HANSON PLANNING BOARD
Minutes of the Meeting of
April 16, 2003
I. CALL TO ORDER - 7:40 p.m.
Members Present: Philip Lindquist, Chairman
Gordon Coyle, Clerk
Joan DiLillo, Member
David Nagle, Member
Members Absent: Gerard LeBlanc, Vice Chairman
Others Present: Town Planner Noreen O’Toole
Administrative Assistant Barbara Ferguson
II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Acceptance of the Minutes of the Meeting of February 26, 2003
Motion to accept the minutes of the meeting of February 26, 2003: Joan DiLillo
Second: David Nagle
Vote: 4-0
Acceptance of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 19, 2003
Motion to accept the minutes of the meeting of March 19, 2003: Joan DiLillo
Second: Gordon Coyle
Vote: 4-0
III. TOWN PLANNER’S REPORT
Master Plan Committee
Ms. O’Toole said that Thomas Planning Services is working on the Public Facilities component of the Master Plan and is looking for some information from the town on proposals for the senior center relative to an addition or a new building. She said that she would request a copy of the recent feasibility study from the Board of Selectmen. She noted that the town has been advised of the approval of $30,000 under Executive Order 418. The money will be used for mapping and a brochure, she said. It was agreed that a meeting of the Master Plan Committee would be scheduled for May 12, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. and that information on components would be placed on the town website for public comment as soon as possible.
Hanson Trails Committee
Ms. O’Toole said that she has not heard from the Hanson Trails Committee. Chairman Lindquist said that he would like to see the committee restructured and reorganized. Ms. O’Toole said that she would schedule a meeting to accomplish those purposes on some Monday in May.
Zoning Bylaw Committee
Ms. O’Toole said that Chairman Lila Coyle has requested additional information on open space zoning bylaws in preparation for a possible article at the October Special Town Meeting. Ms. O’Toole said that she is in the process of gathering general information that she will get out to committee members. Chairman Lindquist said that he thought the Town of Halifax had an open space bylaw.
Old Colony Planning Council
Ms. O’Toole said that a meeting was held on April 10, 2003 and amendments to the Transportation Improvement Program were discussed. The region has $4 million to work with, she said. All of Hanson’s projects, she said, are in the $0 design category and ineligible for funding. The only approved project with an impact on Hanson, she said, would be the planned improvements to the intersection of Routes 14 and 27 in East Bridgewater. Chairman Lindquist said that a letter should be sent to the Board of Selectmen advising them of the need for spending money on design as a prerequisite for the receipt of state funds. He suggested the proposed sidewalk on Main Street would be a good project for use of TIP funds.
IV. APPOINTMENTS
Philip Andrews
Informal, French Street
Philip Andrews met with the Board to discuss a 61,176 square foot lot on French Street shown as Lot 2 on a Plan of Land owned by Albert and Evelyn Nicoll and dated October 12, 1976. The plan contains the statement that Lot 2 will not be released until the Right of Way off of French Street is made acceptable to the Planning Board. Board members told Mr. Andrews that they would make a site visit. They advised him that improvements to the paper street including drainage might be required. The Board will also need an engineer’s plan, they said. Town Planner Noreen O’Toole told Mr. Andrews he would be given an appointment on the next Planning Board meeting agenda.
Public Hearing
Ransom Road Definitive Subdivision Plan
(See Separate Minutes)
Roy Vinton
Colonial Heights Subdivision Update
Roy Vinton of S.V. Realty Trust met with the Board to update members on the progress he is making on finishing the Colonial Heights subdivision. He told the Board that, although he initially expected to have the work completed by the end of April, it now looked as if it would be pushed back a few more weeks due to scheduling problems. Chairman Philip Lindquist urged Mr. Vinton to make sure that all repairs to the base course have been completed before the top coat is applied. He also urged him to immediately correct existing drainage problems especially those related to the First Congregational Church addition construction. Mr. Vinton said that he had met with the church’s engineer, the church’s site contractor, and a church representative and
changes were being made to correct the water runoff problem by tying into his drainage system.
