PLANNING BOARD
Minutes 05/23/17
Opened: 6:30pm
Present: Norm Anderson, Marilyn Sidoti, Dick Williams, Shawn Moore, Jeff Bagg (Planner)
Remote Participation: Tim Nahrwold by phone starting at 8pm and ending at 8:33pm
Guests: Sarah and Thomas Galvin (residents at 27 Grizzly Drive), Julian Vortruba, Jim Soucy
Review minutes: The board reviewed the minutes from the May 9th meeting. Dick moved to accept the minutes with corrections. Marilyn 2nd, all in favor.
Lynn Kelly came in to let everyone know about the retirement party for Police Chief Donald Haapakoski on June 22nd from 5:30-7:30pm in the town library.
The board reviewed the minutes from the Glenwood Place public hearing on May 9th. Dick moved to accept the minutes with corrections. Shawn 2nd, all in favor.
The board reviewed the minutes from the Prescott public hearing on May 9th. Dick moved to accept the minutes. Marilyn 2nd, all in favor.
The board reviewed the minutes from the Spruce Hill public hearing on May 9th. Shawn moved to accept the minutes. Dick 2nd, all in favor.
Review Mail and Invoices: There was a bill from Quill office supplies for copy paper in the amount of $48.90. The town of Hubbardston wants to cutoff the moratorium on non-medical marijuana.
ANRS: Julian Vortruba presented an ANR on behalf of Rosalie Lacanfora. This is for two lots on parcel #6 on Wachusett Street. The board reviewed the plans. Dick moved to endorse the ANR. Shawn 2nd, all in favor. Check #10328 was received from NEEDS in the amount of $400. The board signed the ANR.
Kalloch: Discussion ensued with Vortruba about getting new documents with updated stamps from Kalloch on plans that were signed while his license was expired. Vortruba believes this will be rectified with the Board of Registration.
27 Grizzly Drive: (Bear Hill I – lot #20): Sarah and Thomas Galvin came in with concerns of erosion at their property. They moved in 4 years ago and are the first house on the left after the bridge. The board was shown numerous photos (on file) of water damage. The closest storm drain is over 400 feet away. There are no curbs and no berms. The board reviewed the plans. There is a storm drain on the plans that is not there in reality. Norm stated they it needs to be put in. There are also concerns about the bridge. It is dangerous with a 20 inch tall guardrail. All bridges in Massachusetts fall under the purview of Mass DOT. Mass DOT will not accept this bridge because the bridge was not built to Mass DOT specifications. The Planning Board had reached
out to Mass DOT in September of 2013 and was given a list of items that would need to be addressed for the state to accept it. Two of those items are to brace the sidewalk and to put a waterproof membrane on the bridge.
Norm stated that Clea Blair is in the process of finishing up the road. Blair said they are going to fix the road and bridge by the end of June. Dick stated that they need Quinn engineering to look at it. The town has not accepted the road at this point. The board agrees that Blair is responsible to fix the road and drainage issues. The bond amount is not enough to cover the cost to fix it. Shawn recommended Sarah contact the Conservation Committee to ask about the order of conditions that were set on the bridge’s construction. Norm sympathized with the Galvins and agreed that the road and bridge need to be fixed, however he states that there is nothing in the subdivision regulations stipulating a timeframe that the projects need to be completed in. The Galvin’s will be
put on the agenda for our next meeting at 6:45pm. Before that meeting Quinn Engineering will be contacted.
It was noted that planning board will recommend that Grizzly Drive not be accepted as a town road unless and until the erosion issues and problems with the bridge are fixed.
Notice of Decision Prescott Street Estate lot at assessor’s map 60 lot B-2: Jeff Bagg drafted the decision. The board reviewed the notice. After a slight change on wording, Dick made the motion to sign the notice of decision. Marilyn 2nd, all in favor.
Tim Nahrwold joined the meeting at 8pm via speakerphone.
Notice of Decision Spruce Hill Estate Lots: Jeff Bagg drafted the decision. The board reviewed the notice. A few revisions were made. 7 different applications for estate lots were submitted. This notice combines all 7 together in one decision. Tim can come in on Saturday to sign the notice. Laurie will submit the paperwork on Tuesday after the holiday. Dick made the motion to sign the notice of decision. Marilyn 2nd. Roll call vote was taken. Tim – aye. Marilyn – aye. Norm – aye. Dick – aye. Shawn – abstain.
Tim will come in on Saturday to sign the paper for the Registry of Deeds with the new terms for the board members.
RSVPs were taken for the CMRPC dinner on June 8th. All the board members will be attending as well as Jeff. Laurie has a previous commitment. Laurie will RSVP for the board.
Tim will be in Maine for the June 13th public hearing for Glenwood Place. He agreed to call in remote at 7pm.
Tim left the meeting at 8:33pm.
Rezoning Question: Jim Soucy asked the board about the possibility of rezoning a portion of Spruce Hill as Town Center District. The planning board could initiate it or Jim Soucy could do a petition. It would require a two thirds vote at town meeting. Dick and Shawn were in favor of the idea. Norm expressed concerns about a possible result of increased residential density being the only outcome. Dick asked how far a setback they would want. Julian said approximately 500 feet. They discussed TC1 and TC2 and thought TC2 would be better. Norm said if they want to proceed they should get specific dimensions, decide TC1 or TC2, and get more backing than just one person. It would be helpful to have the support of current landowners. No action is being taken on this at
this time.
Planning Board Reorganization: Marilyn nominated Norm for the chair position. Shawn 2nd, all in favor.
Shawn nominated Dick for vice chair. Dick declined. Norm nominated Marilyn for vice chair. Dick 2nd, all in favor. Dick nominated himself for representative to CMRPC. Shawn 2nd, all in favor. Shawn nominated himself as alternate representative to CMRPC. Dick 2nd, all in favor.
Town Counsel: KP Law is the new town counsel. Margaret said if the planning board wants to go to Cranston for projects with a history then the board would need to go to the Board of Selectmen and ask him to be appointed as a special counsel. Dick believes we can have whichever counsel we choose. Norm asked the board which counsel they want to use. He noted their rates are the same $175 per hour. The board can vote to use the counsel they choose to because they pay their own legal fees. The board likes both KP and Cranston and could see the merit in using both depending on the project.
CMRPC: Jeff is working on creating a new filing system. Part of this system will include having builders file new projects with the town clerk. Norm has requested that Jeff’s contract be extended.
Voicemail: Sandy Splaine, real estate agent, wanted to know if 90 Bushy Lane was a viable building lot. The property record card was reviewed. The land is under chapter 61b – forestry. The board looked at the map of the parcel. Part of the land appears to be in wetlands. There is insufficient access on Bushy Lane but access could be obtained from Paddock Road. Dick thought an estate lot could be built there. Laurie will call Sandy and let her know that she should bring in plans for the board to review. It is possible that this is a viable lot depending upon what she wants to build.
Email: Jeff had an email from the consultant who is working on a Solar Project (Nexamp) on Wachusett Street. An application will likely be coming soon. The Solar Bylaw says there should be a site plan review with a special permit. Dick said it is in the watershed district.
Shawn moved to close the meeting. Dick 2nd, all in favor.
Closed: 9:27pm
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Becker, Secretary
Minutes approved on 6/13/17.
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