MARLBOROUGH PLANNING BOARD
MARLBOROUGH, MA 01752
Call to Order March 11, 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, Sean Fay, Philip Hodge, Edward Coveney and Shawn McCarthy. Also in attendance were Board Secretary Melissa Irish and City Engineer Thomas Cullen.
1. Meeting Minutes:
A. February 25, 2013
On a motion made by Mr. Fay, seconded by Mr. Hodge, it was voted to accept the minutes of the February 25, 2013 meeting as amended. Motion carried.
2. Chair’s Business:
A. Communication from Timothy Cummings, MEDC
Regarding Overview of Rt. 20E Project
Presentation was made by Mr. Cummings and Mr. Geoffrey Morrison-Logan of VHB Engineering outlining the contemplated changes to the route 20 corridor essentially creating what would be known as the Wayside district between Farm Rd and the Sudbury Town line. The focus of this presentation was to get Board members to start thinking about the proposal and have any questions they may have forwarded to Mr. Cummings. This would be a significant change to the appearance and demographic of the area in question. The Board took all information under advisement.
B. Communication from Attorney Bergeron
Regarding proposed zoning amendment for Boston Scientific
On a motion made by Mr. Fay seconded by Mr. Coveney it was voted that item 2B be tabled to be taken up after the public hearing. Motion carried.
3. Approval Not Required:
93 Framingham Rd was brought forward by the City Engineer, Mr. Fay read the notice from the City Engineer citing his approval of the plan with the understanding that lot 3 would be considered a non-buildable lot until such time as the existing house was demolished and proof of such was recorded with the Registry of deeds.
On a motion made by Mr. Fay seconded by Mr. Coveney it was voted to accept the plan and place it on file. Motion carried
On a motion made by Mr. Fay seconded by Mr. Coveney it was voted to endorse the plan. Motion carried.
4. Public Hearings:
A. Proposed Zoning Amendment by adding to section 650-17, Table of Use Regulations an additional use “Utility Service Vehicle Maintenance” & 650-18A, New Section 41, “Utility Service Maintenance”
The public hearing was opened at 7:18pm Mr. Fay read the notice into record. The hearing was taken in the traditional 4 stages:
Presentation
Those speaking in Favor
Those speaking in Opposition
Questions from the Board Members
Presentation: Attorney Arthur Bergeron spoke representing the proponent, along with Ms. Ellen Cummings Regional Director of External Affairs for Verizon.
Attorney Bergeron noted that this proposed zoning amendment would only allow utility companies already in place ie: National Grid, Verizon, Comcast, to perform allowable minor maintenance to their existing fleet if all service was performed indoors, away from streets and less than 10% of the existing building or 10,000 square feet whichever amount was smaller.
In the case of the Verizon location this use would translate to a 4.6% use of the existing building.
Ms. Cummings noted that the current facility has 2 overhead doors with the addition of a third door; the company would use the reconfigured area to house their pole climbing school as well as the maintenance area. The company would employ 2 technicians with only minor work being performed any larger repairs would be handled by a local repair shop. No auto body work would be performed in this location.
In Favor – Ms. Susanne Morreale Leeber, President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce spoke in Favor of the proposal, citing Verizon as being a very good neighbor and supporter of the City. This proposed use would bring both revenue and jobs to the City.
In Opposition – No one spoke.
Questions from the Board Members:
Mr. Fay requested that the term; Minor Mechanical Servicing be defined formally.
Mr. McCarthy questioned if the traffic flow could be restricted from the residential areas.
Mr. Hodge asked for the size of the fleet being moved into the City and if it had been determined if the Zoning regulations allow for outdoor storage of such a fleet.
Attorney Bergeron noted that approximately 87-91 vehicles would be moved and the as of right use of the storage would be clarified and reported back to the Board.
Attorney Bergeron did request a determination from the board as soon as possible,
The Public Hearing was closed by Chairperson Fenby at 7:48pm.
On a motion made by Mr. Coveney seconded by Mr. Hodge it was voted to remove item 2B from the table. Motion carried.