Town Planner Noreen O’Toole noted a letter from Mr. Vinton faxed to the office on April 9, 2003 requesting a modification to the approved plan relative to the vertical granite curbing requirement. According to Mr. Vinton, the approved plan reflects the inclusion of not only the vertical granite curbing as required in 7.6.1 of the Planning Board’s rules and regulations but exceeds that requirement in excess of 1,700 lineal feet. He asked that he be allowed to complete the project under the same requirements and be held to the same design criteria as the Planning Board has seen fit to hold the many other subdivisions in town, and the Board agreed to the modification stating it concurred with Mr. Vinton that no waiver request was needed.
As to the catch basins, the Board said that Mr. Vinton would have to remove the existing cement blocks and follow the Massachusetts Highway Department’s regulations that require the use of brick mortar to raise a basin. Mr. Vinton said that all but two basins have already been raised using cement blocks.
Motion that Mr. Vinton must follow the rules and regulations of the Planning Board regarding catch basins: Gordon Coyle
Second: David Nagle
Vote: 4-0
In conclusion, Mr. Vinton questioned the last bill received by the Board’s review engineer on the project, Merrill Associates of Hanover. Town Planner Noreen O’Toole said that she would call Merrill and request a breakdown of hours. Mr. Vinton expressed interest in a change of engineers, and Ms. O’Toole said that she would look in to obtaining the services of another review engineer.
Form A/ANR
Independence Avenue
The Board met with Roy Vinton of S.V. Realty Trust and reviewed an Approval Not Required Plan of Independence Avenue, dated April 9, 2003, prepared for S.V. Realty Trust of Bryantville by SITEC, Inc. of New Bedford. The plan depicted the reconfiguration of Lots 11 and 12 on an approved subdivision plan entitled Definitive Subdivision at Colonial Heights in Hanson, Massachusetts, approved September 24, 1992 by Atlantic Engineering & Survey Consultants, Inc. At the conclusion of the review, the Board determined the plan was incomplete, and Mr. Vinton agreed to return with a new plan indicating the uplands and wetlands, the dimensions on the throat of the new Lot 12A, and the designation of ownership of Lot 10. Town Planner Noreen O’Toole said
that she would call Mr. Vinton’s engineer and outline for him the changes required.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Report on Recommended Figures for Fiscal 2004 Budget
Administrative Assistant Barbara Ferguson advised members that the Finance Committee at town meeting would be recommending no salary appropriations for Planning Board members and a 10 percent reduction in the department budget from the figure appropriated for the current fiscal year.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
Amending of Rules and Regulations
Members agreed to resume their review of proposed changes to the Town of Hanson Planning Board Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land. The review will begin with Sections 8 and 9 at the next meeting. Meetings for May were set at May 14 and 28.
VII. ZONING HEARINGS
Application of Kenneth Marston and Hirschfeld Communications to amend the special permit approved on February 22, 2000, as amended December 16, 2002, to permit the increase of the height of the cellular tower on Phillips Street from its approved height of 150 feet to 180 feet.
COMMENT: Height should not be increased in the interest of public safety.
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Louise LoGuidice v. Lila Coyle, et al
Motion to go into executive session under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 39, Section 23B, Exemption No. 3, 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 governmental body, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel, to conduct
collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel: Joan DiLillo
Second: Gordon Coyle
Poll of Board members on motion: David Nagle, yes; Joan DiLillo, yes; Gordon Coyle, yes; Philip Lindquist, yes.
(See separate minutes)
After returning to open session, it was determined that there was no futher business to come before the Board and members decided to adjourn.
IX. ADJOURNMENT - 10:20 p.m.
Motion to adjourn: Gordon Coyle
Second: Joan DiLillo
Vote: 4-0
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