Town of Lenox
Planning Board
February 12, 2013
Land Use Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Kate McNulty-Vaughan, KMV; Gary Schiff, GS; Mark S. Smith, MS;
Steve Sample, SS; Kimberly Reopell Flynn, KRF
Selectman present: Channing Gibson, CG
Staff present: Peggy Ammendola, Land Use Clerk, PA; Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA
Approval Not Required Plans-There were none.
Shaylor Hill Subdivision, Yokun Ridge Property Management, LLC, Covenant Release-KRF recused herself as she is employed by Heller and Robbins.
Attorney Lori Robbins of Heller & Robbins presented a copy of the as built plans, the
Form E Certificate of Performance and a Covenant Approval Release for this private subdivision road. Typically lots cannot be conveyed until the road is complete, but in this case several lots have been conveyed and none of the buyer’s attorneys asked for a release. The road has since been completed. MA explained to the Board the normal process for bonding a subdivision road in which generally there is a combination of a covenant and cash bond. To clear the title of the covenant, the covenant must be released.
She will speak to the Building Commissioner with a suggestion to include on his checklist to see if there is a covenant.
SS made a motion to release the recorded covenant. GS seconded the motion and the Board voted to agree 4-0-1. KRF abstained.
Update on the Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee & the Community Preservation Committee (CPC):
OSRPC-KMV said that there was a well-attended public forum on January 30, 2013 with good input. A survey is being prepared and will be posted on Survey Monkey. KRF said that the OSRPC has changed their meeting dates and she now has a conflict for the 1st Tuesday meeting, but can attend the 3rd Tuesday meetings. Mark Smith agreed to attend the March 5th and if it there is a meeting on April 2nd he will also fill in for that date.
CPC- MA updated the Board on the February 11th meeting of CPC and said that one application of the six submitted has been withdrawn. KMV said that the tenor of the committee has been to look at the public benefit and conserving CPA funds. CG added that he attended the meeting and that he was very impressed with the Committee and the process.
Discuss Sign Regulations-want to get on warrant by deadline of March 10th- KMV advised the Board that she, MS, MA met to review and prepare the most recent bylaw draft for sandwich board signs which was subsequently emailed to the Board. At tonight’s meeting there was a brief review which resulted in some edits. It was agreed that sandwich boards would continue to be in the General Bylaw and would be allowed in the Commercial District in the Village and Lenox Dale, and it was suggested that if this provision should stand on its own as a new chapter of the general bylaw. . Up to now, sandwich board signs have been addressed under “Miscellaneous”.
The Board agreed that it was time to submit the draft to Town Counsel for review with areas of concern highlighted.
A public information meeting relative to the draft will be put on the Planning Board’s February 26th agenda.
Discuss Solar Bylaw-There was no new information.
Discuss 7&20 Corridor Overlay Bylaw-This is on hold.
Discuss Economic Development-CG advised that hiring an Event Coordinator for the spring events is on the next BOS agenda. KRF said that there is definitely a need for someone in this position as it is now realized that it is a full time job.
CG told GS that he wants to spend more time with him discussing GS’s ideas of promoting Lenox during the tourist season.
Planning Board Recommendations to Town Boards and Commissions
Reviewed Correspondence from Abutting Communities & BRPC. Among the various notices reviewed, KMV noted that on March 16, 2013 there will be state wide Citizen’s Planning Training Collaborative conference at Holy Cross College in Worcester. She said that she is a fan and recommends others attend if possible.
Minutes-
- January 8, 2013-Tabled as there was not a quorum. (KMV, SS and KRF were sitting for that meeting.)
- January 22, 2013-GS made a motion to approve the minutes and MS seconded the motion. The Board voted to approve 3-0-1. KRF abstained as she was not at the meeting. (SS left this meeting earlier and was not present for the vote.)
Open Session (for Topics not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance): GS commented on the 5th Thursday Dinner on January 31, 2013 speaking favorably of the speaker’s presentation regarding signage and advocating creativity and suggested that this be kept in mind as the Board works on sign bylaws.
New Business-There was no new business.
KRF made a motion to adjourn at 7:35 pm. GS seconded the motion and the Board voted to agree.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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