MONSON PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES AUGUST 19, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT: Craig Sweitzer, Paul Hatch and Kevin Haley.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Tara Hengeveld and Karen King.
ALSO PRESENT Town Planner Dan Laroche, Nancy Messina, Daniel Zollo, Mary Zollo, Eugene Quaglini, Greg Leighton and Charles Cournoyer.
7:05 Craig Haldeman Protech Solutions, met informally with the Board to discuss the solar farm project on Macomber Road/Upper Palmer Road. Mr. Haldeman stated they are near to completing the project but the plantings that were proposed as screening (Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel) do not grow well in full sun. Additionally they have had difficulty finding plants that are five (5) feet tall as proposed in the plan.
Dan Laroche questioned if Mr. Haldeman was asking for an extension in order to plant next spring?
Craig Haldeman stated no, they want to plant this September but the size and species originally proposed are the problem.
Eugene Quaglini stated he lives on Upper Palmer Road and is already experiencing reflection from the panels and would like something higher than five (5) foot.
Dan Laroche stated Rhododendron can grow to eight (8) feet more attention was paid to the fact that the proposed species were native species. He questioned if white pines would be planted?
Craig Haldeman stated they did not want to plant anything that would shade the panels.
Dan Laroche questioned if he knew the height limit before the panels would be affected?
Craig Haldeman stated he did not.
Craig Sweitzer stated blue spruce would probably grow on the site and may screen better than Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel.
Paul Hatch stated the Planning Boards’ role is not to design the project but to review what is proposed by the petitioner. He advised Craig Haldeman to hire a landscape architect and come back to the Board with a stamped signed plan.
Craig Sweitzer stated he would agree with Mr. Hatch that a professional should be retained to suggest the types of plantings that will grow on the site and also the size to protect abutters as much as possible.
Dan Zollo, Macomber Road stated when sitting on his rear deck the reflection from the panels is brutal and he would prefer something as tall as possible.
Greg Leighton, 12 Macomber Road questioned if it would be possible to plant on raised beds to help attain a reasonable height to screen abutters from the reflection off of the panels?
Craig Haldeman stated there is a small window in which to plant in the fall and questioned if the Town would accept changing the amount of $5000.00 that is to be held in an account to ensure that plants used for screenings are replaced and move forward with the same species but smaller size?
The Board did not look favorably on the suggestion. The reason for the size of the plantings was to provide as much screening as possible, as quickly as possible and to change the monetary terms of the decision would require going back to Town Counsel.
The Board stated it would be willing to hold a special meeting before its regularly scheduled meeting of September 16, 2014 in order to move the process forward, Tuesday September 2, or 9, 2014. The meeting must be posted forty eight hours in advance.
The Board met informally with Denny Jenks regarding property owned by Bethany Road Realty Trust located on Bethany Road. Mr. Jenks stated they would like to expand the business currently occupying the space with outside storage for seasonal products. The outside storage is proposed on the opposite side of Bethany Road to the building. This is the area of the property that Lydall wanted to build a service facility for its trucks. There is a berm along the street and the space between the retaining wall and berm would be used to store pallets of mulch. The property is located in two zoning districts General Commercial and Residential Village, only that portion of the property that is zoned General Commercial would be used for the outside storage.
Craig Sweitzer questioned the height of the retaining wall?
Kevin Haley stated bulk storage of materials outside a structure is allowed in the Zoning Bylaws Schedule of Use Regulations Table 1 with a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Dan Laroche stated it would also require Site Plan Approval Section 7.4 (5) of the Monson Zoning Bylaws.
Craig Sweitzer stated it is a two-step deal a Special Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals and Site Plan Approval from the Planning Board for a change in use from parking to outside storage. The submittal must include a buffer between the different zones and the buffer zone must be on the applicants’ property.
Dan Laroche cautioned if Mr. Jenks was thinking about a zone change leaving the back of the property natural should be considered.
Denny Jenks stated the Board had given him plenty to think about.
Paul Hatch abstained from the discussion to avoid the appearance of a conflict.
Dan Laroche stated he wanted to discuss changes to Section 6.14 Wireless Communications Facilities Regulations. The present language of the bylaw is in conflict with State Law. The legislature has approved language to allow changes to existing antennas by right, whereas the Monson Zoning Bylaws requires a Special Permit. To bring the Bylaws into compliance it is proposed to change the language of Section 6.14.1. (2) to require Site Plan Review by the Planning Board for any proposed modification to an existing facility only if there is an increase in the total square footage size of the antennas; and, Section 6.14.1 (3) to allow the reconstruction, extension, or replacement of communication facilities in existence at the time of adoption of these Regulations by Site Plan Review by the Planning
Board.
Craig Sweitzer stated he would agree that the Zoning Bylaws must comply with State Law and the Board will hold a public hearing for the proposed changes.
Paul Hatch returned.
Dan Laroche extended an invitation to members of the Board to visit the new Town Administration Building as a group maybe sometime in October.
Paul Hatch moved to accept the minutes of June 17, 2014 as presented.
Kevin Haley seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
8:15 Paul Hatch moved to adjourn.
Kevin Haley seconded the motion.
It was so voted, unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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