Town of Lenox
Planning Board
April 26, 2011
Land Use Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Joseph A. Kellogg, JK; Vice Chair Steve Sample, SS; Kate McNulty-Vaughan, KMV; and Ken Fowler, KF (arrived 5:50 pm).
Absent: Gary Schiff.
Staff present: Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA
The meeting was called to order at 5:35 pm.
Approval Not Required Plans: No plans presented.
Recommendations to Town Meeting regarding CPC:
1. Committee Administrative Expenses for $17,848 - The consensus of the members was to support this expenditure.
2. Historical Commission – Historic Village Street Sign Restoration for $ 8,000: JK expressed his concern that this project has not been fully vetted and suggested the proposal be disapproved. SS made a motion to not endorse this project. KMV seconded the motion and the Board voted 3-0 (KF absent) to approve.
3. Affordable Housing Trust for $ 10,000: KMV made a motion to endorse this project. SS seconded the motion and the Board voted 3-0 (KF absent) to approve.
4. Lenox Housing Authority – Curtis Porch Restoration for $50,000: JK asked about matching funds. KMV replied that the State has contributed to the project and the Housing Authority has initiated many innovative fund-raising efforts such as the Curtis Consignment Shop. KMV made a motion to endorse this project. SS seconded the motion and the Board voted 3-0 (KF absent) to approve.
5. Berkshire Scenic Railway/Town of Lenox for $100,000: Discussion ensued regarding the fact that this project includes the demolition of an industrial building. The project is proposed as an historic preservation project yet it includes demolition. Discussion ensued regarding the restoration of the historic vista. KMV made a motion to endorse this project. SS seconded the motion and the Board voted 3-0 (KF absent) to approve.
6. Library Debt Service for $133,000: KMV made a motion to endorse this project. SS seconded the motion and the Board voted 3-0 (KF absent) to approve.
(Ken Fowler arrived at 5:50 pm)
7. Sawmill Brook Affordable Housing for $600,000: It was noted that funds will be raised by issuing a $600,000 bond with an estimated FY12 payment of $130,000. JK asked about the size of the parcel and the number of housing units. KMV said the parcel is 19.5 acres and approximately 50 units are proposed. 22 affordable units are proposed. The Town is required to have an appraisal and the project will be subject to a Request for Proposals to select a developer to purchase the property from the Town and build the project. MA said
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the project will likely be proposed as a friendly 40B project because the property is zoned Commercial. KF made a motion to endorse this project. SS seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0 to approve.
JK will offer the Board’s recommendations at Town Meeting.
Stone Ledge Subdivision: The Board has received a request from the Stone Ledge developer to waive the requirement to install sidewalks. This request requires a public hearing which has been scheduled for May 10, 2011 at 6:15 pm. Members determined that they would like to conduct a site visit prior to the hearing at 5:45 pm on May 10th. Members will meet at the intersection of Housatonic Street and Stone Ledge Road.
Review Correspondence: Decisions and notices of public hearings from abutting communities, as well as other correspondence were reviewed.
Minutes: Tabled to the next meeting.
Other Business: KMV asked about the status of the Route 7/20 Corridor Study. MA said that the project engineer (VHB) has completed the project report and recommendations and that she has discussed the report with Deanna Ruffer, Pittsfield Community Development Director. MA noted that the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission staff member who coordinated this project has left the agency, however anticipates that BRPC will work with us to implement the report’s recommendations.
SS made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 pm. KF seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0 to approve.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Albertson
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