HANSON PLANNING BOARD
Minutes the Meeting of
January 8, 2003
I. CALL TO ORDER - 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Philip Lindquist, Chairman
Gerard LeBlanc, Vice Chairman
Gordon Coyle, Clerk
Joan DiLillo, Member
David Nagle, Member
Others Present: Town Planner Noreen O’Toole
Administrative Assistant Barbara Ferguson
II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Acceptance of Minutes of Meeting of December 11, 2002
Motion to Accept the Minutes of the Meeting of December 11, 2002: Joan DiLillo
Second: Gerard LeBlanc
Vote: 4-0-1 (David Nagle abstaining)
III. APPOINTMENTS
7:30 p.m., Robert Gosselin
Establish Bond for Stonewall Estates
Release of Lots in Stonewall Estates
Cost Estimate from E.T. Engineering Enterprises, Inc.
The Board met with Robert Gosselin of Goscon, Inc. to discuss his requests to establish a bond for Stonewall Estates and release all lots within the subdivision. The Board also reviewed cost estimates from its review engineer, E. T. Engineering Enterprises, Inc. of Bridgewater of $81,328.50 for Litchfield Lane and $30,734 for Proud Foot Way. Board members also read a January 6, 2003 report from E.T. recommending an additional $14,080 for 160 feet of guard rail installation on Litchfield Land and $26,400 for 300 feet of guard rail installation on Proud Foot Way.
Town Planner Noreen O’Toole noted that there were several items that could be eliminated or reduced. Mr. Gosselin said that the price he had been quoted on guard rail was $20 a linear foot which would bring the total for that item down to $9,000. Ms. O’Toole speculated that E.T.’s figures were based on MassHighway specifications which would exceed what is needed for a subdivision. Mr. Gosselin also questioned the engineer’s recommendation that two additional light poles be added to the three on the approved plan at a cost of $2,000 per pole. Ms. O’Toole said the Board could also eliminate the $2,500 on line 31 for snow removal. The Board was pleased with the inclusion of money to provide for an as-built survey
and a preliminary as-built plan for both roadways. At the conclusion of the discussion the Board agreed to reduce the cost estimate to reflect the changes recommended by Mr. Gosselin and Ms. O’Toole with some contingency allowance and set the bond at $125,000.
Motion to establish a bond of $125,000 for Stonewall Estates: Joon DiLillo
Second: David Nagle
Vote: 5-0
Motion to release all of the lots in Stonewall Estates contingent upon receipt of a bond: Joan DiLillo
Second: Gordon Coyle
Vote: 5-0
John Crowe Associates
Review of Plans for New Whitman-Hanson Regional High School
The Board met with representatives of John Crowe Associates of Belmont, to review the plans for the construction of a new Whitman-Hanson Regional High School. The firm has filed with the Board of Appeals for site plan approval. The hearing has been scheduled for January 21, 2003 at 7 p.m. A Notice of Intent will be filed with the Hanson Conservation Commission. The wetlands have been delineated. No alteration of bordering vegetated wetlands or isolated wetlands will occur to construct the proposed school project. Very minor alteration of the 100 foot buffer zones will occur, the engineers said.
The engineers told the Board that the Whitman-Hanson Regional School Building Committee is proposing to build a new 230,494 square foot, 1,350 student high school with 434 new parking spaces and nine handicap spaces on the existing 69.9 acre site on Franklin Street. The existing building is 129,900 square feet with 256 associated parking spaces.The division of land between the two communities is 69.7 acres in Hanson and .2 acres in Whitman.
The issue of the existence of a bridle path was raised by Chairman Philip Lindquist, and Building Committee Chairman James Armstrong said that a 200 year deed research of the property was done prior to the project going out to bid, and it was determined that there is no bridle path easement. Paul Konarski of 212 Catherine Road said that there is a path used for horseback riding that runs through his property onto the school property.
Separation of school bus drop-off/pick-up, the Board was told, will be accomplished by providing a separate one-way bus loop along the south side of the building. Parent drop-off will be provided at a two-way main entry loop adjacent to the bus drop-off. There will be a 12 foot wide emergency loop around the building. Chairman Lindquist asked if any consideration had been made for a connection roadway to the rear of the site and was told it had not due to wetlands and the private ownership of parcels between the high school site and existing roadways. The width of the main access roadway will be 30 feet. Visitor and handicap parking will be provided at the main entry. Student parking will be to the south of the southwest corner of the building. Faculty parking
will be located to the east of the new school building.
