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TAUNTON PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
CITY HALL, TAUNTON, MA 02780
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DATE: January 3. 2008 PAGE NO: 1
BOARD MEMBERS: 1. Daniel Dermody, Chrmn. 5. Anthony Abreau
2. Bob Campbell 6. Arthur Lopes
3. Manuel Spencer 7. David Pimental
4. Richard Faulkner, Clk.
ADVISORS:
8. James F. Greene, City Engineer
9. Kevin Scanlon, City Planner
10. Mark Slusarz, Asst. City Engineer
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Roll Call: Dermody, Faulkner, Spencer, Campbell, Abreau, Lopes and Pimental. Also present was Asst. City Engineer Mark Slusarz. Meeting opens at 5:19 pm.
Dick made motion to approve minutes of December 6, 2007 meeting, seconded by Arthur. All in favor.
Election of Officers:
Arthur nominates Dick Faulkner for Clerk, Seconded by Manny.
Arthur made motion to close nominations, seconded by Manny. All in favor.
Dick Faulkner was unanimously elected Clerk.
Arthur nominates Robert Campbell for Vice Chairman, Seconded by Manny.
Arthur made motion to close nomination, seconded by Dick. All in favor.
Robert Campbell was unanimously elected Vice Chairman
Daniel Dermody steps down and Vice Chairman Robert Campbell chairs.
Manny nominates Daniel Dermody for Chairman, seconded by Tony.
Dick made motion to close nominations, seconded by Arthur. All in favor.
Daniel Dermody was unanimously elected Chairman.
Chairman Daniel Dermody chairs meeting.
Cont’d. Public Hearing – Conway Estates – to be located off Fremont Street – to create 8 residential lots, submitted by Conway Realty Trust
Clerk Faulkner read letter from the City Planner stating that new plans were just submitted yesterday and he and other department haven’t had a chance to review them and requests continuance until next month. Per the Planning Board’s rules & regulation plans must be submitted at least one week prior to scheduled meeting.
Bob made motion to invite petitioner into the enclosure, seconded by Dick. All in favor.
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Chairman Dermody stated he received phone call from Paul Patneaude stating he worked on plans day and night to get them for this meeting.
Arthur made motion to place the City Planner’s letter on file, seconded by Dick. All in favor.
Paul stated that due to the time constraints with the holidays this is the soonest he could get the plans to the office. Dick stated that several abutters contacted him and he would feel better if we waited until next month to give everyone time to review plans. Dick stated the Board has policies in place and we should stick to them. Manny also feels uncomfortable he would rather have the City Planner here.
Chairman Dermody asked each member what their wishes would be and all but one member would rather continue until next month.
Paul, at this time, requested a waiver of the time frame on which to act on this proposal.
Dick made motion to approve the waiver of the time frame on which to act on this proposal, seconded by Arthur. All in favor.
Dick made motion to continue this until next month, seconded by Manny. All in favor. Next meet will be February 7, 2008
Public Hearing – Form J Plan – South Precinct St., Property I.D. 130-139 - City of Taunton – City Engineering Dept.
Roll Call: Spencer, Campbell, Abreau, Lopes, Pimental, Faulkner and Dermody present. Hearing opens at 5:31 PM.
Clerk Faulkner read letters from the City Planner, City Engineer and Conservation Commission which were placed on filed.
Mark Slusarz, Asst. City Engineer stated the City of Taunton is the applicant and they are requesting a waiver of frontage for land that was approved by the ZBA to split one lot into two lots. The City will auction off in future. The property is located in the Rural Residential District which only allows single family dwellings. Manny stated he’s all for it, it’s for the City. No one appearing in favor or opposed.
Dick made motion to close public input, seconded by Arthur. All in favor.
Bob asked about the requested waiver of the Mass. State Plane Coordinate System? Mark stated the City doesn’t have the resources to get it done. Bob asked if he had an estimate? Mark answers about $1,500 - $2,000 for someone with a GPS to go out and do it. Mark stated you have to hire them for a full day even though it could take less time. Bob stated there shouldn’t be that many bounds to get and they could connect to David’s Way or Nina Way. Mark stated there is the problem that there are no bounds on plan and we would have to get it/ Bob suggests tying into Nina Way, Lot 130-365 without too much trouble. He suggests having it done after the property has been sold. Bob stated since we are sticking to our policies and rules & regulations he
doesn’t thinks waiver if warranted? It was suggested having it done after sale but the person buying would be well aware they have to have it done.
Bob made motion to approve the Form J Plan, with the condition that the Mass. State Plane Coordinate System be completed after sale of property. Seconded by Manny. All in favor. Hearing closes at 5:40 PM.
Special Permit/Site Plan Review – To allow a 55 unit condo development at 414 W. Water St., City of Taunton. Need to send recommendation to City Council.
Kevin Shea, Exec. Director of Office of Economic Development and Terri Bernardt, Director, Weir Corp. and Ben Wilson, Architect from Barmann Hendri Archetype Inc., were invited into the enclosure.
