PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
AUGUST 21, 2012
MEMBERS PRESENT: Kevin Haley, Craig Sweitzer, Paul Hatch and Karen King.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Tara Hengeveld
Irving Arnold submitted an earth removal plan for his property at 1 Stafford Road and requested that the Planning Board endorse the plan.
Craig Sweitzer explained that the Zoning Board of Appeals is the Board responsible for issuing special permits for earth removal.
Mr. Arnold stated he has the right to remove material from his property under the right to farm bylaw that was adopted by the Town. He questioned if the Board members had read the Town bylaw?
Lisa Arnold stated they need more fields for hay. There is a barn on the property that Paul Tacy, Building Commissioner declined to do a final inspection on because he did not issue the permit.
Craig Sweitzer stated the Town bylaw allows the “on-farm relocation of earth and the clearing of ground for farming operations”. He questioned the amount of material involved and if the material was to be removed from the property?
Mr. Arnold stated it would be removed from the property.
Craig Sweitzer stated in that case there was nothing left to discuss, if the material is removed from the property the proper procedure is a special permit for earth removal through the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Dan Laroche Disaster Recovery Manager for the Town of Monson met informally with the Board stating he has been hired by the Town to help with recovery efforts. One element of the recovery effort was undertaken by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and that process resulted in a document recommending changes to the zoning bylaws and zone changes for the down town area. Mr. Laroche stated he wanted to meet with the Planning Board to clarify exactly what the Planning Board sees as its priorities, as there appears to be some confusion between what the PVPC thinks are the priorities and what the Planning Board wants. In speaking with Larry Smith from PVPC it was his understanding that the Planning Board voted and endorsed all of the proposed changes. Mr. Laroche stated he read the minutes of the
meeting and understood no vote was taken. He stated felt his role was to interface between the Planning Board and PVPC.
Craig Sweitzer stated the Board had a discussion with Mr. Smith but did not come to or make any final conclusions. For example the Board expressed serious misgivings with regard to the proposal to change several areas down town from central commercial to residential village zone. Mr. Sweitzer stated the premise is not to make it harder for property owners to do what they have had a right to do before the tornado. This is related to the tornado that happened 14 months ago and the bylaws that PVPC have proposed govern rebuilding from the tornado. That does not seem like a timely exercise because most of the rebuilding has already occurred. The Board is all for positive change but spending time and money on how to rebuild damage from the tornado is a waste of both resources as much of the
rebuilding has taken place.
Dan Laroche stated perhaps the best way to look at this is as an opportunity to make changes to enhance what is already there.
Kevin Haley stated he believed people did not want the Town to change they wanted it to stay the same and good or bad it is what it is. A lot of changes did not make sense like shrinking the commercial area.
Dan Laroche stated he thought there were some good ideas and the Board could take parts of the report and pursue those and not necessarily move forward on other things. The proposed mixed use was a good thing.
Kevin Haley stated the mix of commercial and residential use is already a reality in the downtown area and Monson does have a mixed use bylaw.
Dan Laroche questioned what the Board would like to see for Monson 10 years from now?
Paul Hatch stated he was in favor of the proposed zone changes from Industrial district for the old Zero and M & M Chemical properties to Mill Districts.
Craig Sweitzer stated he thought that was a great idea, as long as the private owners were in favor and willing to work with the Town he would support that 100%.
Dan Laroche stated he spoke with the Municipal Law Office and was not sure the PVPC’s proposal to add one year to the two years allowed by State regulation to rebuild on a non-conforming lot after a natural disaster was legal.
Craig Sweitzer stated he had spoken with someone at the State level about this and would get that information to Mr. Laroche.
Craig Sweitzer stated the Board would like to see how a reduction in lot size would affect the downtown area.
Karen King stated she thought the Board discussed with Mr. Smith the idea of reducing the front setback rather than lot size for commercial properties.
Kevin Haley questioned where and how patrons of the business would park if the mixed use residential and commercial had designated parking for the residential portion of the building if the idea was to increase commercial activity?
Dan Laroche stated parking is an issue and it is not the intent to create a hardship, maybe the Board should consider a special permit that would allow a lower parking requirement.
Gretchen Neggers stated if the zoning is left alone in the downtown area it is conceivable that properties currently zoned commercial but having a residential use could eventually become commercial.
Paul Hatch stated parking has to be where people will want to use it.
Dan Laroche stated he was looking for a clear direction to pass onto Larry Smith, PVPC what does Monson want?
The consensus of the Board was that it did not want to require a new building in the central commercial district to be a 2 story building; parking in the rear of commercial properties is a good idea but the Board does not want to make it a bylaw; the Board was in favor of lower parking ratios by special permit; and in favor of adjusting the Zoning map to follow parcel boundaries. The Board members stated they were not in favor of changing or developing new bylaws that would make it harder to do commercial projects in Monson.
Dan Laroche stated he would meet with Larry Smith before the next Planning Board meeting and report back to the Board.
Kevin Haley questioned if Mr. Laroche had any thoughts on reserved land?
Dan Laroche stated he thought when zoning was adopted they looked at the open space that was already there, schools, athletic fields, the conant brook dam area, the State owned Monson Developmental land and designated it reserved land.
Karen King moved to approve the minutes of July 17, 2012 as presented.
Craig Sweitzer seconded the motion.
It was so voted by majority vote.
Kevin Haley abstained from the vote.
Paul Hatch moved to adjourn at 8:45 P.M.
Karen King seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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