City of Salem Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 18, 2015
A regularly scheduled meeting of the Salem Planning Board was held on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 313, Third Floor, at 120 Washington Street, Salem, Massachusetts.
Chairman Puleo opened the meeting at 7:10 pm. ~
Roll Call
Those present were: Chuck Puleo, Chair, Ben Anderson, Vice Chair, Helen Sides, Kirt Rieder, Dale Yale, Bill Griset, Matthew Veno and Noah Koretz. Absent: Randy Clarke.
Also present: Erin Schaeffer, Staff Planner, Pamela Broderick, Planning Board Recording Clerk, and Naomi Francisco, notary (partial).
Approval of Minutes
June 4, 2015 Regular Meeting Minutes
No comments or corrections were made by the Planning Board members. ~
Motion and Vote:~Helen Sides made a motion to approve the June 4, 2015 Regular Meeting Minutes, seconded by Kirt Rieder. ~The vote was unanimous with eight (8) in favor and none (0) opposed.
Regular Agenda
Chairman Puleo advised a slight change to the order of the agenda, the first item addressed was from Old/New Business:
Osborne Hills Realty Trust- request for Lot Releases for Phase III and Surety Bond Approval
Paul DiBiase, Trustee of Osborne Hills Trust, 57 Marlborough Road, Salem, presented the request. Mr. DiBiase updated the Board and stated the City clerk of the works assigned to the project has inspected the work and provided a list of tasks to be completed. The remaining tasks have been itemized in the form of a surety bond in the amount of $191,004.00. Mr. DiBiase has agreed and signed the tri-party agreement, the bank has also executed the agreement and provided correspondence confirming the funds are set aside and collateralized. The confirmation letter from Enterprise Bank, 8 High Street, Andover, was issued by Marlene Hoyt, SVP Construction Lending (copy of this correspondence is on file).
Mr. DiBiase advised the City Planning Director, Lynn Duncan, that he is reaching out to the president of Enterprise Bank for confirmation that bank officer Marlene Hoyt, SVP Construction Lending, who has signed the agreement, has authorization to do so. Mr. DiBiase apologized that he had not received this letter from the Bank in time to the Board and that he was not aware that authorization was needed regarding the authority of the bank signator. Relaying the opinion of Ms. Duncan, staff planner Erin Schaeffer offered the Board the option of physically executing the tri-party agreement and voting these signatures do not become effective until receipt of the written confirmation from the president of Enterprise Bank. The signed agreement would be held by the City Director of Planning and released upon receipt of a letter from the
Enterprise Bank president with confirmation of authorization of the signatory. The confirmation letter from Enterprise Bank is expected within 24-48 hours.
Board Discussion
The Board discussed the best approach to granting approval so the project can move forward, and protecting the City and Planning Board in the event there is any problem with the signature of the bank officer. They accepted the offer of the City Director of Planning who will hold the executed tri-party agreement until the matter of the bank officer signature is satisfactorily resolved.
Motion and Vote:~~Bill Griset made a motion to approve the surety bond contingent upon receipt of written confirmation from the president of Enterprise Bank that is acceptable to the City Director of Planning. The executed document not to be effective without said correspondence attached as an addendum; seconded by Kirt Rieder. ~The vote was unanimous with eight (8) in favor (Mr. Puleo, Mr. Anderson, Ms. Sides, Mr. Rieder, Ms. Yale, Mr. Griset, Mr. Veno and Mr. Koretz) and none (0) opposed.
The tri-party agreement was executed for the Planning Board by: Noah Koretz, Bill Griset, Dale Yale, Helen Sides and Ben Anderson.
Motion and Vote:~~Helen Sides made a motion to approve the release of Phase III lots in the Osborne Hills/Strongwater Subdivision, 57 Marlborough Road; seconded by Noah Koretz. ~The vote was unanimous with eight (8) in favor (Mr. Puleo, Mr. Anderson, Ms. Sides, Mr. Rieder, Ms. Yale, Mr. Griset, Mr. Veno and Mr. Koretz) and none (0) opposed.
