Minutes of the Rutland Managed Growth Steering Committee meeting on May 22, 2019
Minutes of the Growth Management Steering Committee
Small Meeting Room, Rutland Library
May 22, 2019 6:00 pm
The meeting was called to order at 6:13 pm by Chair Jeffrey Stillings
Members Present:
Jeff Stillings, for the Board of Selectmen
Shawn Moore, for the Conservation Commission
Richard Williams, for the Planning Board
Ron Barron for the Central Mass Regional Planning Commission
There were no members of the public present. The meeting was not televised nor recorded by
RCTV Cable. Member Jeff Stillings took notes for the minutes.
Approval of April 24, 2019 Minutes:
A MOTION was made by Mr. Williams and seconded by Mr. Moore to approve the minutes of
the April 24, 2019 meeting of the Managed Growth Steering Committee (MGSC).
Unanimous/approved.
Updates
Phase 2 Report:
Ron Barron, CMRPC, reports that he is half way through his final report of the Phase II managed
growth study. He anticipates the final report to be ready at the end of June. Jeff Stillings asked
if CMRPC would return to the town, either at a Board of Selectmen meeting or otherwise, to
present his Phase II conclusion. Ron Barron said he would if that is what the town wants. Jeff
Stillings stated that he would like for CMRPC to present the conclusion at a Board of Selectmen
meeting at the least. Ron agreed.
Ron Barron said that in addition to the six recommended options presented in the Phase 1 and 2
process, he has come up with some more viable options that he would like to present to the
Town:
1. Transfer Development Rights
2. Natural Resource Protection Zoning
3. Tax Increment Financing, which is a tax stabilization process where the town designates
certain districts for discounts on the land value if it were to be built out. This is a tax
Minutes of the Rutland Managed Growth Steering Committee meeting on May 22, 2019
incentive for commercial building. The Board of Selectmen would have purview on this
option.
4. Workforce Housing Tax Stabilization, are incremental tax breaks up to three years for
developing of certain housing. Ron Barron wrote a similar plan for the Town of
Leicester, which is currently being considered there.
The additional options will be further detailed in the future CMRPC report back to the town.
Dick Williams commented that the Town previously attempted with subdivisions to have a rate
for low income housing and breaks for town employees so that they could afford to live in town.
CMRPC Grants:
Ron Barron stated that CMRPC is pursuing a new grant to study Economic Development and
other zoning changes for Rutland. This is a new project and not a Phase III of the last.
Ron Barron stated that CMRPC’s grant funding relating to the Managed Growth phases expires
at the end of June 2019. He advises to utilize the services of the Town’s full time Town Planner.
The CMRPC can provide material toward an economic graphic master plan.
MGSC Future:
Shawn Moore, stated he was speaking as a Planning Board Member, asked how long the
Managed Growth Steering Committee was going to continue. He stated that the Planning Board
should be the primary entity. He asked why the public isn’t seated on the MGSC.
Ron Barron explained the background history leading up to the formation of the MGSC. The
previous Town Administrator, Margaret Nartowicz initiated the process, and the plan was to pull
members from each board to make up the MGSC. Ron believes a couple spaces were reserved
for the public, and that it was advertised and only one person responded. Jeff recalled possibly
Carol Martens attending the early versions of the meetings.
Jeff Stillings advised that the members of the MGSC are appointed, and their reappointments are
coming up at the end of June. Jeff will put the question on the BoS agenda to ask: if the Board
of Selectmen should re-vote to continue the Managed Growth Steering Committee.
Jeff Stillings discussed conflicts of interest and the importance of abstaining if matters of
conflicts of interest and personal fiduciary interests cross into the matters before the MGSC
moving forward. Members should feel free to disclose and discuss, transparency is welcomed.
Shawn Moore stated that he is in the process of seeking a commercial business for marijuana
retail and possibly cultivation, in the commercial zone, former Sims Cab building, next to the
hardware store. The building and property is owned by Mr. Blair. If his potential commercial
enterprise involves a conflict he would contemplate a replacement member from Conservation
Commission.
Minutes of the Rutland Managed Growth Steering Committee meeting on May 22, 2019
Jeff Stillings asked if other entities should be included in the MGSC, specifically the Finance
Committee as a participant member and the Town Building Inspector, as a technical advisor.
MOTION: Dick Williams motioned to send a request to the Board of Selectmen to ask the
Finance Committee and Building Inspector to participate in the Managed Growth Steering
Committee. Motion seconded by Shawn Moore, unanimous approved.
There was discussion about including business organizations in the MGSC. Ron Barron stated
that when the membership list gets too large, it becomes difficult to obtain a quorum.
Conservation Commission:
Shawn Moore stated that the Conservation Commission is interested in pursuing a Wetland
Protection Bylaw. Dick Williams asked if such a bylaw would be Zoning or General? The Chair
of MGSC will ask the Town Planner to research Wetland Protection Bylaws, specifically those
that set back the distance of building from a wetland, and to determine if it is a Zoning or
General bylaw. Discussion on whether a set distance for building near a wetland needs to be a
bylaw and does it need to be by town vote.
Planning Board:
Dick Williams states that the Planning Board is interested in updating the Subdivision Bylaw.
The Planning Board has a Business Meeting scheduled in June 2019.
Upzoning and Downzoning:
Discussion about the Upzoning and Downzoning option. Ron Barron stated that the concept of
Upzoning and Downzoning, as it relates to setting minimum and maximum lot sizes, isn’t by a
separate bylaw, but rather an amendment to existing zoning bylaw. The MGSC Chair will ask
the Town Planner to advise which Zoning Bylaw applies if any.
Sewer Line:
Dick Williams stated that the City of Worcester has constructed a 36-inch main sewer line that
reaches the Town of Paxton. Could Rutland tap into the Worcester line through Paxton and
would it save money and add to the capacity allowance? Ron Barron will talk to the
Transportation people at CMRPC.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Managed Growth Steering Committee will be Wednesday June 26, 2019
at 6:30, in the Library.
Meeting called for adjournment at 7:09 pm; motion to adjourn by Mr. Williams seconded by Mr.
Moore, approved/adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted: Jeffrey A. Stillings, Chair, Select Board Representative to the Managed
Growth Steering Committee, Scribe of meeting minutes
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