Planning Board Meeting Minutes
August 16, 2011
Memorial Town Hall
Members Present:
W. Ritter, D. Lindberg, A. Bonofiglio, O. Lies
Members Absent:
J. Head
Others Present:
P. Harding, Town Planner, Deb Sciascia, Recording Secretary
J. Zingarelli, Sr. Civil Engineer, R. Ferguson, & J. Kempton, TCC
Jon Ding & Sujatha Mohanakrishnan, CMRPC Transportation Division
7:00 PM: W. Ritter called the Planning Board meeting to order.
TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION COMMITTEE, Traffic Access Management Plan: The Planning Board has a draft of the Holden Access Management Plan for Route 122A, prepared by the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission. The plan discusses remedies to improve the flow of traffic between the intersections of Main St. / Mt. Pleasant Ave. to Main St. / Shrewsbury St.
The plan recommends a change to the zoning bylaw restricting the number of permitted curb cuts to access both residential and commercial properties. The plan also discusses amending the subdivision control regulations to restrict the number of intersections on arterial roadways.
Sujatha Mohanakrishnan and Jon Ding, both from CMRPC, did a presentation for the Boards and reviewed recommendations.
Question / Answer session:
P. Harding asked if any towns’ safety officials had a problem with this type of access management. Not yet.
W. Ritter stated that most accidents happen at signaled intersections. Do they have any intersection recommendations? They did not really look at the traffic light area. CMRPC has another program they can use to review that.
Discussion: Mobil Station access points
W. Ritter said the Board is looking to re-do the Site Plan Regulations.
O. Lies relayed previous ideas for Main St., and Post Office Traffic.
W. Ritter asked if the Town could do a 6 month trial period.
J. Zingarelli, Engineer, stated that previously DOT was not receptive to change, but that opinion seems to be changing. W. Ritter noted that changes could be made within the Site Plan By-Law, he also recommended they get together again in a month or two
Documents presented during review: DRAFT Traffic Access Management Plan, Prepared by CMRPC (These documents can be viewed at the Town Planners Office)
APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED
2 Pioneer Avenue, Thomas and Donna Pellinger: The applicant at 2 Pioneer Ave. is transferring a 852 square foot parcel to the abutting property located at 174 Highland Street. Both properties maintain the minimum area and frontage of the old R-15 zoning district.
O. Lies motioned to endorse the ANR as submitted. A. Bonofiglio seconded. Vote 4-0, all in favor. APPROVED.
Documents presented during review:
Approval Not Required, Plan of Land, Thomas & Donna Pellinger, 2 Pioneer Road, & Michael J. Hunter, 174 Highland Street, Holden, MA, Dated 7/6/11
(These documents can be viewed at the Town Planners Office)
1569 & 1571 Main Street, Joanna Crystoff: The property is located in the R-2 zoning district. There are currently two residential dwelling units located on one lot. MGL chapter 41 section 81L provides an exemption for property with two buildings on one lot which existed prior to the adoption of the Subdivision Control Regulations. The buildings were erected in 1961 and the SCR were adopted on December 4, 1973. The purpose would be to split the lots.
A. Bonofiglio motioned to endorse the plan as exempt from the Subdivision Control Regulations. O. Lies seconded. Vote 4-0, all in favor. APPROVED.
Documents presented during review:
Approval Not Required, Plan of Land in Holden MA at 1569 & 1571 Main St., Dated 7/5/11
(These documents can be viewed at the Town Planners Office)
614 Reservoir Street, Matthew Giza: The plan is acquiring frontage from an abutting parcel and creating one additional building lot. All properties satisfy the minimum area and frontage requirements of the R-40 zoning district.
O. Lies motioned to endorse the plan, D. Lindberg seconded. Vote 4-0, all in favor. APPROVED.
Documents presented during review:
Approval Not Required, Matthew & Holly Giza & Albert E. & Beverly A. Dumas, Reservoir St., Dated August 3, 2011
(These documents can be viewed at the Town Planners Office)
DISCUSSION OF SOLAR PANEL FIELDS: There have been various proposals in other communities for the installation of solar panel fields. There is an exemption for the use in Chapter 40A Section 3 but municipalities are permitted to reasonably regulate the installation. The Board has State’s model bylaw for review, and discussed the possibility of creating a bylaw to address buffering, location and the requirement of a site plan based on the size of the facility.
The Board agreed to add this as an agenda item at a future meeting.
Documents presented during review: Model Allowing Use of Large-Scale Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations, Prepared by: Dept. of Energy Resource MEOEA, December 2010 (These documents can be viewed at the Town Planners Office)
NEXT MEETING: September 13, 2011. Oriol Health Care Facility has submitted a Site Plan/Special Permit to expand the nursing home.
OTHER BUSINESS: None
A. Bonofiglio motioned to adjourn. D. Lindberg seconded. All in favor.
Adjourned 8:50 PM.
August 16, 2011 Minutes approved: October 25, 2011
Debra A. Sciascia, Recording Secretary
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