Town of Lenox
Planning Board
September 10, 2013
Land Use Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Kate McNulty-Vaughan, KMV; Steve Sample, SS; Mark S. Smith, MS; Kameron Spaulding, KS; Gary Schiff, GS
Staff present: Peggy Ammendola, Land Use Clerk, PA; Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA
Approval Not Required Plans-There were none.
Reorganization of Committee Assignments and Election of Officers-
Election:
SS made a motion that KMV be re-elected as Chair and SS seconded the motion. The Board voted to agree 5-0.
KMV made a motion that MS be elected as Vice-Chair and SS seconded the motion.
Committee Assignments:
HDC Representative-SS
BRPC Representative & Alternate-MS & GS
CPC Representative-KMV
Affordable Housing-KMV (MA disclosed that it is not required to have a Planning Board member, but feels that it is a good idea.)
Open Space & Recreation Plan Committee-KS
Discuss Sign Regulations-MS brought in the examples of the “Open” signs he created for a visual exercise to get an idea of scale and size that would be effective for these particular signs. The sizes ranged from le="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:9pt;color:#000000;">Discuss Medical Marijuana Moratorium Model-After continued discussion the Board asked MA to forward this model to Kay Doyle, the Kopelman and Paige attorney in Boston who has been at the forefront of this issue and advising Ms. Doyle that the Board is in agreement with the concept of a moratorium. The Board would like Ms. Doyle to look this model over and compare it to one that K & P may already have. MA will also contact BRPC as they prepared the moratorium model. KMV will send to MA a memo on “quibbles” she has with this model.
Discuss Solar Bylaw Model-MA pointed out that this model is for large solar installations and in Green Communities. Lenox is a Green Community. MA advised the Board that there are two ZBA petitions for the Town solar installations that were filed under manufacturing in the Industrial Zone and are scheduled to be heard on September 18th by the Zoning Board of Appeals. She suggested that if the Board wanted, they could designate Industrial Zone as suitable for the large installations. An overlay district was also suggested. After considerable discussion, MA felt this model was not appropriate and there should be further research. A question was asked as to if solar added to the value of a property. MA will check with the Assessors’ office and also
with Paul Kapinos, the consultant who does the property assessment for Lenox to see if the addition of a solar installation affects the value.
Discuss Economic Development-Fiscal Impact Analysis and SWOT Analysis-GS commented that the meeting with John Connelly during the summer provided good information, but he feels that it is important the Town find someone with an outside perspective and should do so without delay. Discussion ensued and MA stated she would contact Paul Kapinos, and ask him about trends in new growth in the Lenox tax base.
Reviewed Correspondence from Abutting Communities & BRPC.
Approve Minutes-August 28, 2013 MS made a motion to approve the minutes with one edit. KS seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0-1. GS abstained as he was not present at that meeting.
GS made a motion to adjourn and SS seconded the motion. The Board voted to adjourn at 7:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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