Town of Lenox
Planning Board
February 28, 2017
Landuse Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Kameron Spaulding, (KS); Tom Delasco, (TD); Pam Kueber, (PK);
Kate McNulty-Vaughan, (KMV)
Members absent with notification: Deborah Rimmler, (DR)
Staff present: Gwen Miller, Land Use Director/Town Planner, (GM); Peggy Ammendola, Land Use Clerk, (PA)
Also present was Jim Biancola.
The meeting was called to order at 6:04 PM.
Zoning Bylaw Amendments, Subcommittee Updates
- Parking Bylaw amendments:
The document reviewed was C-1 Exemption and Parking and Loading Clean-Up. PK inquired as to if changes had been made at the last meeting. TD recalled that there was a brief review with not any depth. Recognizing that time is short prior to the ATM, it was agreed that there can be an additional meeting. Work can continue on amendments until the Public Hearing, and additional changes can be made at that time. An informational meeting is scheduled for March 28th and the Public Hearing is scheduled for April 11th. PK asked the Board for their input on the suggested amendments thus far. Both TD and KMV said that they have not read thru it all.
PK said that she and DR are studying other communities’ bylaws and Smart Growth language. Their goal is to make our bylaws more readable and more legible.
Discussion ensued regarding Table 7.1.4 Parking. PK stated that the Board needs to find an example of legal language to express how to have fewer spaces, noting that it must be specific.
Scheduling an extra meeting, the Board agreed to meet on Tuesday, March 7th for an hour.
The Board decided to do a quick read thru of C-1 Exemptions and Parking and Loading Clean-Up. In the review some items were moved to another area of the bylaw, some were deleted, some reworded and minor typos were corrected. Other items were clarified. Definitions should be capitalized or italicized so that they stand out.
Jim Biancola referred to notes that he had made regarding wording. The Board then discussed how the amendments could be clearer.
PK said that she would get all of the comments together and work with GM in order to be ready for March 7th. The Board of Selectmen will be notified by March 10th as to what items will be place holders for the ATM.
- Housekeeping Changes: removing regulations from definitions, removing foot notes from Table of Dimensional Requirements; replacing in appropriate sections.
These have changed since the last meeting.
JB referred to Section 9.3.2.1 Lots Meeting Yard Area Requirement, and stated that the following would be an added requirement: In the residential zoning districts, two accessory buildings and one garage (attached or detached) are allowed, as long as they comply with all current street and lot line setbacks, frontage and setback between building requirements. It was discussed that this is more than a “house-keeping change” and should be a place holder with anticipation that it would be a proposed article. He will continue his review for body, formatting and to see if there are any other items that may need to have place holders. He will also work with GM a “boiler plate” for a handout.
- Lenox Dale zoning recommendations-
GM believes that the boundary changes are straight forward so that the Board can move forward on it.
- Recreational Marijuana Bylaw/Moratorium-
KS stated that Governor Baker has signed a law which pushes back the date for licenses to be issued to July 1, 2018. The Board discussed the implications and timing for a moratorium and concluded that it is too early given the fact that they don’t know what will happen on the federal level. At 7:15 PM PK left at this point in the meeting.
- Town Meeting Preparation-
Some of this was already discussed during the review of the Parking Bylaw Amendments.
January 24th-Tabled as there was not a quorum.
February 14th- Tabled as there was not a quorum.
Correspondence was not read.
Citizen Planner Training Collaborative, March 18, 2017, Worcester, MA
Action Points-
- GM and PK will work on the changes to the parking bylaw
- Board members be prepared to finish up in preparation for informational meeting
TD made a motion to adjourn and KMV seconded the motion. The Board voted to adjourn at 7:25 PM by a vote of 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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