PLANNING BOARD
February 10, 2009 - Minutes
A meeting of the Orleans Planning Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Nauset Meeting Room at the Orleans Town Hall. Present: Chairman: John Fallender; Vice-Chairman: Seth Wilkinson; Clerk: Paul O'Connor; Kenneth McKusick; Associates: Gary Guzzeau; John Ostman. Planning Department Staff: George Meservey. Board of Selectmen Liaison: Jon Fuller.
Absent: Sims McGrath;
Chairman Fallender asked Gary Guzzeau to vote in the absence of Sims McGrath.
SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE FEES
Meservey explained that the Site Plan Review Committee does not currently charge any fees for Formal and Informal reviews of commercial projects over 1,000 square feet in town, including parking and drainage issues. Meservey stated that the town is reviewing revenue sources and with an advertised public hearing, the Site Plan Review Committee can adopt regulations that include a schedule of fees sufficient to defray the costs of technical services or other expenses of the committee. Meservey referred the Planning Board to a spreadsheet of Site Plan Review Committee fees in Cape towns and noted that in many towns, Site Plan Review is performed by the Planning Board. Meservey noted that Barnstable charges fees from $100.00 - $500.00 depending on the cost of the project. Fallender explained a
spreadsheet he created which bases Site Plan Review fees on staff time required through various town departments to review commercial projects. Wilkinson suggested adding a consultant advisory fee, which are funds the town could use to hire a consultant to help with reviews. Meservey stated that the next step would be to have the Site Plan Review Committee hold a public hearing on the subject of setting a fee schedule.
PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Meservey stated that the Planning Board has made recommendations for action items in the Capital Improvement Plan and a joint public hearing will be held late in February by the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee. Planning Board members discussed each of the items which coincide with the Orleans Comprehensive Plan such as drainage, open space purchases, wastewater, and the Village Center Master Plan. Meservey pointed out that the Village Center Master Plan has been listed in the Capital Improvement Plan for funding in order to complete an economic Assessment and a Landscape/
Streetscape plan which needs more expertise than the Planning Department staff possesses. Meservey noted the need to coordinate the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan and the Village Center Master Plan to avoid unnecessary duplication in construction projects.
Meservey stated that the Planning Department staff has started preliminary work on a Village Center Plan and there is a Scope of Work for the Economic Assessment that would address items such as:
- What are the realistic potentials of the area?
- How does the changing retail landscape affects us?
- What opportunities are there for market niches that may make the Village Center a better destination?
- What would make the Village Center District it a better and more attractive location?
McKusick noted that the Resident/Taxpayer Survey done updated in 2006 indicated that the townspeople are very much in favor (50.20% indicated that they strongly agreed and 37.03% agreed) of having the town actively involved in shaping the future planning of business and activities in the downtown. The Planning Board discussed the importance of the Village Center District to the character of the town and noted the need to discuss the issue with the Board of Selectmen in their ongoing discussion on the Capital Improvement Plan. Meservey noted that the town needs to determine what the market will bear, what the niche possibilities are, what are the traffic pattern needs, and what sidewalk needs there are. John Ostman noted the importance of planning and having a vision of how the town will evolve
particularly after the advent of the proposed large wastewater infrastructure construction. John Ostman stated that the wastewater and Village Center District planning should go forward as a coordinated effort. Fuller stated his understand that the Capital Improvement Plan has no affect on the Town’s operating deficit, it affects the tax rate. Fuller indicated his support for the Planning Board to state the case to the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee for funding for Village Center planning. Fallender warned of the possibility of unanticipated financial consequences of not planning for the Village Center in advance of wastewater construction. O'Connor stated the importance of the Planning Board showing their support to the townspeople for the Village Center planning. McKusick noted that Village Center planning was in the Orleans Comprehensive Plan years before wastewater planning began. Wilkinson agreed to present the Planning
Board support for funding for the Village Center District plan to the Board of Selectmen at their next meeting. Planning Board members agreed to include the Chamber of Commerce and Orleans Improvement Association as part of the show of support in the Village Center discussions with the Board of Selectmen. Guzzeau gave an analogy that the Economic Assessment is the “meat and potatoes” of the Village Center Master Plan and the Landscape/Streetscape is the “dessert” and both are contingent on each other. Wilkinson agreed with Guzzeau and questioned what good it is to have a nice looking street if there are no open businesses in town which is key to a vibrant downtown.
RESIDENT / TAXPAYER SURVEY
Planning Board members discussed responses on the 2006 update of the Orleans Comprehensive Plan Resident/Taxpayer Survey including the following issues: 1) Growth and Development; 2) Housing;
3) Village Center; 4) Mixed-Use; 5) Traffic; 6) Environmental Protection; 7) Open Space; 8) Natural Resources; 9) Beaches; and 10) Community Facilities & Services. Planning Board members noted items where respondents indicated the items they were satisfied with and/or items that need more attention.
OLD BUSINESS
Planning Board members discussed the fact that the proposed zoning bylaw amendments have been forwarded to the Board of Selectmen for inclusion on the Annual Town Meeting warrant for May 2009. Planning Board members agreed on the importance of outreach to the Orleans Improvement Association and the Chamber of Commerce regarding the proposed bylaws.
NEW BUSINESS
Fallender notified Planning Board members of a Five Year Revision to the Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan as recently adopted (dated January 16, 2009) by the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates and Barnstable County Commissioners. Fallender read a notice that stated that the plan is designed to present a coherent set of regional planning policies and objectives to guide the development through the Barnstable County and to protect regional resources.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 27, 2009
MOTION: On a motion by Seth Wilkinson, seconded by Kenneth McKusick, the Board voted to approve the minutes of January 27, 2009.
VOTE: 3-0-2 The motion passed unanimously. (Paul O'Connor and Gary Guzzeau abstained)
ADJOURNMENT
The Planning Board meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
SIGNED: ______________________________ DATE: _______________________
(Paul O'Connor, Clerk)
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