HANSON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC MEETING OF DECEMBER 9, 2013
TOWN HALL, 542 LIBERTY STREET, HANSON, MA
Members present: Donald Ellis, Chairman
Patricia Glenn, Vice-Chair
Stephen Regan, Clerk
Joseph Gamache, Member
Joseph Weeks, Member
Also Present: Laurie Muncy, Town Planner
Virginia Costley, Administrative Assistant
II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Motion made to accept the minutes of November 4, 2013: Joseph Weeks
Second: Patricia Glenn
Vote: 5-0
III. APPOINTMENTS
No appointments scheduled.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
Discussion on meeting schedule for January 2014 – Board agreed to meet on January 13 and January 27, 2014, if needed.
The Board agreed that the Annual Report should be prepared by the Town Planner.
Board members signed the invoice for Merrill Associates.
V. DISCUSSIONS:
Deer Hill Extension - Release of the $32,000+ of the developer’s money has been prepared and is ready to be signed by the Board. Roadway was accepted at the May Town Meeting.
The subject of the placement of the three trees was discussed and Town Planner Laurie Muncy stated that the placement of the trees on the corner of Fawn Lane were not where she would envision them on the road layout, usually they are placed in the lawn and seed area of the sidewalk and the road, but overall the Board had no problem with the placement of the trees.
Motion to accept a release of a surety bond to Deer Hill Road Ext.: Stephen Regan
Second: Patricia Glenn
Vote: 5-0
Medical Marijuana Treatment Center – discussion to designate an area for a center.
Per an article that appeared in the Boston Globe there are about 100 applicants vying for specific towns and counties. Right now Hanson is not on the list, but has to consider what areas in the town would be conducive to a marijuana medical center.
Hawks Avenue (Litecontrol property – zoned Commercial) seems to be the best site as it meets most of the requirements – size, distribution, off the beaten path. The concern with this site is the abutters may have a problem with a marijuana center close to their neighborhood.
Another site for consideration is the Industrial Park off Rt. 27 – this would give the town two choices. Both sites would meet the requirements. Vote by the Board is necessary to recommend a site for the public hearing.
Motion made for two possible locations for medical marijuana growing and distribution facilities to be located in the town and the two possible locations would either be the Hawks Avenue area and the second in the Industrial Park area off Rt.27: Stephen Regan
Second: Patricia Glenn
Vote: 5-0
The Board Chairman requested copies of the requirements/regulations that the State has for these facilities so the members can look at them. Town Planner will scan in her copy which is highlighted and could be more useful to the Board members. Board member Joseph
Weeks suggested the regulations be put on the website for the public to review and print off themselves. Town Planner indicated that public hearings will have to be scheduled - maybe put on next agenda.
REVIEW OF ZONING BY-LAWS
Town Planner Laurie Muncy will be holding a public hearing on revising the Zoning By-laws per the request of the Town Clerk. They will be reformatted, codified and indexed appropriately. This will require a town meeting vote. The hard copy has been done; a public hearing will have to be scheduled, Board will have to review the material and an article will have to be prepared for Town Meeting.
Before the final product is finished, Laurie will have Barbara Ferguson review them, because there may have been zoning changes prior to Laurie coming on board here that are not incorporated in her document. These should be ready for the May town meeting.
ROAD ACCEPTANCES
Town Planner Laurie Muncy mentioned that she would also like to work on road acceptances – especially some of the bad roads that need to be dealt with; Hemlock Hills and Alden Way. If these roads get accepted in their current state, money can be allocated in the future to do maintenance and repairs. In order to have these roads accepted , a public hearing must be held first, then a recommendation made as a Board to Town Meeting, presented as an article for a vote and then the Chairman of the Board makes a recommendation at Town Meeting.
OLD COLONY BICYCLE PARKING PROGRAM
Funding is available for reimbursement up to $5,000 for bike ramps. Most of the spots looked at either already had the ramps or had them and ramps were not being used, especially at the schools as most students are transported by bus. The “T” station does not provide any shelter, and the State recommends that sites like this should have a roof to protect the bikes from the elements. The Town Hall property could possibly be a spot. Along with the schools, other sites looked at were Boteiri Field, L.Z.Thomas field, Robinson Field, also the Maquan Pond area. This is something to think about for the future.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Motion made to adjourn the meeting: Patricia Glenn
Second: Stephen Regan
Vote: 5-0
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