MARLBOROUGH PLANNING BOARD
MARLBOROUGH, MA 01752
Call to Order                                                         				October 21, 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 Sean Fay, Colleen Hughes, Barbara Fenby & Edward Coveney.
Also in attendance were Board Secretary Melissa Irish and City Engineer Thomas Cullen.
Philip Hodge, Shawn McCarthy and Clyde Johnson were absent.

1. Meeting Minutes:
	A. Regular Meeting October 7, 2013
On a motion made by Mr. Fay, seconded by Chairperson Fenby it was voted to approve the minutes of the October 7, 2013 meeting. Motion carried.
	
2. Chair’s Business: 
	A. Draft Open Space and Recreation Plan
Ms. Hughes read the notification from Priscilla Ryder, Conservation Officer into record. 
On a motion made by Ms. Hughes seconded by Mr. Coveney the correspondence was accepted and placed on file. Motion carried.
Chairperson Fenby encouraged all Board members to access the draft plan at www.marlborough-ma.gov finding it under the Conservation Commission heading and give feedback as each member sees fit.

3. Approval Not Required: 
A. Slocumb Realty, 5 lots with 2 lots being registered land, 2 lots comprised of both registered and un-registered land, 1 lot un-registered land.
Ms. Hughes read the application into the record. 
Mr. John Nenart of Geurriere & Hanlon Inc. presented the plan in question to the Board.  The plan had been approved by the Board previously on September 10, 2012, however since there is registered land involved there was another layer of approval required. That approval has since been granted, and this plan needs to be endorsed.
On a motion made by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Coveney the plan was referred to the Engineering Department for review. Motion carried.

4. Public Hearings: None	

5. Pending Sub Division Plans: Updates and Discussion:
A.  Engineers Report
Mr. Cullen reported to the Board that both the Westridge Estates Subdivision and the Country Club Estates Subdivision are currently in front of the City Council for formal acceptance. Mr. Cullen also noted that the Mauro Farms Subdivision has got its paving schedule on target for the end of the month.

	B. Jenks Rd Subdivision Soil Suitability Notification (November 30, 2013)
Ms. Hughes Read the notification regarding Soil Suitability from Robert Landry Sanitarian/Administrator the Board of Health into record.
On a motion made by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Coveney the correspondence was accepted and placed on file. Motion carried.

Ms. Hughes read correspondence from Mr. Joe Peznola Hancock Associates, dated October 17, 2013, addressing issues raised by the City Engineer dated September 26, 2013 into the record. 
On a motion made by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Coveney the correspondence was accepted and placed on file as well as referred to Engineering. Motion carried.

6. Preliminary/Open Space Submissions/Limited Development Subdivisions: None

7. Definitive Subdivision Submission: None
	
8. Signs: 
	A. First Church Congregational, 37 High Street
Ms. Hughes read the variance request into the record. 
Mr. George Pellerin presented the request to the Board.
After much discussion regarding the placement and size of the requested sign as well as temporary signage on the property, it was decided that Mr. Pellerin would return to the congregation and discuss the alternatives as proposed by the Board. Mr. Pellerin is to appear at the next regularly scheduled meeting (November 4) to further the discussion. 

	B. New Hope Community Church, 204 Main Street
Ms. Hughes read the variance request into the record.
Mr. Robert Woods presented the request to the Board.
Mr. Woods informed the Board that the reason for the requested signage is that it is perceived that people are having trouble locating the church as they arrive in the downtown area. The Church is requesting to place an A-Frame style sign on the sidewalk every Sunday morning to draw attention to the church location.
During discussions between the Board and Mr. Woods the idea of a banner instead of the A-Frame style sign was raised. It was the thought process that if Mr. Woods placed a banner along the front entry railing of the church every Sunday it would be less intrusive to the flow of pedestrian traffic along the sidewalk. Mr. Woods was in agreement with the Board.

On a motion made by Mr. Fay, seconded by Ms. Hughes it was voted to approve the placement of a 24” X 36” temporary banner to be placed on the Main St entry side railing of the building every Sunday morning and removed every Sunday after services for the entire year. Motion carried.

9. Unfinished Business: 
	A. Berlin Farms
Mr. Fay read an email he had received from Mr. Freeman into the record. Mr. Freeman was unable to attend the meeting however he has given an update and assurances that he is diligently working towards the goal of completing the subdivision to everyone’s satisfaction.  Mr. Freeman does plan on appearing in front of the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting (November 4) to give his update in person.
It was noted to keep this item for reporting purposes on the next Planning Board agenda as well.

	B. Blackhorse Farms Estates
Ms. Hughes noted that she had visited the site earlier in the day and it would appear that the sidewalk has been excavated. The question is what is the purpose for the disruption of the sidewalk and driveway apron area?  It was also noted that new lot signage has been installed on the unimproved lots. The subdivision is still not as orderly as the Board would like to see it but it was noted that the condition is better than it was at this time last year. Mr. Cullen will have an update for the Board at the next meeting.

It was noted to keep this item for reporting purposes on the next Planning Board agenda as well.

10. Informal Discussions: None
	
11. Correspondence: 
	A. MassHealth Update 2013
On a motion made by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Coveney it was voted to accept the correspondence and place on file. Motion Carried.

12. Public Notices of other Cities and Towns: 
A. Town of Berlin, Planning Board, Public Hearing October 29, 2013.
	B. Town of Northborough, Planning Board, Public Hearing October 23, 2013.
	C. Town of Northborough, Planning Board, Public Hearing October 23, 2013
	D. Town of Southborough, Planning Board, Public Hearing October 21, 2013.
	E. Town of Framingham, Planning Board, Notice of Decision July 24, 2013.
	F. Town of Sudbury, Zoning board of Appeals, Public Hearing November 4, 2013.

On a motion made by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Coveney it was voted to accept the notices A-F and place on file. Motion carried.

Adjournment:  On a motion made by Mr. Coveney, seconded by Ms. Hughes it was voted to adjourn at 7:52pm.
							Respectfully submitted,

							Colleen Hughes
						
/mai