Minutes 10/17/18
This meeting was recorded for the secretary’s records.
Location: Town Hall Annex 246 Main Street
Open: 6:37pm
Present: Norm Anderson (chair), Shawn Moore, Marilyn Sidoti, David George (town planner)
Guests: Philip Laroche, Peter Craine
This meeting was scheduled for the sole purpose of discussing the Planning Board’s recommendations on the acceptance of roads at the Special Town Meeting which will be held on November 19th, 2018. The roads in question are Clealand Circle, Horizon Road and Grizzly Drive in Bear Hill, a portion of Arrowhead Drive in Bear Hill II and a small portion of Glenwood Place.
The board reviewed the Quinn Report dated 10/16/18. Of note was the following excerpt from page 8, “Based on the submitted information, discussion, and observation and with the exception of the items noted above, the subdivision roadways, roadway drain systems and associated subdivision appurtenances appear to have been constructed in substantial conformance with the work approved by the Board.”
The board reviewed the notes that stated “This office defers to the Board” which were as follows:
#2) As discussed at the 10/9/18 meeting, the infiltration system was not built as in original plans. However, it is fully functional and both the DPW and Planning Board are satisfied with it as it stands. There was more ground water than anticipated and this was the best solution.
#3) Acceptance of the road stops before the detention basin. It is functioning fine. The town is not taking ownership of the detention basin.
#50) This is not Clea’s responsibility. The building inspector will send a letter to the homeowner making them aware that their shed is in an easement and if the easement needs to be accessed, they will need to move their shed.
#80) This is in reference to one curb ramp where one curb ramp is slightly angled more that ADA requires. Norm and Marilyn felt it was not a significant issue. Shawn had reservations about this for safety reasons, but agreed to defer to the other board members.
#85) Gary (DPW) and Norm were comfortable going against Quinn’s recommendation and having boulders put in instead of a guardrail.
An email from Clea from 10/17/18 was referenced. It read as follows:
“Members of the Board and Gary Kellaher, DPW director:
Please accept this email as our agreement with you that Blair Enterprises will continue to plow and maintain the connector road between Brintnal Dr and Grizzly Dr. We also agree that we will continue to plow and maintain the portion of Arrowhead Dr from where it has been accepted (hopefully) as a public way to the far side of the furthest side of the driveway of the 2nd house that was existing prior to it becoming a subdivision.
Thank you,
Clealand Blair Jr.
President, Blair Enterprises Inc.”
Norm stated that there was a letter from Gill Engineering from over a month ago stating that the bridge was safe and adequate for its purpose. They did not state that it was built up to MASS DOT specifications. The report was not in hand for the meeting. Gill Engineering is an approved MASS DOT engineering firm.
The Bear Hill account is in the red. We do not have the final bill from Quinn Engineering yet. The board agrees that the account must be brought up to proper before they will recommend approval of the road. We will have the bill in hand before town meeting.
Gary had some concerns about the water shut offs on the water system. They were shown on the plans, but not shown in the field. Gary had the water department go to investigate and the water department is satisfied with the way it is.
Marilyn made a motion to recommend acceptance of the Clealand Circle, Horizon Road, Grizzly Drive and a portion of Arrowhead Drive. Shawn 2nd. Norm suggested the motion be amended to include a condition that at the financial account be brought to a $0 balance on or before November 13th, 2018. It was agreed to not include the KP Law invoice concerning the pump station in the amount owed. The board believes the town should pay for this invoice. Shawn amended the original motion to include the condition as stated by Norm. Marilyn 2nd, all in favor.
The board then discussed the street acceptance request for Glenwood Place. This request is only for approximately 374 feet of road. It is the section of the private road that through a misunderstanding was previously thought to be part of the public way. We now have a plan that shows the required turn around. The turnaround is acceptable to Seth (Fire Chief) and Gary (DPW).
Silvia Ruzbasan, a resident on Glenwood Place, had emailed questioning when items 2, 3 and 4 on the Glenwood Estate lots notices of decision will be addressed. While this was not relevant to the question of street acceptance, Norm did pull out the notices of decision for review. Number 2 referenced the turnaround being built to certain specifications before occupancy permits are issued. Occupancy permits are issued by the building inspector and are not in the purview of the Planning Board. Number 3 references the private part of the road and is not relevant to the
current acceptance. Number 4 requires a final plan be submitted showing the setback line and the frontage line. The board did receive this.
During the public hearings for the Glenwood Place Estate lots, Phil Laroche had stated that he did not have access to his land because there was a ditch along the edge of the road. Blair said that he would fill the ditch to give him access. Norm asked if this had been done. It has not. Laroche stated that the turnaround is on his property and questioned if this is going to be a public turnaround. Laroche said he has no objection to people turning around there. Phil said that they did put in a pipe and covered it so there is one spot he can get into his land, but he was hoping the rest of the ditch could be filled. There is still a part of his land he does not have access to. There is not a turnaround at the end of the private part of Glenwood Place. The planning board cannot require a turnaround on the private part of the
road unless there are houses built in that area. Norm said that the turnaround will remain Laroche’s land and that he can use that as a driveway. Norm told Laroche that if Blair starts building down in the private part of Glenwood Place, and fails to give Laroche access to his land that Laroche should come back to the Planning Board at that time. There is a solar project to be submitted shortly to the planning board at the Glenwood Place on the land owned by Bacon. The access point might be Bushy Lane or Glenwood Place. The board does not have this information yet.
Laroche asked what will be done with ditch along the portion of Glenwood Place to be approved. Gary (DPW) wants this filled with 3-5 inch fractured rock. The board was unclear as to whether Gary was requesting the fill bring the ditch up to road level or just high enough to make the road safer to drive on. Laroche said that a truck got stuck in the ditch last winter.
For reference there was an email dated 10/17/18 from Gary Kellaher addressed to David George and Norm that stated, “Gentlemen, Both the Highway Foreman and I have been up today to inspect Glenwood Pl. The turn-around is in place and acceptable, however not depicted on any plan and this is a must. Also, as previously stated, we are both in agreement with filling the entire 300’ culvert with 3-5” fractured rock. It will not need piping, only the rock. Thanks, Gary”
Laroche noted that on about 120 feet of the road Blair put down asphalt grindings instead of ABC gravel. When the town comes to grade the road they told Laroche that they cannot grade that section with the asphalt grindings. Part of the 120 foot section is on the old town road and part is on the part they want to accept. He said it makes the road very dusty. The town will be responsible for maintaining this stretch of road, so if it develops pot holes they will have to repair it.
Shawn made a motion to recommend acceptance of the small portion of Glenwood Place. Marilyn 2nd, all in favor.
Shawn motioned to close the meeting. Marilyn 2nd, all in favor.
Close: 7:38pm
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Becker, Secretary
Minutes Approved on 10/23/18
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