The Planning Board for the City of Marlborough met on Monday, December 3, 2012 in Memorial Hall, 3rd Floor, City Hall 140 Main Street, Marlborough, MA 01752. Members present: Barbara Fenby, Philip Hodge, Colleen Hughes, Sean Fay, Edward Coveney, Clyde Johnson and Shawn McCarthy. Also present: City Engineer Thomas Cullen.
MINUTES
November 26, 2012
On a motion by Ms. Fay, seconded by Mr. Coveney, it was duly voted:
To table the meeting minutes until the next meeting.
CHAIRS BUSINESS
City Solicitor Correspondence
Westridge Estates, Dufrense Drive
The City Solicitor, Donald Rider, is asking the Board to wait upon sending their acceptance decision for Dufresne Drive due to a Drainage Easement that is not owned by the West Hill, LLC. He stated that the easement is on Parcel A is owned by MG realty Trust and not West Hill, LLC and West Hill will need to secure the easement prior to the City taking ownership. Mr. Rider will provide an update as soon as he has one to provide.
On a motion by Mr. Fay, seconded by Mr. Coveney, it was duly voted:
To accept and file the City Solicitors correspondence and ask the City Solicitor to update the Board when one is available.
City Council Correspondence
Zoning Amendment Data and Telecomm Zone Change
The Planning Board set a public hearing date of January 7, 2013 at 7:15PM.
APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED PLAN
Highland Street
Decision
Mr. Cullen has reviewed the ANR known as “76-78 Highland Street” and can a favorable recommendation to the Planning Board to endorse the plan.
On a motion by Ms. Hughes, seconded Mr. Johnson it was duly voted:
To accept and file correspondence; to accept and endorse a plan of land believed to be Approval Not Required of “76-78 Highland Street” owned by Donald C. Morris, Trust, 1047 Pikes Falls Road, Jamaica, VT. Name of Engineer: Connorstone Engineering, 10 Southwest Cutoff, Suite 7, Northborough, MA 01532. Deed of property recorded in South Middlesex Registry Deeds Book 8071 Pages 326.
Mt. Pleasant Street
Submittal
Mr. Thomas Dipersio presented to the Board the ANR known as Mt. Pleasant Street and he explained that they are moving the lot line to create a conforming buildable lot.
On a motion by Mr. Fay, seconded by Mr. Coveney, it was duly voted:
To accept and file correspondence, to have the City Engineer review the plan and report back to the Planning Board prior to the next regular scheduled meeting.
Pleasant Street
Decision
Mr. Cullen has reviewed the ANR known as “710 Pleasant Street” and can a favorable recommendation to the Planning Board to endorse the plan.
On a motion by Mr. Coveney, seconded Mr. Fay it was duly voted:
To accept and file correspondence; to accept and endorse a plan of land believed to be Approval Not Required of “710 Pleasant Street” owned by Lewis F. Clark, Jr., 710 Pleasant Street, Marlborough, MA 01752. Name of Engineer: Thomas Land Surveyors, 265 Washington Street, Hudson, MA 01549. Deed of property recorded in South Middlesex Registry Deeds Book 15168 Pages 513.
PUBLIC HEARING
SUBDIVISION PROGRESS REPORTS
City Engineer Update
Mr. Cullen discussed the grading of the sidewalks at Blackhorse Farms. He also stated he has been in contact with the Engineers for the Berlin Farms subdivision pertaining to corrections on the As-builds.
Mauro Farms
Mr. Fay reminded the Board of his conflict and it’s duly noted through his appointing authority.
Correspondence from Developer
Martin Loiselle, project manager for the developer, is asking to delay any action on the bond release or reduction until the first meeting in January.
Correspondence from City Engineer
After review, Mr. Cullen has recommended that the current bond at $1,241,000.00 be reduced to $942,000.00. He then followed up with the remaining work to be completed for the remaining streets that includes: fencing, finish roadway paving’s, setting bounds and roadside trees.
On a motion by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Coveney, it was duly voted:
To accept and file correspondence and to table the matters until the January 7, 2013 meeting.