There will be new soccer, baseball and softball fields as well as a new tennis court. The new fields will be located along Franklin Street where the existing building now stands. The existing running track, football field and bleachers will be replaced in their existing location by a new six lane, 400 meter resilient running track and an artificial turf football field with a 250 seat bleacher system. The soccer field will not be fenced. The baseball and softball fields will have a fence.
Chairman Lindquist asked about the distrance to property lines and was told the building will be 108 feet to the nearest property line. The residential areas will be screened with evergreen trees. The topography, the board was told, will help hide the building from the view of abutters.
Site drainage will be consistent with all Department of Environmental Protection Best Management Practices and Town of Hanson standards. The storm drainage design and hydrology calculations for the site will be reviewed by the Conservation Commission when the Notice of Intent is filed. The drainage system proposed will result in an 87 percent removal rate.
The school will be serviced by the Town of Whitman water and sewer systems. The Whitman Department of Public Works, the Board was told will be installing a new water main down Franklin Street in the spring. The new building will be two stories with a three story classroom wing and a courtyard in the center. Most of the building will be standard brick material with precast accents.
Mr. Konarski said he would like the building to be an additional 100 feet from his property line. Chairman Lindquist recommended that he attend the hearing before the Board of Appeals. The engineers said they expect construction to begin later this year with the project to be completed by September of 2005.
IV. TOWN PLANNER’S REPORT
Master Plan Committee
Town Planner Noreen O’Toole noted that the office was awaiting three Master Plan components in the mail from Thomas Planning Services.
Hanson Trails Committee
Town Planner Noreen O’Toole said that no meetings of the Hanson Trails Committee have been scheduled.
Zoning Bylaw Committee
Town Planner Noreen O’Toole said that no meetings of the Zoning Bylaw Committee have been scheduled.
Old Colony Planning Council Joint Transportation Committee
Town Planner Noreen O’Toole said that the Old Colony Planning Council Joint Transportation Committee would be meeting at noon on January 16, 2003.
Other Matters
Town Planner Noreen O’Toole said that complaints have been received regarding the infiltration basin at Cranberry Estates. They will be investigated by the Board’s review engineer for the subdivision, Land Planning, Inc. of Hanson.
Chairman Philip Lindquist advised the Board that the South Shore Transit Study Technical and Working Committee, of which he is a member, has determined that there would not be enough passengers for a bus route within Hanson but that a route should go from Brockton through Hanson.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Letter from Water Superintendent
As-Built Plans for Tag Way
The Board noted a December 31, 2002 letter from Water Superintendent Glen Doherty stating that the as-built plans for Tag Way in the Millennium Estates subdivisions do not show the ties for waters services or any marks to go off of to find the water shut offs and service boxes. Town Planner Noreen said she would advise Mr. Doherty that the Planning Board does not require this information be included on its plans.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
Easement Agreement
Anne Marie Lane
The Board noted the receipt of a signed easement agreement for a pedestrian walkway in the Anne Marie Lane subdivision.
Town Planner’s Evaluation
The Board deferred to its next meeting a review of evaluations by members of the Town Planner’s job performance over the past year.
VII. ZONING HEARINGS
Application of Marston Realty Trust for a third amendment to the original Comprehensive 40B Permit application which requests the modification of the project from a total of 38 units to 70 units off Phillips Street, Map 50, Lots 24d and 152, Hanson Assessors Map
COMMENTS:
Project density is excessive. The increase in units is a substantial change to this project.
No delineated recreation area provided for families.
Not compatible with the character of the town.
The Planning Board feels a project of this size would adversely impact the town’s services.
Application of John G. Crowe Associates, Inc. for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School Building Committee for site plan approval to allow the construction of the new Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, off Franklin Street, Map 86, Lot 2, and Map 94, Lot 6, Hanson Assessors Map.
COMMENTS:
Traffic island should be constructed to ensure safety and circulaton around the school site.
Operational plan for basin and erosion control plan should be submitted.
Site needs delineated green trail for student travel.
Board concerned with flow of water off building.
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Chairman Lindquist polled the Board to determine if members wanted to go into executive session under Open Meeting Law Exemption No. 3 which allows a board to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the government body. The issue under discussion, he explained before the vote, would be Louise LoGuidice v. Lila Coyle, et al.
Vote to go into executive session:
Joan DiLillo - Aye
Gordon Coyle - Aye
Gerard LeBlanc - Aye
David Nagle - Aye
Philip Lindquist - Aye
See Separate Minutes
The Board returned to open session and there being no futher business decided to adjourn.
IX. ADJOURNMENT - 10 p.m.
Motion to adjourn: Joan DiLillo
Second: Gordon Coyle
Vote: 5-0
| 