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Kevin stated this site is the F.B. Rogers building owned by the City of Taunton and in conjunction with the Weir Corp. who wishes to renovate and put 55 condo units. There will be 45 units on the end where the TMLP is and 10 units towards the Bristol Pub. Out of the 55 units 11 units will be affordable. Kevin reports the above and underground tanks have been removed and some materials and they have received their Order of Conditions from the Conservation Commission. He stated the middle section of the building which is the wooden section will be demolished and used for parking and landscaping. They have already selected a demolition contractor and are getting the required permits signed. They have an asbestos plan and are working with Mass. Historic Commission which they had some
requirements. They still need to go to the City Council for approval. They have had DIRB meeting and they will meet again next week to address the Asst. City Engineer’s comments. Mark stated he had some issues with the parking and width of the stalls. He stated they have addressed them but his biggest concern was backing out onto W. Water Street which is no longer the case. His second concern was the re-construction of W. Water Street but they will have to come back and fix it. It was noted there is a separate project for the re-location of Cobb Brook which will alleviate the flooding issue. Tony reported that the Cobb Brook project will hopefully start this summer. They are moving Cobb Brook down near Yankee Chemical and will be cleaning the area. Bob asked about the parking inside and the columns supporting the spaces? Mr. Wilson stated there is a 20 foot space parallel to post. He stated it’s a
workable space. Bob stated that there is only 17 feet and wants to make sure the turning radius is there. He stated normally there is 20 feet. Dick noted he didn’t want it to be like an “obstacle course”. Kevin reported that there is one bedroom units which probably only require one parking space and the spaces are assigned. Terri stated there is 2 spaces per unit. There are 30 on-street parking spaces and then 102, totally 132. It was noted the ones on the street are open to the public? It was stated there is enough on site parking for 1 per unit. Arthur asked about snow removal and when there is parking ban they won’t be able to park on street. Manny stated that if these are “studio unit” they are usually occupied by single occupant. They are shy 8 parking spaces on site if you use formula of 2 per unit. There are 12 one- bedroom units and they would say it’s a “comfortable studio” unit. Chairman Dermody asked Terri if they contacted Gatra Bus Service to see if
there could be a service stop? Terri answers she hasn’t directly but thinks they stop in that area. Arthur asked if they could restrict big trucks from using roadway. It was noted they can’t because the district is an Industrial neighborhood. Dick asked if any existing businesses will have to move? Terri answers no. Manny asked if this was being funded by grant monies? Kevin answers there will be outside investors, in conjunction with the Weir Corp. behind this project. Manny stated that with a development of this magnitude a great deal of establishment will have to improve their sites. Terri stated they are working with area abutters who will be improving their property. Bob suggests putting bumper guard s on end of parking spaces. Mr. Wilson explained they will be leaving the masonary in tact. He did state they will be putting guard rails where they are required and not for the whole area. Bob asked about the landscaping (tree roots) with the pavement. Mr. Wilson
answered the landscaping architect didn’t have a problem with it. Dick asked about the 100 year flood? Mr. Wilson answers the elevation is 6 feet above the parking level. Mr. Wilson stated several catch basins will be tied into the treatment storm septer system within the parking area. Manny asked once an investor comes in do we have the assurance it will be built to the Weir Corp. specifications? Kevin Shea answers yes you can be assured it will be built like that.
Bob made motion to send a positive recommendation to the Municipal Council for this project, seconded by Arthur. All in favor.
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At this time Chairman Dermody asked Kevin Shea to expand on the Chapter 40B process. Mr. Shea explains it’s done on a monthly basis now and currently Taunton is up to 8%. He explained that basically Taunton is short 450 units to reach the 10% goal. Mr. Shea stated it has been slow and the last major project was Powhattan Esttes and Robert’s on the River. It was noted he didn’t think the Settlement Comprehensive Permit was added into the calculations yet. Chairman Dermody reminded the Board that the condos on Lake Sabattia opted to contribute money versuses build the affordable units. The City will collect $880,000 when finished which will be set into an affordable housing account. Mr. Shea explained a little about the Commonwealth Capital and how the points are earned. He stated the more points you get the better grants you could get. It was noted Taunton was not too far away, compared to other cities and towns. Bob asked if the open space and start parks are taken into
consideration when factoring in? Mr. Shea answers no. Dick asked if they calculated mobiles home. Dick stated no that is a dead issue.
Arthur Lopes excused from meeting at 6:29 PM.
Correspondence from Mass. Audubon – Taunton Watershed Advocacy Office –
Bob Campbell wanted to discuss this communication. He stated in their letter they are opposed to the Stoughton Route and he thinks it’s the most viable route. Bob stated they can’t put any more on the Old Colony line, Plymouth Line and Greenbush line. He stated the letter stated there are sensitive areas and they think they will be affected. However; the trains were there 100 years ago and the swamp is still there. They will need to be careful when re-constructing the embankments. Bob stated they will not be allowed to fill in wetlands. It was the consensus of the Board they are all in agreement of the Stoughton Line route.
Bob made motion to accept and place on file, without agreeing with it. Seconded by Manny.
Bob stated as things progress the Planning Board can make their own recommendation.
Motion to adjourn meeting at 6:39 PM.
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