Town of Lenox
Planning Board
January 26, 2010
Land Use Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Joseph A. Kellogg, JK, Ken Fowler, KF, Steve Sample, SS, Gary Schiff, GS and Kate McNulty-Vaughan, KMV.
Staff present: Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA and Peggy Ammendola, Landuse Clerk, PA
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm.
WS Development regarding the proposed Lenox Center project: It was noted that WS Development had made a presentation at the last meeting followed by a determination of the Board that the information would be taken under consideration for a decision to made at tonight’s meeting. Present for WS Development Associates, LLC were Jeffrey Heidelberg, Project Manager and Tim Williams, Vice President of Allen & Major Associates, Inc. KMV made a motion to recommend the project as presented to the Zoning Board of Appeals and KF seconded the motion. SS asked about the phasing of the project and specifics regarding the signage. Mr. Heidelberg stated that all tenants would remain open during the expansion and advised that signage for the individual stores had not yet been finalized.
After discussion, JK suggested the motion be amended to include Board concerns that signage not be excessive. KMV withdrew her original motion and then moved to favorably recommend the project to the ZBA as presented and to encourage the ZBA to give special attention to assure that signage is of an appropriate size and scale. KF seconded the motion and the Board voted 5-0 to approve.
Chamber of Commerce – Off Premises Sales Bylaw: Ralph Petillo of the Chamber of Commerce was present. MA presented a revised bylaw, prepared as a result of past discussions about Board concerns with the original proposal. After further discussion, Board members agreed with the following proposed language:
6.2.4 Off-Premises Outdoor Display and Sales. There shall be no off-premises
outdoor display or sales; provided, however, that any business with a principal
place of business in the Town may conduct such off-premises outdoor display and sales
with permission from the Board of Selectmen. This provision does not apply to not for profit fundraising activities which receive permission from the Board of Selectmen.
Willow Creek Road – Industrial Sign: The Board reviewed a request from the Board of Selectmen seeking comments on a proposed sign directory at the corner of Housatonic Street and Willow Creek Road for businesses on Willow Creek Road. JK said that the Zoning Bylaw allows the Selectmen to permit a directional sign on public property with review by the Planning Board. Board members expressed concern about the proliferation of redundant signs in this district. GS made a motion to recommend approval of this sign conditioned on removal of the existing sign directory on the other side of the road, and to further recommend that the Selectmen consider the most appropriate location for the siting of the single sign. SS seconded the motion and the Board voted 5-0 to approve.
Willow Creek Road – Zone Change: Green Communities Zoning and Expedited Permitting- It was noted that MA and JK recently attended a workshop conducted by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission regarding zoning requirements for Towns seeking to be certified as a Green Community. Town Manager Greg Federspiel has suggested that we already meet the zoning requirement because our Commercial Zone allows research and development on alternative energy technologies as a by right use. JK pointed out however that the amount of land available in the Commercial Zone is very limited, making it difficult for any business seeking to conduct research and development to actually find a property for such activity. MA and JK suggested that the Board propose a zoning amendment to allow research
and development in the Industrial Zone by right and also proposed support for the Selectmen’s proposal to rezone Town owned land on Willow Creek Road from Residential to Industrial. These proposals would better document the Town’s ability to comply with the zoning requirements of the Green Communities Act. Board members indicated their support for the proposals subject to the actual details of the zoning amendment.
Residential Site Plan Review Bylaw-It was expected that ZBA Chair Pam Kueber would be attending the meeting to discuss the Board’s Residential Site Plan Review proposal, meeting, but since she was not present, it was agreed to set up another meeting with the ZBA in February.
Minutes: GS made a motion to approve the minutes of January 12, 2010. KF seconded the motion and the Board voted 5-0 to approve.
Old Business- SS asked for an update of CPC projects. MA advised that of previously funded projects, the purchase of the Baczek property is on hold because there may be a private sale; work on repair of the Curtis porch has progressed as expected; and the Sawmill Brook Affordable Housing project is on hold due to the State delaying review/approval of such projects. New projects currently being considered include a proposal to purchase property at Main and Cliffwood streets for open space. It was also noted that the Town has formally established the Affordable Housing Trust approved at last year’s Annual Town Meeting.
Notices and Decisions from abutting communities were reviewed.
KF made a motion to adjourn at 7:37 pm. SS seconded the motion and the Board voted 5-0 to approve.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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