Monterey Planning Board
March 8, 2007
Minutes of the Meeting
Members Present: Brian Puntin, Cindy Hoogs, Janet Cathcart, Laurily Epstein,, Stephen Rose
Public Present: Don Bernard of Dabco Company who owns Seven Stones on Lake Buell Road accompanid by Jim Sidel from SK Design, and attorney David Hellman from Hellman Insurance in Great Barrington, Michael Johnson, Judy Hayes
Meeting called to order at 7:00 by Cindy Hoogs; acting chair as Maggie is absent.
Cindy Hoogs recused herself because Don Bernard is a client of the firm she works for.
Brian Puntin became acting chair.
Jim Sidel presented a Form A submission for a lot located between Lake Buell Road and Deer Field Road. Jim described the lot and detailed how it fulfills the town's requirements. Brian Puntin recalled when an adjacent lot was brought in front of the board and the hurdles that had to be overcome. The PB decided this was a cut-and-dry case, approval not required plan, and the mylar plan was signed.
Judy Hayes of 29 Tyringham Road returned asking for more advice on her proposed addition. She will be going in front of the ZBA and was interested in some specifics.
Brian Puntin asked Michael Johnson what his thoughts were. Michael explained that he has been living in Monterey since 2000 and is looking for a place where he can help out. He said that he enjoys looking toward the future and how to help improve it. Brian then offered a general description of the guidelines in the zoning bylaws and how they are used to form the town.
Read letter from ZBA. Application for a special permit from Paul Geall on 24 Carrington-Batelle road. The ZBA hearing is scheduled for March 22.
Some members of the PB asked for clarity on the difference between a special permit and a variance. A special permit is a nuance whereas a variance is an out-and-out opposition to the zoning bylaws.
In the bylaws it is laid out how certain restrictions can be surpassed, "In cases where a building permit is not authorized as a matter of right, the Zoning Board of Appeals may authorize by Special Permit…" (Zoning Town Bylaws, section IV.E.2.b)
A variance is given when a plan proposes a divergence from the bylaws in an area not laid out to allow such a change.
Janet Cathcart moved that we give the finding that although there is a small doorway that falls within the setback the proposed addition does not increase the non-conformity substantially.
Minutes from February 15, 2007 reviewed, amended and accepted.
Cindy Hoogs reported that the Common Driveway [CD] proposed bylaw has been submitted to Don Terrico, town counsel and Maynard so that they can provide input at the common hearing if they choose.
Stephen Rose shared a conversation he had with Dana Bixby of the West Stockbridge Planning Board concerning CDs. The two points he made were that they use the same application as for Special Permits and Dana recommends much care when defining maximum length. West Stockbridge has a lot of problems where people decide to begin and end measurement of the CD length.
The proposed definition for max length was reviewed and seen as sufficient. Cindy said that the PB can make changes in the CD bylaws - fine tuning - without another hearing if any problem is later realized.
Brian explained that the reason for a form specific to CDs is because the special permit form is what the ZBA uses. Cindy furthered that the same form could be used, but its name would need to be changed.
Janet Cathcart brought up an article in the Berkshire Eagle she had read. It covered the Egremont School meeting. Another meeting was planned because not everyone had been able to speak. Janet thought that it would be a good venue for Monterey town members to speak up about their hopes around the kindergarten.
This led to Janet furthering that an email tree could be created to convey this information to town members. She described how it could be used for other things too such as the Master Plan.
Brian Puntin mentioned a riding group he was a member of and how they use a Yahoo list. He saw that it simplified the process. He also wondered whether about emails from the town of Monterey and how the PB would go about using that as a tool.
General discussion ensued over who in the town could be reached how and the pros and cons of differing methods.
Janet Cathcart mentioned that the Berkshire Regional Planning Committee had sent an email. Basically, they are wondering what the PB is doing around the Master plan. Cindy answered, "We are tentatively setup to have a public meeting on April 17th to talk about Open Spaces and Natural Resources."
Further talk of special town meeting. PB members agree that decision should be made after the town meeting. After that, more thought can be given to following years.
Two letters from Don Terrico read and discussed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm
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