Planning Board Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2007
Memorial Town Hall
Members Present: C. Stanovich, R. Ricker, O. Lies, C. Prager, W. Ritter, D. Lindberg
Others Present: Brian Bullock, Town Manager, Pamela Harding, Senior Planner,
Debra Sciascia, Recording Secretary
7:30 PM the Planning Board meeting was called to order.
PUBLIC HEARING – Rice School Site Plan / Special Permit Definitive Subdivision: C. Stanovich read the Public Hearing Notice into record. The plan is for 25 condominium units and associated parking. The plans before the Board have progressed with input from Town Staff. Action on the application will require two votes; one for Site Plan/Special Permit and the second for Definitive Subdivision for more than one building on a lot.
P. Harding is recommending two special conditions which will be incorporated into the plans:
Legal review of the condominium documents incorporating operation and maintenance of the
stormwater system.
Approval from the light department for interior lighting.
Presentations by Patricia Finnegan Gates, Rice Holden LLC, Mark Ingram, David Faist, Project Engineer, and the project Architect. There will be one easement granted to the Town for the utilization of playground parking spaces, in addition to this the applicant has agreed to donate $15,000 payment for playground improvements.
R. Ricker would like to see two stop signs added to the project at the driveway intersection with Philips Road, he also recommends a sidewalk be constructed between the two parking areas, north of Building #1.
Mark Ingram, electrical contractor, Rice Holden LLC, went over the lighting and buffering for the project. O. Lies asked that the fixtures be conducive to a residential area. Evergreens and a 6’ vinyl white fence will be a buffer to the left, and a 4’ chain link fence to the rear near the playground. The dumpster will be to the rear of the building.
P. Harding stated that the Fire Dept. has reviewed the plans throughout the process. Plans are for 1 and 2 bedroom units.
Public Comments:
Susan McDaniel Ceccacci, 360 Causeway St: Concerned with covering the exterior brick with vinyl, and dislikes the look of vinyl fencing. The applicant explained the exterior look and windows. The selection has not been made yet for the 1910 building exterior.
R. Ricker motioned to close the Public Hearing. O. Lies seconded. All in favor. W. Ritter motioned to approve the site plan as submitted with conditions, read into record with changes. R. Ricker seconded for discussion.
Added Conditions:
Two stop signs will be added to Phillips Road.
An additional sidewalk to be added at the northerly portion of building #1.
Signage added to the approval of Growth Management for the six (6) public parking spaces.
R. Ricker seconded the motion with the amendments, to approve the site plan. All in favor.
W. Ritter motioned to close the Public Hearing for the subdivision. R. Ricker seconded. All in favor. W. Ritter motioned to approve the special permit definitive subdivision with the conditions read into record. R. Ricker seconded. All in favor.
MEETING MINUTES:
September 26, 2006: D. Lindberg motioned to approve. W. Ritter seconded. Vote 6-0, all
in favor.
October 10, 2006: C. Prager motioned to approve with changes. W. Ritter seconded. R.
Ricker abstained. Vote 5-0, approved.
November 14, 2006: W. Ritter motioned to approve. R. Ricker seconded. Vote 6-0, all in
favor.
WESTMINSTER PLACE PROGRESS REPORT: The applicant was sent a letter requesting completion of; 1) the aesthetic improvements to the dirt berm on Newell Rd, 2) removal of trees in accordance with the January 5, 2007, Utility Relocation Plan, 3) payment to the HMLD for the pole relocation, 4) commitments from both Verizon and Charter regarding utility relocation, and their attendance at the meeting.
Endre Hollosi, Benchmark Engineering, the project manager, submitted a copy of the check submitted to the Light Department for approximately $18,000. The applicant met with Mike Flagg who said the poles could be temporarily moved while grading occurs and then placed back into their current locations. Mikey D. Tree Service was scheduled to cut the trees prior to tonight’s meeting but did not show on the job site. A copy of the contract with the scheduled date was submitted to the Planning Board. Mr. Hollosi informed the Board he would hire a new contractor to conduct the tree cutting within the next couple of weeks. The contact with Michael Dillon, tree contractor from Shrewsbury, MA, was read into record regarding the cutting of 8 trees.
The applicant has agreed to come to the next meeting, February 13, 2007, to update the Board. The dirt berm surrounding the poles cannot be moved for stability reasons, but they can remove the piles of dirt.
O. Lies asked for clarification of the orange and white marked trees. The white x’s have been approved and marked by Mike Flagg. R. Ricker stated that the applicant is in good faith attempting to move forward.
Public Comments:
Karl Makela, 60 Newell Rd: Had a different understanding of which trees were to be cut down. P. Harding clarified that all trees marked with orange x’s were reviewed at the tree hearing but it was determined by the Light Department that only the trees white and orange x’s are to be taken down. C. Stanovich requested that K. Makela submit a prepared statement to the Board for review.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Woodmeister: On agenda for next meeting.
40R: On agenda for next meeting.
CMRCP: O. Lies has an airport DVD if anyone is interested in viewing it.
Stumps on ANR lots: C. Prager informed the Board that stumps are being buried on ANR lots. Will be reviewed by the Board.
Planning Board Goals for 2007: Some issues to be address by the Board will be double lanes on Main St., and Master Plan.
NEXT MEETINGS: February 13, 2007 at 7:30 PM. at the Memorial Town Hall.
W. Ritter motioned to close Planning Board meeting. R. Ricker seconded. All in favor.
Adjourned at 9:25 PM.
January 23, 2007 meeting minutes approved: February 13, 2007
Debra A. Sciascia
Recording Secretary
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