Town of Lenox
Planning Board
June 28, 2011
Land Use Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Joseph A. Kellogg, JK; Vice Chair Steve Sample, SS; Kate McNulty-Vaughan, KMV; Gary Schiff, GS; and Mark S. Smith, MS.
Staff present: Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA
The meeting was called to order at 6:01 pm. ~
Approval Not Required Plans: James Seidl, SK Design Group, presented a Form A for Christine Schaefer for property located at Old Town Way. ~MS made a motion to approve the Form A as presented. GS seconded the motion and the Board voted 5-0 to approve. Board members held a brief discussion about the land subdivision process and potential changes that may result from legislation currently being considered by the Massachusetts Legislature.
Economic Development Planning Efforts: MA said that the Town Manager has asked if the Planning Board would be interested in facilitating the development of a long-range economic development plan. Discussion ensued regarding past and present economic development planning efforts and it was noted that the work of the Economic Development Steering Committee is more marketing based and they will not be involved in such an effort. JK recommended that two members of the Planning Board meet with two members of the Board of Selectmen together with MA and the Town Manager to discuss the matter further. JK and GS volunteered to work on this project.
Recommendations to Town Boards & Commissions: No recommendations were requested.
Review Correspondence: Decisions and notices of public hearings from abutting communities, as well as other correspondence were reviewed.
Minutes: GS made a motion to approve the minutes of May 24, 2011. ~MS seconded the motion and the Board voted 5-0 to approve.
Other Business:
MA said she has reviewed the property numbering procedure with the Fire Chief and explained that since the advent of the 911 System, the Fire Chief and Town Clerk assign and maintain the property address records. The Town Bylaw still outlines a role for the Planning Board and JK suggested the bylaw be reviewed and revised to reflect the actual process.
As a follow up to discussion at the May 24th meeting regarding a possible review of the current Subdivision Rules and Regulations to examine the standards for cul de sacs, MA said she discussed the matter with the Fire Chief. She will work with the Fire Chief on determining the actual needs for turning radii and suggested there be a site visit to an existing cu de sac with a fire truck to view what is actually needed. Board members requested also that Jeff Vincent, DPW Director be involved in this review.
Members noted that they wish to be kept up to date on Housatonic River Cleanup efforts, but do not need to be more involved at this point.
KMV and MS will attend the next Affordable Housing Committee meeting and determine who will be the Board’s representative.
KMV told the Board that she attended a recent Lenox Land Trust Meeting and advised that they are beginning to get more active and would like the Town to be more aggressive about the acquisition of open space. JK stressed the need for an updated, comprehensive Open Space Plan to determine where these efforts should be focused. He re-stated his interest in applying for CPA funds next year to pay for this effort. KMV said the Land Trust wants CPA money to be used for land purchase and not a planning study. It was agreed additional discussion will be needed on this matter and MA said she will attend the next Land Trust Meeting to help facilitate this process.
SS made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:14 pm. ~GS seconded the motion and the Board voted 5-0 to approve. ~
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Respectfully submitted,
Mary Albertson
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