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10/26/2010
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
October 26, 2010
Memorial Town Hall

Members Present:        
D. Lindberg, W. Ritter, O. Lies, A. Bonofiglio, M. Wronski, Jeffrey Head

Others Present:         
P. Harding, Town Planner, D. Sciascia, Recording Secretary

7:00 PM the Planning Board meeting was called to order by D. Lindberg.

MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION:  The Master Plan Implementation Committee was supposed to attend this meeting, but they never received a notice.  Items for discussion were distributed to the Board for the next meeting, which will be rescheduled with both Boards.  W. Ritter recommended prioritizing and picking a few goals for the Board to work on.

P. Harding will forward the list to the Master Plan Implementation Committee to review and set aside a date for a meeting in December.

Documents presented during review:
        Implementation of the Master Plan, Planning Board Summary
        (This document can be viewed at the Planning Board office)

APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED
150 North Street – Cole:  The Applicant is creating one additional building lot on a public way.  Both lots meet the area and frontage requirements of the R-40 zoning district and are entitled to endorsement.

W. Ritter motioned to approve as submitted.  A. Bonofiglio seconded.  Vote 6-0, all in favor.  APPROVED.

Documents presented during review:
        Approval Not Required, James A. Cole & Merith Lynne Cole, 150 North Street, Holden, MA, dated October 19, 2010.
        (This document can be viewed at the Town Clerk’s Office)

MEETING MINUTES:
  • August 24, 2010:  O. Lies motioned to approve.  W. Ritter seconded.  Vote 5-0, APPROVED. A. Bonofiglio abstained from the vote.
  • September 14, 2010:  W. Ritter motioned to approve.  O. Lies seconded.  Vote 6-0, all in favor, APPROVED.
  • October 12, 2010:  W. Ritter motioned to approve.  A. Bonofiglio seconded.  Vote 5-0, APPROVED.  O. Lies abstained from the vote.
OTHER BUSINESS:
  • Hill Woods:  The applicants cannot get approved for mortgages.  This is a factor of the economy.  The applicant could rent the property.  There is an affordable unit at Hill Woods that they can’t find a buyer
  • for.  D. Lindberg asked if any of the Board members would be against renting the unit.  No one was against it.  P. Harding seemed to think that the Board could approve this.  She will have more options for the Board at the next meeting.
REVIEW OF WALGREENS TRAFFIC REPORT AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL:  W. Ritter recused himself from the discussion at 7:30 pm.

A condition of the Walgreen Site Plan Special Permit approval required the Applicant to submit a traffic report evaluating accident data at the intersections of Main Street, with the site driveway and Holt Road, one year from the date of opening, September 11, 2009.  The Board has a copy of the traffic summary and accident reports for review.  Four accidents were reported the year preceding the opening of the store, and four accidents were reported for the year after the opening of the store.

O. Lies recommended forwarding the information onto the Traffic & Circulation Committee.

J. Head asked if the Board could reserve the right to review these issues again in two (2) years.  P. Harding said they could reserve the right to re-evaluate again in the future.

D. Lindberg, A. Bonofiglio and O. Lies agreed that the Planning Board is done with the traffic review for Walgreens.

M. Wronski recused himself from the meeting at 7:40 pm.

There are still concerns regarding the light trespass onto abutting property on Laurel Hill Lane.  After the first notification of light trespass, the Applicant installed shields and lowered the wattage of the bulbs in the lampposts, and installed tinted screenings, and on the building mounted dome lights.  There are large rectangular building mounted lights to the rear of the building, which seem excessive.  It was requested the Applicant address these fixtures and provide light readings at the fence line to ensure the light trespass has been resolved.  This information was requested at a site visit on August 16, 2010, with two additional requests on September 23, 2010 and October 12, 2010 with no response.  P. Harding had written a second letter to the Applicant, stating the Board will be reviewing this item at the November 12, 2010 meeting.  This item is in violation of Condition #3 of the Site/Plan Special Permit decision, which reads;
LIGHTING
  • All lighting within the site must be constructed in accordance with the approved plans.  No lighting shall illuminate onto abutting residential property.  If it is found that light spills onto abutting residential property as determined by the Holden Municipal Light Department the applicant shall rectify the situation within 45 days of written notification by the Town of Holden.
P. Harding informed the Board that Walgreen’s will be doing a light meter test near the abutting property.

Next Meeting:  December 14, 2010, 7:00 PM.

A. Bonofiglio motioned to adjourn.  J. Head  seconded.  All in favor.

Adjourned 7:45 PM.


October 26, 2010 Minutes approved:              January 11, 2011        

                                                                        
Debra A. Sciascia, Recording Secretary