MONSON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES APRIL 17, 2012
MEMBERS PRESENT: Paul Hatch, Kevin Haley, Tara Hengeveld and Karen King.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Craig Sweitzer.
The Board signed an ANR plan submitted by Kim Talmadge 5 Washington Street that created one lot from two existing lots.
Francis Nothe, 122 Main Street submitted a written request to the Planning Board for a waiver from Section 7.4.1 Site Plan Review of the Monson Zoning Bylaws. Mr. Nothe is proposing a 360 square foot addition to an existing commercial building that contains approximately 1,510 square feet, an increase of 24% of the existing floor area. The Planning Board may waive any or all requirements of site plan review for external enlargements of structures of less than 25% of the existing floor area.
Mr. Nothe stated the additional space is for storage of records and to provide a secure area to perform the financial component of the business.
Paul Hatch questioned if the addition would include doors to the outside space?
Mr. Nothe stated he has not got as far as designing the addition. This is just the start of the project and before getting too far along he wanted to make sure it could be done and if there was anything besides a building permit he would need to apply for.
Paul Hatch stated if the addition includes a door and there is a change in the traffic patterns on the property or parking the Planning Board cannot waive the Site Plan requirement.
Tara Hengeveld questioned if the overhead garage doors and the office door at the front of the property would be the means of entrance and egress to the building?
Mr. Nothe stated that the current means of entrance and egress to the building would not change and based on the conversation with the Planning Board he would not add a door in the proposed addition.
Paul Hatch stated if Mr. Nothe is not adding any exterior doors and not impacting parking space or changing traffic patterns and the proposed addition is less than 25% of existing floor space there is no reason to hold a hearing. He questioned what the space proposed for the addition was currently used for?
Mr. Nothe stated that sometimes tires are stored there until the distributor comes to pick them up.
Paul Hatch stated he would be concerned if stored items were put closer to the abutting property line because of the addition and that caused problems for abutters.
Mr. Nothe stated he has a good relationship with his abutters and would take steps to make sure the addition causes no adverse impacts to their properties.
Karen King moved to waive the requirements for site plan approval because no new entrance or egress is proposed and there are no alterations in the traffic patterns or parking spaces, and the proposed addition is less than 25% of the existing floor area.
Tara Hengeveld seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Kevin Haley moved to accept the minutes of March 20, 2012 as presented.
Tara Hengeveld seconded the motion.
It was so voted majority vote.
Voting aye: Kevin Haley, Tara Hengeveld and Karen King
Paul Hatch abstained because he did not attend the meeting.
Mr. Hatch was unable to attend the meeting of March 20, 2012 at which the Board received a presentation from Bill Scanlan, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission of the findings resulting from a visual preference survey that was completed by Town residents and was given an overview of the discussion. The Board explained one of the suggestions was to change the zoning to allow a residential use in areas zoned Center Commercial because residential properties already exist in the downtown areas that are zoned for commercial use.
Mr. Hatch expressed similar concerns to those expressed by the Board members present at the meeting. The downtown area is pretty well established and changing the zoning would only affect one or two properties. Additionally he agreed with Kevin Haley that he was not in favor of chipping away at commercially zoned areas especially in the center of Town.
8:00 Paul Hatch moved to adjourn.
Tara Hengeveld seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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