The Residences of Oak Crest
After a full review, The City Engineer can send a favorable recommendation to the Planning to accept the acceptance of the following:
- As-Built Plan and Profile of Graves Lane (Sheet 1 of 1), for the Residence of Oak Crest Subdivision, dated November 9, 2012. Note the plan was prepared by Foresite Engineering, 16 Gleasondale Road-Suite 1-1, Stow, MA 01775.
- Plan of Acceptance of Graves Lane and Municipal Easements (Sheet 1 of 1), dated November 25, 2012. Note that the plan was prepared by Foresite Engineering, 16 Gleasondale Road-Suite 1-1, Stow, MA 01775.
- The latest legal descriptions.
Mr. Cullen also recommended to reduce the current bond of $41,000.00 to $27,000.00 and to remain in place until final acceptance and recording.
Correspondence:
On a motion by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Coveney, it was duly voted:
To accept and file all correspondence.
Street Acceptance:
On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mr. Coveney, it was duly voted:
To endorse the “Plan of Acceptance of Graves Lane & Municipal Easements (Sheets 1 thru 1), dates November 15, 2012; Scale 1’=40’; prepared by Foresite Engineering, 16 Gleasondale Road-Suite 1-1, Stow, MA 01775.
Remaining Bond:
On a motion by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Hodge, it was duly voted:
To reduce the existing bond of $41,000.00 to $27,000.00 and have the bond remain in place until acceptance and recording through the City Council.
PENDING SUBDIVISION PLANS: Updates and Discussion
PRELIMINARY/ OPEN SPACE SUBDIVISION SUBMITTALS
DEFINITIVE SUBDIVISION SUBMISSIONS
Ravenswood (January 9, 2013)
The Planning Board did not receive written confirmation of a withdrawal from the developer. The Secretary will send a reminder notice to the Developer or the Planning Board will deny without prejudice at the next meeting.
SIGNS
The Board discussed the signs including the multitude of the Festival of Trees signs throughout the City. They will once again discuss with the Building Commissioner and discuss with certain members of the City Council regarding all the illegal signs.
UNFINISHED BUISNESS
Correspondence to the Building Commissioner
Collectively the Members agreed to send the following points to the Building Commissioner in efforts to thank him for meeting with them and to remind him what was discussed at their meeting:
-That sign enforcement was important, especially with habitual offenders and those businesses that were denied variances;
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-That Property owners and Collection bin owners should both be fined now under the off-premise sign rules as non-permitted off-premise signs to deal with the proliferation of the illegal bins, and that we should not wait until the City Council takes action on a more comprehensive approach;
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-That we should work with the City Council to come up with a more comprehensive approach to address collection bins;
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-That civic organizations need to seek a variance to advertise their community events, no matter how worthy the cause;
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-That Ms. Wilderman should have the authority to cut chains that are securing temporary signs to public property, especially those signs belonging to habitual offenders such as the Red Cross;
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-That the planning Board should work to assist Ms. Wilderman in her enforcement efforts whenever possible by sending photos of obvious violations;
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-That increasing efficiency will lead to greater enforcement, and that you will look into requesting a hand held ticketing system that Ms. Wilderman can use to ticket offenders on site with a ticket and a photo that is simultaneously sent to her by e-mail for record keeping; and,
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-That as you stated, the primary role of the Planning Board secretary was to support the Planning Board, and that Building Department duties were secondary.
Secretary’s Position
As previously discussed, Mrs. Lizotte has taken another position with the City and has been covering the position of the secretary since August. Without any delay, the Planning Board stated that Mrs. Lizotte’s last meeting with the Board will be December 17, 2012 with the meeting minutes to be completed.
On a motion by Mr. Fay, seconded by Mr. Coveney, it was duly voted:
Mrs. Lizotte last meeting with the Planning Board will be on December 17, 2012.
INFORMAL DISCUSSION
COMMUNICATIONS/CORRESPONDENCE
On a motion by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Coveney, it was duly voted:
To accept all of the items listed under communications and/or correspondence.
On a motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Coveney, it was duly voted:
To adjourn at 8:15 p.m.
A TRUE COPY
ATTEST: _____________________________
Colleen Hughes, Clerk
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