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TAUNTON PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
CITY HALL, TAUNTON, MA 02780
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DATE: April 3, 2008 PAGE NO: 1
BOARD MEMBERS: 1. Daniel Dermody, Chrmn. 5. Richard Faulkner, Clerk
2. Arthur Lopes 6. Bob Campbell, V.C.
3. Tony Abreau 7. Manuel Spencer
4. David Pimental
ADVISORS:
8. James F. Greene, City Engineer
9. Kevin Scanlon, City Planner
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Roll Call: Meeting opens 5:30 PM. Campbell, Pimental, Lopes,Faulkner, and Dermody present. Also present were City Planner Kevin Scanlon and City Engineer James Greene.
Dick made motion to accept minutes of March 6, 2008 meeting, seconded by Bob. All in favor.
Chairman Dermody asked for a moment of silence for Ronald Arieta, former Director of Park & Recreation who passed away. Mr. Arieta did a lot for the City and the youth of our community and it’s a tremendous loss to the City.
Special Permit/Site Plan Review – 1 Washington St. -13,225 sq. ft. CVS Pharmacy with a drive thru. – Need to forward recommendation to the Municipal Council.
Atty.John Holgerson, Gay Gay & Field, P.C.., Antonio Moura, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., David Morello, Gershman Brown Crowley. Bob Clinton, Traffic Eng. and Atty. Holgerson stated he will defer to the Board if they had any concerns. They are proposing a 13,225 sq. ft. pharmacy with a drive-thru at the old mall site on Washington Street. The existing site consists of paved parking and the “grassy knoll “ with a Dunkin Donuts on the site. They are proposing a 83 parking spaces, there is typo on the plans saying 86 parking spaces. There is also associated utilities, gas, electric and telephone on plans. They are proposing to re-locate the exiting access from Martin Way. They have met with the City Planner and he suggested aligning the access so it won’t align
up with a landscaped island. They are proposing to add some additional interior landscaping. The site had city sewer and on-site infiltration system. The storm water design will conform to the new storm water policies. It was noted that the proposal shows the old policies and since then the new ones are in effect now.
The new regulations are stricter than the old ones. They will be filing a Notice of Intent with the Conservation Commission shortly. Bob Clinton Traffic engineer discussed traffic issues. He stated there is multiple access to site consisting of 1 signalized access and other non-signalized accesses. He stated they are willing to proposing mitigation by optimizing the signalization of the lights at Tremont & Washington Street to improve timings. Dick asked what are they going to do? Mr. Clinton answers they will adjust times. He stated there is different demands for day & nights. Chairman Dermody stated he grew up in the area down near the hospital and the traffic is terrible. Bob stated the use of a pharmacy is a good thing considering the hospital
and medical offices are just down the roadway. Chairman Dermody didn’t disagree that a pharmacy is a good fit for the neighborhood he just wanted to state the traffic is terrible. Arthur asked if they conducted traffic study? Mr. Clinton answers yes. Did the traffic study include pedestrian traffic? Bob asked if the current use is under their permit, the layout of the mill river plaza? Mr.
