These minutes are not verbatim – they are the secretary’s interpretation of what took place at the meeting. – Open Meeting Law – Section III.
Board Members: Malcolm MacGregor, Marc Garrett, Loring Tripp, III, Paul McAlduff, and Larry Rosenblum
Planning Board Alternate: Timothy Grandy
Staff Members: Lee Hartmann, Valerie Massard
Recording Secretary: Eileen Hawthorne
Joint Meeting with the Board of Selectmen and School Committee
The Board met with the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and Building Committee to discuss the State’s request that the Town prioritize which of the two proposed high school projects would be the first to receive partial funding from the State. The discussion was continued to August 13, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
Administrative Notes:
The Board recommended approval of BOA Case No. 3441 – Petitioner: Robert Thompson, 25 Baker Road, Map 98, Lot 19B- request for Special Permit per Section 205-25, Paragraph A3 to enlarge a non-conforming structure and use in order to construct a first floor and second floor addition and install a deck subject to the following conditions:
Any work occurring under the purview of the Conservation Commission will require permits.
All fees and court costs associated with the Building Department notifications to the petitioner of the violation, and all fines applicable from the Building Department in association with the letter from the Building Inspector shall be paid in full within 30 days of receipt of notification of the amount from the Building Department of the Town of Plymouth to the petitioner via first class mail.
The Board recommended approval of BOA Case 3443 – Petitioner: Northbridge Plymouth Assisted Living LLC, 60 Stafford St, Map 27, Lot 65B – Modification of Special Permit #3364 to phase construction to complete assisted living facility and obtain occupancy permit and then complete independent living facility; request for Special Permit to reduce side setback to covered skyway per Note #7 to multi-family zoning Table 5 subject to the following conditions:
All prior conditions remain in full force and effect, and are applicable to each of the two individual phases.
In the event that the new building has not begun construction within two (2) years of the completion (final Occupancy Permits issued) of Phase I, the Proponent shall (a) loam and seed the gravel parking lot and any other disturbed areas in Phase II; and (b) in the event that Phase II is to move forward, the Proponent, prior to the start of construction of Phase II, shall meet with Planning Department staff and the Building Inspector to review the permitting, plans, landscaping and construction schedule/timing of the Phase II construction.
The Board endorsed the plans for B437, Pinehills LLC for Market Block. The Board voted to approve the plan on July 2, 2007.
The Board approved a reduction of the Performance Guarantee for work completed in the B473, Applewood Estates subdivision in the amount of $65,000.00.
The Board approved the Minutes of July 2, 2007 and July 16, 2007 as presented.
Larry Rosenblum requested that a condition be added to BOA 3441 – Thompson that the Building Commissioner assess appropriate fines for the work that was done without proper permits.
Paul McAlduff moved for the Board to approve the administrative notes as presented with the condition requested by Mr. Rosenblum added to BOA 3441.
Larry Rosenblum abstained from voting on the July 2, 2007 minutes as he was not present at the meeting
Marc Garrett and Paul McAlduff abstained from voting on the July 16, 2007 minutes as they were not present at the meeting.
The vote for all other administrative items was unanimous (5-0).
Form A’s:
A4265, Map 55, Lot 25, Hedges Pond Road – Subdivide into lots 25-1 (18.49A), 25-2 (1.02A), 25-3 (.70A), 25-4 (.80A), 25-5 (.96A), 25-6 (1.41A)
Paul McAlduff moved for the clerk to sign the plan; the vote was (3-2) with Loring Tripp and Malcolm MacGregor in opposition.
A4266, Map 25, Lots 9 & 10, Bay View/Brookside Aves – Lot line adjustment to create 9-1 (20,970 sf) and 10-1 (15,030 sf)
Paul McAlduff moved for the clerk to sign the plan; the vote was unanimous (5-0).
Valerie Massard informed the Board that the attorney for BOA 3442 – Industrial Tower and Wireless LLC and B530 – Waterhouse LLC was unable to attend the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances. Ms. Massard suggested that both cases be continued to a later date.
BOA 3442 – Industrial Tower and Wireless LLC (Cont. to 8/13)
Tanglewood Drive, SP to exceed height requirements in order to construct a wireless communication tower
Loring Tripp moved for the Board to continue the review of BOA 3442 to August 13, 2007; the vote was unanimous (5-0).
Public Hearing (cont. from 6/18, 6/25) (Cont. to 8/27)
B530 – Waterhouse LLC, off William C. Gould Way
Paul McAlduff moved for the Board to continue the public hearing for B530-Waterhouse LLC to August 27, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.; the vote was unanimous (5-0).
