Planning Board meeting Thursday August 22, 2013
Members present: Alan Salamon, Larry Klein, Barry Karson, Stephen Enoch, co-chair and Maggie Leonard, co-chair.
Members absent: Bridget Krans and Roger Tryon
Public present: David Quisenberry
Leonard opened the meeting at 7:10 p.m.
The board met with David Quisenberry regarding his property at 30 Bidwell Rd. His across-the-street neighbor has 3 acres and Quisenberry would like to purchase a minimum amount of acreage to build a garage. We all responded that you cannot create a nonconforming lot and build on it.
Mr. Quisenberry also asked for a moment more to discuss something that has been on his mind. Having spent a lot of time on Lake Garfield, Quisenberry thinks that there should be some restriction on how small the lake frontage can be on lakefront lots. He pointed out examples of very narrow access lots and indicated that the Planning Board should consider a zoning bylaw revision regarding the minimum amount of lake frontage allowed per lot.
The board discussed the National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP) bylaw. After our conference call (Planning Board meeting 8-9-13) with Richard Zingarelli, the flood hazard expert from MA DCR, and his subsequent submission of documents, the board understands the following to be true regarding the NFIP in Monterey:
1. Monterey is currently a participant in the NFIP and claims have been made from Monterey residents.
2. In Monterey the Board of Health and the Select Board are the administrative body for the NFIP. Zingarelli sent us a copy of the Agreement Between the Monterey Board of Selectmen and the Monterey Board of Health and the Monterey Building Inspector With Regard to Flood Hazard Areas dated June 8, 1981. Along with the signed agreement are copies of a letter from Town Counsel, Hugh Cowhig, to FEMA dated June 8, 1981 and a letter from the Town Clerk certifying the whole thing dated June 9, 1981.
Based on that information the board discussed voting to drop work on the NFIP bylaw seeing as how the Board of Health and the Select Board already handle it in the town. Larry Klein objected and stated a concern for homeowners trying to find information about floodplain issues, and what they can and cannot do in the floodplain, and it’s no where to be found. Klein thinks that more direction in the zoning bylaw is appropriate and that we need to let people know about these regulations. We checked the town web site to see if there were any Board of Health regulations online; there are not. The board agreed to think about whether to go on with the bylaw work.
Salamon reported on the ZBA Administrative meeting that he attended on August 16, 2013. He said that the list of comments/feedback that we received was from Bob Lazzarini, and that the ZBA has not yet reviewed those comments. Salamon indicated that we should wait for the ZBA to approve the comments before we do any work on them.
The board reviewed an application for a Special Permit from Steven Solosky of 23 Laurel Banks Rd. Monterey MA. Solosky seeks to remove the existing roof on his house, which includes a gable and a ridgeline, and replace it with a reoriented roof where the ridge runs southwest to northeast. The application states that the height of the building will increase by 7’-8 5/8” (but still within height requirements) and there will be no change in the square footage of the dwelling.
The board discussed the application. Leonard noted that the reason they had to apply for a Special Permit is because the proposed increase in the height of the building (not because it is on a non-conforming lot). The board noted that the proposed height increase of 7’ 8” does not violate the height maximum of the zoning bylaws; according to the plans the final height of the new roof would be 24’ 2” and the maximum height allowed by the zoning bylaws is 35’. The board also noted that, while the numbers might work out, we don’t really know how the proposed new construction would affect the abutters. The board also noted that the chimney will have to go much higher (and will it also be wider?) in order to properly draft a fireplace or stove, and how would that impact abutters’ views, etc.?
Members agreed to finalize the discussion at our next meeting.
Alan Salamon asked what the Planning Board has ever done re: Accessory Dwelling Units? Leonard said, “Lots actually.” Enoch agreed that this would be a good avenue of exploration and discussion for the board. Leonard said that she would bring in all the info and past work done by the board.
Respectfully Submitted,
Maggie Leonard, co-chair
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