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Planning Board Meeting Minutes
July 31, 2012
Senior Center
Members Present: W. Ritter, D. Lindberg, A. Bonofiglio O. Lies
Members Absent: J. Head, S. Carlson
Others Present: P. Harding, Town Planner, Deb Sciascia, Recording Secretary,
Committees Present: Ecomonic Development Committee, Conservation Commission, Master Plan Implementation Committee, Town Department Heads, Board of Selectmen, & Town Manager, Nancy Galkowski.
7:05 PM: W. Ritter called the Planning Board meeting to order.
PUBLIC HEARING, Site Plan Review/Special Permit Val’s Restaurant, Reservoir St. (Cont’d.): Continued from July 10, 2012
A. Bonofiglio motioned to continue the Public Hearing to August 7, 2012 at the Applicants request, D. Lindberg seconded. Vote 4-0, all in favor.
APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED, Winter Hill Road/Newell Road, Ridgemont Properties, R-10/R-2 Zoning Districts, 10 Lots: The applicant submitted an ANR creating ten lots. There is a letter dated July 17, 2012, from P. Harding, to the applicant, that addresses the deficiencies in the plan. A revised plan was submitted.
Karl Makela, 60 Newell Rd. came forward so that P. Harding could explain the plan to him, and gave him a copy of the plan, which has been checked by Engineering.
O. Lies motioned to endorse the plan. A. Bonofiglio seconded. Vote 4-0, APPROVED.
Documents presented during review can be viewed in the Town Planners office. Winter Hill Road, Ridgemont Properties, Owner Edward C. Jardus, 20 Grafton Circle, Shrewsbury, MA 01545. Plan dated 7/26/12.
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION (CMRPC) Central 13 Prioritization Project: Vera Kolias, CMRPC Regional Planner conducted the presentation. The State is interested in what the towns want to do, and where the priority areas are. The Northwest Corridor Project was completed in March and is the impetus for this study.
September 11, 2012 there is a meeting in Sturbridge to go over the Central Thirteen maps of community identified needs.
Questions & Comments:
- Diane Payton, 23 Flagler Dr: Comments regarding cemeteries identified on the plan, and regarding farms, she was informed cemeteries are identified as protected open space.
- W. Ritter: Asked where the funding was coming from. Technical Assistance Dollars, State Budget.
- Jean Brunter, 280 Bailey Rd: Is the plan used for infrastructure for roads, power lines, etc.? V. Kolias said they will be applied as identified by communities.
- Antony Costello, Con Com: Inquired why Worcester isn’t included in the plan of the 13 communities. V. Kolais said that Worcester has already gone through the process with the 495 Project.
- V. Kolias said that Holden has 3 areas target for economic improvement; 1) The Village Center/Main Street, 2) Commercial corridor – Main & High Street to Shrewsbury/Main Streets, and 3) The Subcomponent – reuse area / industrial corridor.
- Ms. Kolais discussed the infrastructure areas & the interchange with I-190 and Malden Street.
- Robin Ganesan, Shrewsbury St: Stated that as Rutland developed, there will be more traffic in Holden. Rutland should be involved in this program.
- Ed Starkus, 445 Bailey Rd: It was his opinion that the I-190 Connector would just redirect traffic into other areas. O. Lies stated that the I-190 interchange would be a very lengthy process.
- Anthony Renzoni, Board of Selectmen: Agrees with O. Lies, that Holden should look to alleviate traffic on Main St. as other towns grow.
- Robert Lavigne, Board of Selectmen/EDC: Stated that the infrastructure of Main St. is a priority.
- Ms. Kolais: Discussed sewer capacity. John Woodsmall, DPW Director said that it could become an issue.
- Ed Starkus, 445 Bailey Rd: Discussed transportation, stating that there was no interest from residents to pursue public transportation.
- Jim Robinson, HMLD: Stated that there might be interest in regional transit for employees in the Industrial Drive area.
- Dennis Lipka, Advisor to WRTA: Said that the elder vans are cost effective in moving people around. As the Central Corridor develops, there will be more interest in transportation for Mill Pond, Industrial Drive, and Salisbury Street.
- O. Lies, Planning Board: Said the Master Plan is several years old now, and there will be changes by 2025.
Preservation areas include: Wadsworth Brook area, Reservoir St., areas near Holden Reservoir, Bullard St., I-190, Hobbs Rd / Quinapoxet River, and Millbrook St. P. Harding stated that these areas are potential greenway corridors to adjacent areas/towns.
There are priority habitat projects. Mass Audubon is involved. P. Harding has a list of the existing endangered species areas. She also presented a ‘Protected Areas Open Space Map’. DCR has restrictions on Town owned land. P. Harding will work with Con Com on an overlay map.
- O. Lies said that there is considerable farm land in Holden, and active farm land should be protected. P. Harding said that is could easily be identified by referencing the open space plan.
- Jim Robinson would be interested in putting the installation of fiber optic cable on the list to consider. The Police and Fire Chiefs also requested this as a priority.
- Water should also be considered. When asked if the issue with water was more a supply or distribution issue, John Woodsmall said it was more a source supply issue.
Attendees were told to let P. Harding know if they had any more questions. Ms. Kolias will get a scanned copy of the plan for P. Hardin and will be made available for viewing. Ms. Kolias was thanked for attending the meeting.
Everyone was urged to attend a Central 13 Prioritization Project meeting to be help September 11th in Sturbridge.
Documents and maps presented during review can be viewed in the Town Planners office.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF CHAPTER 61A, Howatt, Lot 3A,Chapin Road: Mr. Howatt has requested a lot be released from Chapter 61A. Chapter 61A allows a property owner to place a restriction on their property in exchange for a reduced tax rate. If the Owner chooses to sell the property, the 61A restriction must be removed and the owner must offer the Town first option to purchase the property. The Town must match the price outlined in the Purchase and Sale Agreement, which in this case is $125,000. The Planning Board, and Conservation Commission review the request and make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen who have 120 days to respond to the release. This particular property is one lot and the buyer has received approval from the Conservation Commission, and Board of Health to construct a
single-family home, with septic system and a well. The Board has a copy of the request and plan of the land for review.
D. Lindberg made a motioned to inform the Selectmen that the Planning Board see’s no municipal value in the lot. A. Bonofiglio seconded. Vote 4-0. All in favor.
Documents presented during review can be viewed in the Town Planners office. Lot 3-A on Plan Book 894, Plan 99, Chapin Road, Holden, MA. Owner of Record, Chapin Road Trust, George F. Howatt, 8 Crocker Hill Road, Paxton, MA 01612. Plan dated April 23, 2012.
OTHER BUSINESS:
- Val’s Restaurant: The application should be ready for the August 7, 2012, meeting.
NEXT MEETING: August 7, 2012 at the Senior Center. W. Ritter requested an email be sent to all members reminding them of the time and place.
A. Bonofiglio motioned to adjourn. D. Lindberg seconded. All in favor.
Adjourned 8:14 PM.
July 31, 2012 Minutes approved: September 25, 2012
Debra A. Sciascia, Recording Secretary
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