2B. Communication from Attorney Bergeron
Regarding proposed zoning amendment for Boston Scientific
It was Attorney Bergeron’s intent to openly discuss with the Board their feelings, thoughts and merits of the Proposed Zoning Amendment currently scheduled for a Public Hearing on March 25, 2013. During the course of discussion the Board determined that the information Attorney Bergeron was looking for was information that needed to be discussed during the Public Hearing. Attorney Bergeron was advised of that determination. Accordingly Attorney Bergeron simply called the Board’s attention to a couple of sections in the proposed amendment which the City Council’s Urban Affairs Committee had itself voted to recommend be amended by eventual vote of the full council.
5. Pending Sub Division Plans: Updates and Discussion:
A. Acceptance of Public Way – Dufresne Drive
Mr. Fay read into record the letter from City Solicitor Rider regarding the conveyance of the drainage easement in question from his November 29, 2012 communication regarding the same. The easement has been secured by the developer and the Board is now free to act upon the acceptance.
Motion made by Mr. Fay, seconded by Mr. Coveneny to accept the correspondence and place it on file. Motion carried.
On a motion made by Mr. Fay seconded by Mr. Hodge it was voted to recommend to the City Council acceptance of Dufresne Drive as an accepted city way. Motion carried.
On a motion made by Mr. Fay Seconded by Mr. Coveney it was voted to move up Agenda Items 9A&B. Motion carried.
B. Country Club Estates Update
Mr. Fay read into record the update supplied from Attorney Falk
On a motion made by Mr. Fay seconded by Mr. Coveney it was voted to accept the correspondence and place it on file. Motion carried.
9. Unfinished Business:
B. Continued discussion regarding Farm Rd signage.
Items 9B & C were taken up at the same time.
C. A Frame sign issues (multiple locations)
Code Enforcement Officer Pamela Wilderman appeared in front to the Board to discuss the current and ongoing situation with Farm Rd and A frame signs within the City. Her office does understand the Boards continued frustration with the proliferation of signs within the City however she implored the Board to understand she is but a single person department and unfortunately the rigors of her job render sign enforcement to a smaller amount of time allotted in her day.
It was the Boards direction to have the secretary pen a letter in support of the purchase of a computerized mobile ticketing system that would allow for sign enforcement to be done while the Code Enforcement Officer was out in the field during the day between enforcement actions.
6. Preliminary/Open Space Submissions/Limited Development Subdivisions: None
7. Definitive Subdivision Submission: None
8. Signs: None
9. Unfinished Business:
A. Decision regarding Modification to Addition Hill Subdivision
City Engineer Thomas Cullen summarized his notice to the Board regarding the status of the review for the proposed subdivision modification.
On a motion made by Mr. Fay, seconded by Mr. Coveney, it was voted to accept the correspondence and place it on file.
On a motion made by Mr. Hodge, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, Attorney Bergeron was invited by the Board to file for an extension to the proposed subdivision modification extending the time for the Board’s decision to April 30, 2013, which date the Board agrees to and then file that request with the City Clerk’s office. The invitation was made with the understanding that the City Engineer and the Board will work diligently with the project engineer to come to a timely resolution. Motion carried.
B. Continued discussion regarding Farm Rd signage.
C. A Frame sign issues (multiple locations)
Items 9B & C were moved up in the agenda.
10. Informal Discussions: None
11. Correspondence: None
12. Public Notices of other Cities and Towns:
A. Town of Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals Notice of Decision
B. Town of Hudson Planning Department Public Hearing 4-2-13 (2 matters)
C. Town of Sudbury Zoning Board of Appeals Public Hearing March 18, 2013
D. Town of Sudbury Planning Board Public Hearing April 10, 2013
E. Town of Framingham Planning Board Public Hearing March 21,2013 (2 matters)
On a motion made by Mr. Hodge, seconded by Mr. McCarthy it was voted to accept the notices A-E and place on file. Motion carried.
Adjournment: On a motion made by Mr. McCarthy seconded by Mr. Hodge it was voted to adjourn at 8:51pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sean Fay – Acting Clerk
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