Monterey Planning Board
July 12, 2007
Minutes of the Meeting
Members Present: Alan Salamon, Brian Puntin, Cindy Hoogs, Janet Cathcart, Maggie Leonard
Meeting called to order at 7:10 pm
Unable to review minutes from last meeting, as there aren't any. No Form A submissions or paperwork to review.
Letter from BRPC reviewed, plus two of un-importance.
Maggie brought up a suggestion Alan had made previously that Form A applications don't need to be immediately approved. He added that he was surprised board members wouldn't want to take the application home and review it. He felt that as a matter of policy they shouldn't be voted on immediately. Maggie added that she felt taking time and visiting the site was a good idea. Janet pointed out that 21 days is a long time and it will push back projects.
Janet stated that it should be added to the minutes that: We have decided that the projects coming before us deserve the attention and therefore the board wants to take more time reviewing them.
Brian introduced the topic of Alan and Cindy's Common Driveway [CD] proposal.
Maggie asked Alan to clarify numerous changes he had made from the previous CD draft.
Alan opined that a CD should provide access to the lots from the way on which the lots served have their frontage. He felt that otherwise illegal lots could be created. After much discussion it was pointed out that lots must always be legal, with or without a CD, and that a CD might be servicing multiple lots which have legal frontage but not from only one way.
Brian said that the PB decided to not make a CD application a special permit. Maggie added some history of why it had been decided to be a special permit bringing up Rob Hoogs consultation. Janet then said that she was a little uncomfortable having Rob be a 'on the side lines' member.
Alan asked if the issue is that a special permit is a discretionary permit. Janet responded that when CDs were more complicated, the PB wanted a special permit, but now that it has been simplified, it can just be a permit. She then added that the one discretionary item the PB still wants is that the Highway Dept weigh in on the decision. They can have a CD by right, but they have to meet certain standards. Maggie added that the PB also thought that two lots should be a use by right.
Maggie then brought up the issue of whether plans need to be drafted by a professional engineer. She felt that it should be up to the applicant, but later warned that without an engineer some people will come in with gnarly stuff. Janet's opinion was that they will probably have a lot of sub-divisions, therefore 'engineered plans' should be kept. Brian felt that 'adequate plans' was sufficient. Janet furthered her point saying that there are so many complicated things such as you need to have at least a 10% grade and such. She felt that an engineer was necessary to show that.
Alan wondered if any PB member could think of a case where a CD would be worse than 3 or 4 driveways. Nobody could think of an example. Alan felt this was further reason to simply require a permit and not a special permit.
The language to be used was then discussed. Brian felt the word approval should be used. Maggie said that the PB approves someone's permit. The permit is the actual paper and that Maynard would have to sign off on it. Janet said that he already does that on the curb cut and that the permit idea should be forgotten. The PB should simply approve or disapprove their proposal. It was then decided that 'permit' be changed to 'approval'.
Alan read an article he had printed. In part it read, "It is not the planning board's role to come up with new rules. The planning board functions like a technical consultant working for the selectman." He felt that the PB should think about how they compare to that.
Other topics discussed were how many copies should be required, whether a timeline should be included (yes), what the max length of a dead-end CD should be versus a CD connecting to a way at both ends, and whether a 400' turnout makes sense.
Brian asked Maggie if she could make a new draft for the next meeting and she agreed to do so.
Alan inquired about the master plan. The August community meeting discussed. Maggie described the community meetings as a way of determining what people in the town think, what is important to them. Alan responded that he felt that was not a productive philosophy to follow. He felt the PB was elected and therefore they should lead. Maggie added that the Master Plan is something that the PB creates based on what the town wants. Alan again disagreed saying that he didn't think it was a productive way. Brian pointed out that with the master plan the PB drafts it and it is done. It doesn't have to be reviewed and approved. Janet added that her issue with the public hearings is that she doesn't know what the PB is doing at them. She felt that the PB should have a presentation. In
the case of open land, show the town how much is already preserved land. Show them that only very small parcels are what remain. Brian asked her if she could find a map to present.
Jason stated that he is putting in his resignation. He will attend the next meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10.
| 