Update
Planning Department Projects
Lee Hartmann presented the Planning Department’s projects and initiatives with the goal of scheduling a brainstorming session next month to help prioritize the projects staff is working on. Mr. Hartmann reviewed the staff breakdown that outlined the time each staff member spends on different aspects of their jobs, the listing of current and future projects and the active subdivision list. Mr. Hartmann stated that the department’s goal is to have two major planning projects under way at all times. This past year the TDR process and the Obery Street Master Plan were the two major projects staff worked on. The current project staff is working on is the public land inventory. One staff member will be taking an extended leave which limits the number of projects staff is able to devote time to.
Mr. Hartmann stated that approximately 22 percent of staff time is spent attending day time meetings and responding to developers and the general public. Approximately 40 percent of staff time is spent addressing statutory responsibilities. Time available for planning projects is about 5 percent. About 500 hours of staff time is devoted to covering Planning Board meetings. Major initiatives that are currently being worked on are TDR (sending areas and designating and prioritizing areas to protect), Cordage Park’s 40R project, Plymouth Public Lands review, Gravel Removal Bylaw, stormwater guidelines, and the Historic District Commission regulations and design guidelines. Staff time is also spent reviewing new developments, petitioned articles, and has recently been looking at the effect casinos and gambling will have on the Town. With additional staff, the department would be able to provide more professional staff
support for boards and committees, clerical support for committees, and be able to have more input on tourism, community planning, data base management, conservation land management, trail maintenance and marking, better technical support to other committees. Each year a request is added to the department’s budget for additional staff. The goals for 2008 include master plan implementation, AD Makepeace communication, and land inventory.
Mr. Hartmann reviewed the current and future projects for the department. The list details where time is spent and what staff is working on. The list includes master plan implementation, applications to the Commonwealth Capital Fund in order to be eligible and competitive for grant funding, implementing the open space plan, AD Makepeace review, inventory of land, flood management plan, subdivision completion, alternative energy initiatives, trends and tracking of statistical information, consultant RFP process, updating the Zoning Bylaw, Town and County reuse issues, updating the Rules and Regulations, etc. There are 47 active subdivisions that staff has been working to bring to completion. Most of the developers complete 90 percent of the subdivision and staff is working hard to encourage them to finish the remaining
10 percent. There are approximately 25 subdivisions that could become active at any given time.
Mr. Hartmann expressed his appreciation for the hard work of the Planning Department’s staff.
Mr. Hartmann suggested that a brainstorming session could be held at the August 27, 2007 meeting to identify the Board’s priorities of what staff should be working on.
Paul McAlduff also thanked the staff for all the work they do.
Larry Rosenblum stated that it was daunting array of responsibilities that the department oversees. Mr. Rosenblum suggested that the Board think about how to move forward in the future. Mr. Rosenblum stated that he had 3 or 4 items that should be folded into the list, but that the list was already overwhelming.
Mr. Hartmann encouraged the Board to consider their priorities.
Marc Garrett was amazed at the amount of work that goes through the office and applauded the staff for what they accomplish. Mr. Garrett felt that this was an exercise that town government needs to understand; that to create additional boards or committees that staff cannot support or meet the objectives of is not productive. Mr. Garrett suggested presenting an overview of the planning process and department functions to the Charter commission. Even with additional staff, the staff would be administrating at the expense of planning.
Mr. Hartmann stated that the goal of planning is to build community consensus and to work together to accomplish goals and this takes dedication of significant resources to accomplish.
Loring Tripp stated that the evolution of the planning department has grown exponentially. The goal of the Charter Commission should be to get the government to understand that planning is a unified effort by the boards and community in the town.
Mr. Rosenblum suggested changing having discussions with other boards and committees to share values, goals, and visions and how they fit in with the Town’s master plan.
Mr. Hartmann asked for direction as to what the Board’s priorities are and what the planning department should be focusing on.
Other Business:
Chapter 40T legislation
Valerie Massard stated she did some research on Chapter 40T and included information in the Board’s packets. Chapter 40T is currently going through the House and the Senate. Most of the research is supportive. A version of the legislation was passed last fall, but vetoed by the incoming Governor. In the current version, the eminent domain component that was present in lat years language has been removed.
The Board agreed to ask representatives of the pros and cons of the legislation to address the Board at a future meeting.
Larry Rosenblum moved to appoint Loring Tripp as the Board’s designee to the newly formed Downtown/Waterfront Traffic Study Committee and Paul McAlduff to the Casino Impact Committee; the vote was unanimous (5-0).
Paul McAlduff moved to adjourn at 8:55 p.m.; the vote was unanimous (5-0).
Respectfully Submitted,
Eileen M. Hawthorne Approved: August 13, 2007
Administrative Assistant
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