Location: 92-94 Lafayette Street (map 34 Lot 414)
Applicant: RCG KLONDIKE CLUB LLC, RCG LLC
Description: Continuation of Board discussion for Site Plan Review, to consider an application to convert the second floor and its mezzanine of an existing commercial building into eight (8) residential dwelling units. The public hearing portion of this discussion was closed at the last regularly scheduled Planning Board meeting on June 4, 2015. The Board will discuss and vote on an application for Site Plan Review.
Documents and Exhibitions:
- Site Plan Review, 92-94 Lafayette Street, draft decision dated June 18, 2015.
Jim Gagnon, Property Manager, RCG LLC, 17 Ivaloo Street, Somerville; was present for the applicant and confirmed the applicant is in agreement with the draft decision.
Staff Planner Erin Schaeffer reported the Engineering Department had no additional comments beyond the draft decision.
Board Discussion
The Board collectively reconfirmed the draft decision includes details with regards to construction logistics.
Motion and Vote:~~Noah Koretz made a motion to approve the Site Plan Review for 92-94 Lafayette Street, subject to all conditions as itemized in the attached decision; seconded by Helen Sides. ~The vote was unanimous with six (6) eligible Board members in favor (Mr. Puleo, Ms. Sides, Mr. Rieder, Ms. Yale, Mr. Griset and Mr. Koretz) and none (0) opposed. The decision is hereby incorporated and made a part of these minutes.
Location: 43 Bridge Street (Map 36 Lot 238)
Applicant: SKOMURSKI DEVELOPMENT LLC
Description: Board discussion and vote on an application for endorsement of a plan believed not to required approval under Subdivison Control (ANR). The proposal is to divide the property into five (5) lots for the construction of four (4) single-family homes and one (1) duplex.
Documents and Exhibitions:
- Application for Endorsement of Plan Believed Not to Require Approval, stamped May 14, 2015
- Mylar ANR plan for signatures.
Atty Stephen Lovely, presented for the applicant.
Motion and Vote:~~Dale Yale made a motion to endorse the plan believed not to require approval under Subdivision Control (ANR) to divide the property at 43 Bridge Street into five (5) lots for the construction of four (4) single-family homes and one (1) duplex, subject to all conditions itemized in the attached decision; seconded by Helen Sides. ~The vote was unanimous with eight (8) in favor (Mr. Puleo, Mr. Anderson, Ms. Sides, Mr. Rieder, Ms. Yale, Mr. Griset, Mr. Veno and Mr. Koretz) and none (0) opposed.
Old/New Business
- 107 Highland Avenue Compliance
Staff Planner Erin Schaeffer reported a letter dated April 22, 2015, was sent to the proponent with a request to bring deviations from plans into compliance. A request from the proponent to the Planning Board for insignificant and significant changes is pending as of June 11, 2015. A site walk for city staff to review compliance has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2015.
DISCUSSION
The Board asked the planning staff to verify the caliper of planted trees is in compliance.
- Election for Planning Board Officers
Chuck Puleo nominated Ben Anderson to as serve as chairman of the Planning Board, seconded by Helen Sides. The vote was unanimous with eight(8) in favor (Mr. Puleo, Mr. Anderson, Ms. Sides, Ms. Yale, Mr. Rieder, Mr. Veno, Mr. Koretz and Mr. Griset) and none (0) opposed.
- On behalf of the City of Salem and with great thanks for 28 years of gracious service, the City seal, signed by Mayor Kim Driscoll, was presented to Chuck Puleo by the Planning Board and city planning staff. The Board individually and collectively expressed their deep appreciation for Mr. Puleo’s leadership and closed the meeting with well wishes for his future endeavors.
Adjournment
Motion and Vote:~ Matt Veno made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Helen Sides. The vote was unanimous with eight (8) in favor (Mr. Puleo, Mr. Anderson, Ms. Sides, Ms. Yale, Mr. Rieder, Mr. Veno, Mr. Koretz and Mr. Griset) and none (0) opposed.
Chairman Puleo adjourned the meeting at 8pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Broderick, Recording Clerk
Approved by the Planning Board on 07/30/2015
Know your rights under the Open Meeting Law M.G.L. c. 30A § 18-25 and City Ordinance § 2-2028 through § 2-2033.
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