Salem Planning Board
Minutes of Meeting
Thursday, March 16, 2006
A regular meeting of the Salem Planning Board was held on Thursday, March 16, 2006 in the third floor conference room at 120 Washington Street, Salem, Massachusetts at 7:00 p.m.
Those present were: Walter Power, Chuck Puleo, Gene Collins, John Moustakis, Pam Lombardini, Tim Kavanagh, and Tim Ready. Also present were Staff Planner Dan Merhalski and Eileen Sacco, Clerk.
Members Absent: Christine Sullivan and Paul Durand
Continuation of Public Hearing – Definitive Subdivision – Cluster Residential Development – Wetland Special Permit – 57 Marlborough Road – Osborne Hills Realty Trust – Atty. Brian McGrail
Walter Power read a letter from the applicant requesting that the public hearing be continued to April 6, 2006. John Moustakis moved to continue the public hearing to April 6, 2006 seconded by Chuck Puleo and approved (7-0).
Public Hearing Site Plan Review – 90 Lafayette Street – RGC, LLC
Walter Power read a letter from the applicant requesting that the public hearing be continued to April 6, 2006. Chuck Puleo moved to continue the public hearing to April 6, 2006 seconded by Tim Kavanaugh and approved (7-0).
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Salem Planning Board meeting held on February 2, 2006 were presented for approval. Chuck Puleo moved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on February 2, 2006 as amended, seconded by Pam Lombardini and approved (7-0).
The minutes of the Salem Planning Board meeting held on March 2, 2006 were presented for approval. John Moustakis moved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on March 2, 2006 as amended, seconded by Chuck Puleo and approved (7-0).
Old/New Business
Dan Merhalski informed the Board that he had a meeting with Atty. Correnti representing the Salvation Army on the punch list items that remain to be completed on the project. He explained that they would like to get a certificate of occupancy in order to hold Palm Sunday Services at the site on Sunday, April 9, 2006 and in exchange they propose to post a bond to cover the amount of the remaining work. Dan noted that all of the items on the punch list are non safety issues such as paving the top coat of the parking lot and installing the fence.
Gene Collins suggested that the Board not require a bond on this matter and allow them to have the services as requested.
Tim Ready moved to accept the proposal from the Salvation Army to post a bond in an amount to be determined and agreed upon and approved by the Planning Department and City Engineer, seconded by Gene Collins.
Discussion:
Walter Power noted that one of the items on the punch list states that a “drainage ditch is forming in a gap between the paving and the curbing” and noted that there was an agreement to put a sidewalk in there. He suggested that he wants the amount of money necessary for a sidewalk to be included in the bond.
Chuck Puleo recalled that the sidewalk was discussed with the owners of the Water Street project and they were asked if they would pave that sidewalk if the Salvation Army gave them the land to do so by moving the shrubs and the fence to make room for the sidewalk. He noted that he was not sure if it was a condition or a suggestion.
Dan Merhalski explained that a site meeting was held in October with the Water Street developer, Atty. Correnti representing the Salvation Army, the City Engineer and City Planner Lynn Duncan. He explained that at that meeting it was determined that the sidewalk would not have enough space to meet ADA requirements and there would not be enough room to put in the sidewalk without compromising the Salvation Army parking. It was agreed by the Planning Department that the sidewalk was not a substantial change to the conditional approval of 2-5 Waters Street and that the sidewalk was not feasible to construct on the site and would not have to be installed.
Walter Power expressed his disappointment that the Planning Department did not let him know this until now, noting that he recalled a conversation that he had with Bruce Thibodeau where he promised he make some of the street’s right-of-way available in order to get the 3-foot minimum sidewalk width if the Salvation Army couldn’t supply all of the land for the sidewalk adjustments to the parking space size requirements to be sure that the sidewalk would be put in. Walter Power suggested that they could shorten the parking stall on the property side and it would be easier than doing it on the street side so that they keep the street as wide as possible.
Dan Merhalski noted that they might need a variance for the parking to do that.
Tim Kavanaugh agreed noting that the sidewalk would benefit everyone.
Walter Power requested that the Planning Department try and negotiate something on this.
Dan Merhalski explained that he was not sure if the Planning Department could go back and do this at this time. He stated that he would talk with City Planner Lynn Duncan and see if this can be done.
Tim Ready stated that he would rather see this be discussed with them as a good faith effort rather than tying it to the Palm Sunday services.
The matter was tabled until the Special Meeting scheduled for March 23, 2006.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
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Eileen M. Sacco, Clerk
Salem Planning Board
PB031606
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