in the morning.
Letter from Winokur, Winokur, Serkey & Rosenberg
Goscon, Inc. v. Lindquist et al.
The Board noted a March 29, 2002 letter from Winokur, Winokur, Serkey & Rosenberg regarding Goscon, Inc. v. Lindquist et al. Town Planner Noreen O’Toole told the Board that she had spoken to Town Counsel about the proposed changes to the plan for 1248 & 1258 Whitman Street, now known as Stonewall Estates, and discussed how the Board should handle them in light of the existing suit. Ms. O’Toole said that the revised plan is before P.M.P. Associates for review.
Request from Rosen Realty
One Year Extension for Cranberry Estates
The Board noted a March 8, 2002 request from Rosen Realty for a one-year extension to complete Cranberry Estates. Before an extension can be granted, she said, the subdivision should be inspected by the Board’s engineer. The Board said it also wanted a completion schedule. Ms. O’Toole said she would be sitting down with the Board’s engineer and the developer’s engineer to discuss complaints that have been received from abutters regarding the basin in the subdivision.
Copy of Letter from P.M.P. Associates to Whitman Planning Board
Catherine Road Bond Release
The Board noted a March 11, 2002 letter from P.M.P. Associates to the Whitman Planning Board regarding a bond release for Catherine Road.
Letter from Greater Attleboro-Taunton Regional Transit Authority
Chairman Lindquist to be Hanson Representative
The Board noted a March 1, 2002 letter from the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority seeking a representative to attend meetings of a Technical Working Committee to study transportation strategies for South Shore towns along the Route 3 corridor. Chairman Lindquist will serve as Hanson’s representative.
Inspection Reports from Merrill Associates, Inc.
Sydney Estates
The Board noted February 15 and 26, 2002 inspection reports from Merrill Associates, Inc. on Sydney Estates advising of the installation of drainage structures and a catch basin.
Letter from Brewster Fuller & Associates
Chairman Lindquist read a March 20, 2002 letter from Brewster Fuller of Brewster W. Fuller & Associates advising that his consulting services to the Board would be ending after more than 40 years due to a need to reduce his work-load. Town Planner Noreen O’Toole said that she would write a letter to Mr. Fuller thanking him for his service to the town.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
Letter to Registry of Deeds
Millennium Estates
Letter from P.M.P. Associates
The Board noted a March 29, 2002 letter from Michael Perrault of P.M.P. Associates of East Bridgewater recommending that the plan for Millennium Estates, which was not filed by the property owner at the Registry of Deeds within the six-month filing deadline, have a new endorsement block added before it is filed.
Letter from Management Assistant
Salary Increases for FY03
Board’s recommendation for Town Planner
Following a review of a March 11, 2002 memorandum from Management Assistant Meredith Scozzari relative to salary increases for FY03 and a review of the 35.5 job performance evaluation score out of a possible 36 received by Town Planner Noreen O’Toole, the Board voted on its recommended percentage increase and asked Administrative Assistant Barbara Ferguson to communicate the information to the Finance Committee.
Motion to recommend a 3.5% raise for Town Planner Noreen O’Toole for Fiscal Year 2002: Joan DiLillo
Second: Gerard LeBlanc
Vote: 5-0
Special Permit Adult Communities
Rules & Regulations for Filing
Application Form & Fees
Due to the lateness of the hour, the Board deferred discussion on establishing a special permitting process for Adult Retirement Communities to a future meeting. Chairman Lindquist stated a preference for the procedure followed in Middleboro.
VII. ZONING HEARINGS
Application of John F. Rothwell, Sr. for a special permit to allow the conversion of a legal two-family into three, one-bedroom apartments with no change to the existing footprint. The property is located in the Residence B District, 86 Phillips St., Hanson Assessor’s Map 43, Lot 0025.
COMMENT: Plan provides inadequate information for comment.
Application of Mark Modestino for a variance and/or special permit to allow the construction of a 26 ft. x 38 ft. attached two-car garage with a single door and a room above that does not conform to side setback requirements, 153 Wagon Trail, Map 120, Lot 56, Hanson Assessors Map.
COMMENT: No Comment
Application of Joseph F. Gerrior, Jr. for a special permit to construct a 10 ft. x 29 ft. addition to the rear of existing structure which is an increase in the lot area coverage per Table of Dimensional Requirements to include a deck and porch at rear and extend the existing deck in front of property known as Woodland Insurance Agency, Inc. at 894 Monponsett Street, Map 6, Lot 6, Hanson Assessors Map. Property is in the business zone and aquifer II zone
COMMENT: No Comment
VIII. ADJOURNMENT - 10:15 p.m.
Motion to Adjourn: David Harris
Second: Gordon Coyle
Vote: 5-0
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