Page 2 of 3 – P.B. Minutes – April 3, 2008
Clinton stated that once constructed they can do adjustments to signalize timings. Chairman Dermody asked if the traffic study included Court Street, the hospital and Pleasant Street? Mr. Clinton answers it did include Court street but not the hospital or Pleasant Street. Bob commented he didn’t see any pedestrian walkways to the pharmacy? It was asked if they were going to put sidewalks? It was noted that is an existing condition but they will create crosswalk to pharmacy. Bob asked how high the retaining wall was? Mr. Clinton answers it’s 9 feet tall at it’s highest point. Bob suggested putting crosswalk at top of hill and have guardrail for safety? Mr. Clinton stated there will be a 4 foot high fence at top of the wall for safety. Bob
also commented the turning radius looks tight for the drive-thru. Mr. Clinton stated they need that turn to get under the canopy for the drive-thru, it’s 2 foot wide radius on a 24 wide aisle. Chariman Dermody asked the City Planner if they took into consideration that there would be more buildings on this site? The City Planner stated they tried to make a bad situation better. Chairman Dermody asked if they considered located in the vacant places at mall? Mr. Clinton answers then you can’t have drive-thru which is a much needed by the elderly and families with small children. Arthur asked if the building would interfere with the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru? Kevin answer no, they kept it separate. There was some discussion about how they proposed coming out of the existing Dunkin Donuts Drive-thru and having access to go right over of the new building? Kevin asked why they put it there? It was noted they put it
there in case someone wants to access from the Dunkin Donuts Drive-thru. Bob suggested closing it and the City Planner agreed to close it too. There was some discussion about having access from Washington Street to sidewalk. To provide some kind of connection. Chairman Dermody asked what the hours of operation would be? It was answers they would like 24 hrs but that’s up to the Municipal Council. Bob wanted to make sure the building wasn’t located on the sewer easement? It was answered no. The Asst. City Engineer stated he briefly looked at traffic study and indicated they are taking some credit for the signal at Court Street? He asked if there was a commitment for that? It was answers no. Chairman Dermody stated because the traffic is so bad in the whole area, in his opinion, all the lights should be coordinated. Bob stated that, the cue from Dunkin Donuts, in the
morning would be internal. Mr. Moura stated they could possibly look at having access from the Washington Street. He noted the owner of the property does have to give permission for anything on the site. The City Planner indicated that the owner has to agree to changes and they do have to sign the application form.
Bob made motion. Seconded by Dick, to forward a positive recommendation to the Municipal Council with the following conditions:
1. Change the single white line to double YELLOW line at the Washington Street entrance to site.
2. Transition the access at Tremont St. & Washington St. entrance to remove the speed bump like transition.
3. Install walkway to provide pedestrian access from Martin Parkway and from Washington St. that meets ADA regulations.
4. Conduct traffic coordination signal study at Court and Washington St., intersection, Tremont and Washington Street intersection and implement improvements.
5. Block off the northern most access from Dunkin Donuts drive-thru to CVS Pharmacy while still accommodating the storm water management.
6. Eliminate parking space on the west side of the second parking aisle south of the proposed building, for the purpose of providing easier turning move.
Page 3 of 3 – P.B Minutes – April 3, 2008
Tibbetts Engineering – Letter of Interest – Outside Consultants for Inspection of Subdivisions.
The City Planner stated he received letter of interest directly to him and he states since the slate is full he filed. However they now have sent it to the Planning Board. He stated the Board does have the maximum number of outside consultants on the list and aren’t really looking to add any more. Bob agreed, last month they took one off and added one so the slate is now full. It was discussed to review the list periodically and place this name on file.
Bob made motion to place on file, seconded by Dave. All in favor.
At this time Chairman Dermody steps down and Vice Chairman Bob Campbell chairs the meeting.
The City Planner stated he received a letter from developer of Westville Village Estates relative to their Special Permit and its expiration this year. He stated they stated in their letter of asking for an extension of 2 years under Mass. General Law for “good cause”. However , they stated in their letter one of their reasons for not starting work in the conservation restriction not be completed. Kevin stated that’s not reason not to start construction. He asks the Board to vote to send letter formally asking for reasons for “good cause” to consider an extension. Kevin also stated it doesn’t have to be a 2 year extension, it’s up to the Board how long? It was stated this Board is lenient is considering exercising the Special
Permit for example, pulling road opening permit, pulling permit for sewer. Etc. Dave stated he knows the residents are waiting for sewer out there. Kevin stated he isn’t aware of any reason other than the market is down, for not starting construction.
Dick made motion to send letter requesting list of reasons for “good cause” for considering extension. Seconded by Arthur. All in favor.
Arthur made motion to adjourn meeting at 6:26 PM. seconded by Dick, All in favor.
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