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2-3-11 mins.

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                   TAUNTON PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
              CITY HALL, TAUNTON, MA 02780
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DATE: February 3, 2011                                                                                           PAGE NO:  1

BOARD MEMBERS:           1.  Daniel P. Dermody, Chairman     5.  Richard Faulkner, Clerk  
                                              2.  Alan Medeiros                              6.  Bob Campbell
                                             3.  Tony Abreau                                 7.   Manuel Spencer  
                                              4.  Arthur Lopes  
ADVISORS:                         
  • Kevin Scanlon, City Planner
  • Mark Slusarz, City Engineer
 __________________________________________________________________________
Roll Call:  Abreau, Campbell, Lopes, Medeiros, and Dermody.  Meeting opens at 5:35 P.M. Also present was City Engineer Mark Slusarz.    
  
Alan made motion to approve minutes of January 6, 2011 seconded by Manny.  All in favor.

Cont’d. Public Hearing – Site Plan Review – to allow a 33,000 sq. ft. medical building on Lot 14-1 thru 5 Bay Street/Industrial Park Rd., - submitted by William Shamon, Myles Standish Medical Facility, LLC.
Hearing opens at 5:36 PM. Roll Call: Abreau, Campbell, Medeiros, Spencer, Dermody present.   

Jon Connell, Field Engineering and William Shamon, were invited in.  Jon stated the DIRB met and has submitted their recommendations. Manny read the DIRB recommendations into the record.  
Bob made motion to accept the DIRB conditions and place on record, seconded by Tony.  All in favor.
No one in favor or opposed.    
Bob made motion to close public input, seconded by Tony. All in favor.
Manny asked about condition #11 in the DIRB relative to Bay Street and the moratorium?  Jon stated that is for the utility curb cut.  Manny just wanted to make sure there is no access from Bay Street.  Jon stated there is no access per the Planning Board.     New plans show no access.   Jon didn’t have any concerns with the DIRB comments.     

Manny motion to approve the Site Plan Review for the 33,000 sq. ft. medical bldg, to include the DIRB comments, No site access from or egress to Bay Street.  Seconded by Bob. All in favor.

Hearing closed at 5:46 PM

Public Hearing - Full Site Plan Review-  342 Winthrop St -  To allow an automobile filling station with storage of petroleum products together with a convenience store, ATM,  3 other retail businesses and a Restaurant.  
Roll Call:  Campbell, Abreau, Medeiros, Spencer, and Dermody..  Also present was City Engineer Mark Slusarz.   Hearing opens at 5:46 PM.  Manny read the DIRB comments into the record.

Atty. William Rounds and John DeSousa, Sea-Coast Consulting LLC, and Mathew St. Germain were invited into the enclosure.   Atty. Rounds stated that they are proposing similar uses that are in the area.  They received ZBA approval for the drive-thru for the restaurant.   They are planning on building a small plaza with specific uses, but they have not secured tenants yet. He thinks the uses are appropriate. Bob asked if they consider any walking access to buildings.  He was concerned with pedestrians walking through the vehicles traffic.  Bob asked about the buffer zone and if there is room to move it?  Bob suggests moving the parking space along the west side?  John said that there needs to be 24 feet wide for 2-way traffic.  John stated they do have 8 extra parking spaces.   Bob suggested removing parking space closest to convenience store and add pedestrian walk way.  Manny asked why are you proposing 2 buildings opposed to one larger building?  John stated one big building required heavy duty sprinkler system.    Manny asked about the approved drive-thru and what restaurant would go in?  Atty. Rounds stated they have not secured a tenant yet.  Manny has issue with 24 hour restaurant?  Atty. Rounds stated they put that to keep their options open?  He’s strongly against 24 hours.    Manny stated after 1:00 am that’s when the problems start.  He wants to support petition but is against the 24 hour restaurant.  Manny said that Mobil, on Rte. 140 is open 24 hrs. and they have robberies.   Manny stated that individuals have approached him and their concern was being open 24 hours.  Manny stated he would like to see walk way like Bob Campbell suggested.   Atty. Rounds stated that Mr. St. Germain will maintain the property but may not be the tenant. Tony asked about landscaping area and how are they putting it in?  John stated they are proposing Eastern maple and red maple which are about 35 feet in height and will create nice buffer for neighbors.  John stated the ZBA put condition for fencing around 3 sides of the property per the Conservation Commission.  Manny asked Atty. Rounds about the traffic flow and the way the buildings are situated. John explains the traffic flow for fuel trucks and explained the traffic movements on the submitted plans.   He stated the ZBA wanted the movement in back of the buildings.   Manny asked about the 2 buildings for the pump station?   John stated there are just gas pumps with canopy over them.   Bob asked about the discontinuance of Brown Street?  Atty.  Rounds stated the entire layout is in this parcel and there may be no need to discontinue?  Bob asked about the ATM and the parking for that?  He suggested putting ATM signs in front of building to direct people to where to go.  
In favor:  Virginia McCrohan, 340 Winthrop St., stated she’s in favor, it will be a positive thing.   Opposed: Faith Wagner, 15 Harvard St., stated her backyard abuts this property and he has taken trees down. Her main concerns are trucks, noise, pollution, noise, fumes, debris, lights, and what kind of restaurant are they proposing?   She stated she’s new to this and wanted to see what was going on?  She was told that the land was conservation land in back and that’s why she purchased her house for peace and quiet.  She does not want a store like “grampys” in her backyard.   She was suggesting putting fencing and what about the brook in back and her property value? She stated that Yale Street is directly next to her and she has a lot of water issues. Atty. Rounds stated they are going to re-design the drainage per the DIRB which will be approved by the City Engineer and Conservation Commission.  They cannot put water on her property.  Mr. St. Germain stated that all the water from Cohannet Street flows down here.  She is the only house affected because she’s the only house on this side of the road.   Chairman Dermody explained the procedure to her and informed her that this has been before the ZBA, Conservation Commission, DIRB and now P.B?   He asked her if she appeared before any other board? She answers no, just here tonight.  Chairman Dermody explained that if the applicant conforms to the Rule & Regulations they have to approve and they can place conditions if they wish.  Bob asked what the distance was from her house to property line?  Bob stated there is a  25 foot no touch and 18”  wall.  Manny stated the Planning Board can put conditions to protect her.  Mr. St. Germain stated he went to her house and left plans and his name with her husband and told him to call if they any questions.  Alan stated the 24 hours for the restaurant will be reviewed later? Atty. Rounds answers yes the Council approves that. Mr. St. Germain stated he didn’t’ know why it stated 24 hours?  The Secretary informed him that’s how it was on the application.    Manny suggested to Mr. St. Germain that he should keep in mind Ms. Wagner’s concerns about noise, and buffer and try to help her out. John stated they are proposing a substantial amount of landscaping and it will be green all year long.
Alan made motion to close public input, seconded by Tony. All in favor.

Alan made motion to approve the Site Plan for 342 Winthrop St. for automobile filling station with storage of petroleum products together with a convenience store,  ATM,  3 other retail businesses and a Restaurant  to include DIRB and ZBA decisions and the following conditions:

  • Put ATM inside the convenience store.
  • Construct a pedestrian walkway from the street to the convenience store along both sides of property.    
Motion to adjourn meeting at 6: 48 PM