Town of Lenox
Planning Board
June 12, 2007
Land Use Meeting Room
MEMBERS: Present: Chair Kim Roepell Flynn (KRF), Joseph Kellogg (JK), Kate McNulty-Vaughan (KM-V), Steve Sample (SS) at 6:40 pm
Absent: Pam Mackie (PM) with notification; Planner Joellyn Warren (JW)
Chair Flynn convened the meeting at 6:15pm.
MAIL:
KRF reviewed mail from surrounding communities notifying Lenox of zoning activities. These included a proposal to amend a Pittsfield zoning ordinance by adding a definition and requirements for a “Hospice House” (which the Board felt might be valuable to see as an addition to definitions in updating our own Bylaws).
The PB also received a letter from Jim Biancola on a lack of clarity in the parking regulations in residential districts (in Zoning Update folder for future consideration), and a letter from Bill Winslow on provision of public toilets, (which will be followed up by KRF and referred to the Board of Health and Building Inspector).
OTHER BUSINESS:
JK observed that the ZBA made no reference to the PB recommendation on the “Essencials Spa” project at the meeting and had approved the application.
KM-V reported on the recent “walk-around” the Historic District initiated by the Lenox Historical Commission with Chris Skelly of MA Historic. Jurisdiction, oversight, and “training” seem to be the issues which prompted the LHC invitation to Skelly and the HDC.
SS informed the Board that the Board of Selectmen had reappointed Lois Lenehan as Alternate to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, though our Board voted that SS fill that role since LL no longer resides in town. KRF will follow-up with the Select Board on that.
KRF recommended that the Board carry-over funds left in this year’s budget and will speak with Town Manager Greg Federspiel.
JK and KF provided an update on the recruiting process and interviews underway to fill the (newly) full-time Planner position.
MINUTES: Submitted for Approval:
· March 27, 2007: JK moved to approve the Minutes with modifications and KM-V seconded the motion; the Board voted approval (3-0; KRF abstained due to recusal).
· April 10, 2007: KM-V moved to approve the Minutes as modified and JK seconded the motion; the Board voted approval (3-0 with SS abstaining due to absence).
· April 12, 2007: Public Hearing meeting: Hold for later discussion.
· April 24, 2007: JK moved to approve the Minutes as modified; SS seconded and the Board voted approval (4-0).
· May 22, 2007: JK moved to approve the Minutes as amended; SS seconded and the Board voted approval (4-0).
· March 8, 2007: SS moved to approve the Minutes and JK seconded; the Board voted approval (3-0 with KRF abstaining due to recusal).
· May 8, 2007: JK moved to approve the Minutes as amended and SS seconded the motion; the Board voted approval (3-0 with KRF abstaining due to recusal).
TOWN PLANNER COMMENTS/INPUT:
A training session for Land Use Boards (PB, ZBA, HDC, and CC) is being scheduled for June 26 or 28 with Wendy Foxmyn of the Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC) on conducting meetings and roles of various boards, etc.
BRPC is planning Fall Workshops for local Boards on Chap. 40B and 40A.
Smart Growth Grants could be used for building understanding of Form-Based Zoning, of interest to the Board based on input from PB’s Neighborhood meetings and stated concerns with the two village areas and the Rte. 7/20 corridor. The grant could be used to help provide a physical interpretation of what is wanted in the community: a “road trip” with cameras and tape measures utilized by the Board to create a slide show and/or Powerpoint presentation for the community of examples of the specifics/details of development the town is trying to allow for.
Open Space Plan Update: Need a community working group to meet and update the Action Plan as soon as possible in order to access Urban Self-Help money.
PB needs to continue work and take action on the Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw to meet the requirements of the existing grant. JK expressed concern that including those measures might derail an overall Zoning Bylaw revision.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20pm.
(Submitted by Kate McNulty-Vaughan)
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