Town of Lenox
Planning Board
January 8, 2013
Land Use Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Kate McNulty-Vaughan, KMV; Steve Sample, SS; Kimberly Reopell Flynn, KRF
Absent with notification: Gary Schiff, GS; Mark S. Smith, MS
Selectman present: Channing Gibson, CG
Staff present: Peggy Ammendola, Land Use Clerk, PA; Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA
Kameron Spaulding of the Berkshire Beacon was present.
Approval Not Required Plans-There were none.
Lenox Commons-
Present were Jim Scalise of SK Design, Inc.; David and Matt Ward; and Attorney Lori Robbins.
Due to illness of one member and the disclosure of KRF that her employer represents the Wards, there was not a quorum. Mr. Ward advised that he has not filed a petition with the Zoning Board of Appeals, but as a courtesy, he wanted to share his plans with the Board. It was determined that this was an informal presentation that did not require the Board to make a recommendation and all parties were in agreement to proceed with the presentation.
Mr. Scalise provided a site plan and drawings and described the proposed residential condominiums. He said that previous permitting through the ZBA included contemplated commercial development of a 30,000 square foot building in this area but did not come to fruition. This proposal consists of four buildings with three units each. Compared to the previous plan, this one is less dense, the footprint has less square footage and it is pulled back further from the buffer zone.
KMV brought up the fact that the affordable housing stock is shrinking as the numbers of market priced homes are increasing.
Discuss Sign Regulations-Report from Sign Sub-Committee: Due to the holidays, there was not much to report. There will be a meeting in early February and BRPC is hosting 5th Thursday Dinner on January 31, 2013 starting at 5:30 pm at which there will be two presentations relating to sign bylaws and sign construction technology. KMV asked the members to review the Belchertown and Dennis sign bylaws and email MA any specifics that they feel merits discussion as the Board wants to begin to put language in place.
CG told the Board that two applications, Devonshire and Electra Café, for year round sandwich board signs will be presented tomorrow seeking approval tomorrow from the Board of Selectmen. CG will advise the Selectboard that the consensus of the Planning Board is that sandwich board signs are pedestrian oriented and therefore are not appropriate for the corridor. KRF said that she would represent the Board and state its opinion at the BOS meeting.
Discussion ensued regarding alternative temporary effective signage for the properties in the corridor that would not create a traffic safety issue.
Jim Nejaime who owns Spirited at the intersection of Pittsfield and Holmes Roads suggested that the Board consider making the sign bylaw less stringent so as to encourage business owners to improve their signage, making the corridor signage more effective and attractive. Signage such as Different Drummers was cited as being effective as it affords the opportunity to make a change in the message.
Discuss Solar Bylaw-There was nothing to discuss.
Discuss 7&20 Corridor Overlay Bylaw- There was nothing to discuss.
Discuss Economic Development-CG told the Board that there is a new position of Economic Development Director at 1 Berkshire and that the BOS is pressing that 1 Berkshire be a more active agent rather than the existing passive agent. He also said that he plans to initiate discussion with the BOS regarding possible long range planning for more outdoor recreation, e.g., biking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing etc. He said that a recent change in legislation has opened up new opportunities for CPA funds to be used for open space therefore he would like to explore that possibility.
Planning Board Recommendations to Town Boards and Commissions: There were none.
Reviewed Correspondence from Abutting Communities & BRPC
Minutes- December 11, 2012-Tabled as there was not a quorum.
Open Session (for Topics not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance): CG advised the Board that Selectmen Ed Lane and David Roche are looking into parking issues and options for downtown.
New Business-There was no new business
The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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