Town of Lenox
Planning Board
June 9, 2009
Land Use Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Joseph A. Kellogg, JK; Ken Fowler, KF and Kate McNulty-Vaughan, KMV; Gary Schiff, GS
Absent with notification: Steve Sample, SS
Staff present: Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA; Peggy Ammendola, Land Use Clerk, PA
The meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm.
Minutes: KF made a motion to approve the minutes of May 26, 2009 and KMV seconded the motion. The Board voted to approve 3-0-1 with GS abstaining as he was not present at that meeting.
Continued Discussion – Section 6.7, Educational and Religious Uses: MA reported she is still waiting for the book on RLUIPA.
Off-Premises Sales – MA will make copies of the Rockland, MA bylaw that relates to off-premises sales and provide to the Board members for their review. Ralph Petillo of the Lenox Chamber of Commerce will be present at the July 14, 2009 meeting to provide to the Board insight into the Chamber’s reasoning for pursuing such a bylaw for the Town. JK suggested that the members consider whether such a bylaw be a general bylaw or a zoning bylaw.
Discussion-New Zoning Amendment Projects-
The Board continued the discussion on both:
1) Floor Area Ratio (FAR) - MA has gathered information from the Planners’ List Serve. She will provide a summary for the Board at the next meeting.
2) Form Base Zoning – Questions arose as to what is Form Base Zoning. JK explained that this type of zoning does not necessarily focus on whether a particular use is allowed in one zone or another, but instead is more concerned with the form of the structure and the impact on its surrounding neighborhood.
Open Space Update- MA stated that she has been incorporating changes Lauren Gaherty of BRPC has suggested. JK suggested changing the format. KM-V will be working with MA on this. MA recommended that ACEC considerations should be included in this document.
Aspinwell Proposal- A formal application has been made to the ZBA to amend their Special Permit. JK would like the Planning Board to participate in that hearing. It was suggested that this process could be discussed at the All Board’s meeting which is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. later this evening.
Public hearing notices and decisions from abutting communities and Lenox were reviewed.
Wind Turbines: JK said that he has heard discussion of State proposed legislation that would give the state authority to permit wind turbines and remove local control over such projects. Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is in the process of reviewing the legislation and will be making recommendations on its impact.
June 23, 2009 meeting agenda- MA advised the Board of two items to be discussed at the next meeting.
1. Recommendation to the BOS for a directional sign for Jim Harwood on Walker St
2. Drive-up banking facility proposed addition to the Essencials Day Spa building.
GS made a motion to adjourn at 7:05 pm. KF seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0 to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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