MARLBOROUGH PLANNING BOARD
MARLBOROUGH, MA 01752
Call to Order April 22, 2013
The Meeting of the Marlborough Planning Board was called to order at 7:00pm in Memorial Hall, 3rd Floor City Hall 140 Main Street, Marlborough, MA. Members present included Barbara Fenby, Colleen Hughes, Sean Fay, Philip Hodge, Edward Coveney, Shawn McCarthy and Clyde Johnson. Also in attendance were Board Secretary Melissa Irish and Assistant City Engineer Timothy Collins
1. Meeting Minutes:
A. April 8, 2013
On a motion made by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Fay, it was voted to accept minutes of the April 8, 2013 meeting as amended. Motion carried.
2. Chair’s Business: None
3. Approval Not Required: None
4. Public Hearings: None
5. Pending Sub Division Plans: Updates and Discussion:
A. Acceptance of Graves Lane and Associated Easements and Release of Bond
On a motion made by Ms. Hughes seconded by Mr. Hodge it was duly voted to accept the correspondence from Assistant Solicitor Panagore Griffin and place it on file. Motion carried.
On a motion made by Mr. Hodge seconded by Mr. Coveney it was duly voted to authorize the release of the remainder of the bond currently being held in agreement with the City Engineers recommendation. Motion carried.
B. Ravenswood Discussion
The City Engineering Review report was read by all members and copies were available to any interested parties. Two major items of note were brought to light: Easements to be obtained on abutting properties and the driveway for house number 621 would be put into nonconformance. It is the opinion of Mr. Fay that the interest of public safety would not be met with a new roadway on Sudbury Street as shown on the current plan due to its proximity to an existing driveway, limited sight distances, slope, traffic volume and width of the roadway. Mr. Fay was especially concerned with travel through this section in the winter months. He stated that the issue is much worse coming from the east than from the direction of Concord Road. Mr. Fay suggested that the developer obtain an outside opinion and that the Board notify the developer to be
made aware of the concerns.
On a motion made by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Coveney the Engineering Department review report was accepted and placed on file with a copy going to the proponent. To accompany the report a letter is to be sent reinforcing the Boards point of view regarding the two issues raised by the Engineering Department and the perceived safety issues. Motion carried
C. City Engineers Report
Assistant Engineer Timothy Collins had two items for the Board. The Engineer for Blackhorse Farms Estates has been in touch with Mr. Collins and the work on the Street lights is being coordinated with National Grid. There has been damage to the granite curbing along the cul de sac and some has to be reset. Mr. Collins is meeting on the site later this week to discuss the needed repairs.
City Engineer Thomas Cullen has noted that nothing has been done to further along the Berlin Farms development to completion, it is indeed close however the developer has done nothing in over a year. The detention basin that was cleared out and mown last year has not been touched and now needs to be cleared again. The developer was made aware that there was the very real possibility of the Planning Board taking the remainder of the bond that he had put in place and having the remaining work finished by the City.
On a motion made by Mr. Fay, seconded by Mr. Coveney it was voted to have a letter sent to Mr. Freeman requesting him to appear at the next regularly scheduled meeting (May 6) to discuss his overall intention to finishing the project. Motion carried
6. Preliminary/Open Space Submissions/Limited Development Subdivisions:
A. Walker Brook Estates, Framingham Rd, Bruce Saluk (June 2)
Ms. Hughes read the application into record.
On a motion made by Ms. Hughes seconded by Mr. McCarthy the application was accepted and placed on file and the plan was referred to the Engineering Department, a Public Hearing was set for the second meeting in May (May 20). Motion carried
Mr. Saluk will be requesting an extension from the Planning Board for a decision to be rendered by the second meeting in June (June 17) due to the time constraints caused by the meeting calendar.
7. Definitive Subdivision Submission: None
8. Signs:
A. Rotary Club A-Frame Signs
Ms. Hughes read the request into the record. Ms. Bonnie Doolin and Ms. Elaine MacDonald were in attendance to represent the Rotary Club. The applicants were reminded of what they were told when the Board held a special meeting to accommodate another late request for a sign variance that each request for a variance must be in proper form, list the number and design of the signs requested, and contain a detailed list of the location of the requested signs. In addition, the applicants were informed that their current application was not in proper form. The process required by the current sign ordinance is that an application for signs must be denied by the building commissioner. In this matter, the building commissioner would have no authority to approve off premise signs. The denial is a pre-requisite of the application that
must be filed with the Board which is an application for variance. Mr. Fay stated that since the proper procedure was not followed, the Board has no authority to act and informed the applicants that their only option was to have people holding signs.
He reminded the applicants that the signs must be held and cannot be placed in the ground, propped up against city owned property or affixed to any structure.
9. Unfinished Business:
A. Downtown Business District regarding signage review/Discussion
The section of the sign ordinance was briefly discussed and the determination was to make sure the ordinance in its entirety is reviewed by the City Council. The Mayor has sent the request down to the City Council and has been referred to the Operations and Oversight Sub Committee as well as the Legal and Legislative Sub Committee. Hearings have not yet been scheduled.
B. Black Horse Farms Update
This item was covered in the City Engineers Report Item 5C above.
It was noted to keep this item for reporting purposes on the next Planning Board agenda as well.
C. Country Club Estates
A brief update was given by Solicitor Rider; all work is progressing and should be available to the Board for the June 3, 2013 meeting as previously discussed.
It was noted to keep this item for reporting purposes on the next Planning Board agenda as well.
10. Informal Discussions:
A. Boston Scientific (Addition Hill Modification)
The necessary changes were completed and approved by all parties. This was discussed briefly for informational purposes only. Ms. Hughes read the required changes to the notice of vote into record. The amended covenant will be on the next regularly scheduled meeting agenda. (May 6)
11. Correspondence: None
12. Public Notices of other Cities and Towns:
A. Town of Sudbury Zoning Board of Appeals, Notice of Decision April 1, 2013
B. Town of Sudbury Zoning Board of Appeals, Notice of Decision April 1, 2013
C. City of Marlborough City Council, Public Hearing Proposed Zone Change
April 22, 2013
On a motion made by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Hodge it was voted to accept the notices A-C and place on file. Motion carried.
Adjournment: On a motion made by Mr. Johnson seconded by Mr. Coveney it was voted to adjourn at 8:06pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Hughes
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