MINUTES OF WESTBOROUGH PLANNING BOARD
March 08, 2016
Regular meeting of the Westborough Planning Board held in the Westborough Public Library in the lower Conference Room, 55 West Main Street. Members Bush, Silverberg, Diamond, Spencer and new member Tim Paris were present. Welcome Tim
Meeting dates: March 22, 2016 and April 05, 2016
At 7:00 p.m. the Board met with representatives of Waterman Design to discuss the site plan review application for 300 Friberg Parkway –for a Behavioral Health Hospital.
Mr. Randy Waterman of Waterman Design Associates, Inc. came forward with a presentation. Mr. Russell Dion, Senior Project Executive from Campanelli Construction was present for discussion.
Mr. Waterman said that 300 Friberg Parkway faces due north and south. The building was built for New England College in the 1983 and is a 3 story, 85,000 square foot building on a 10 acre lot. It has a single access drive directly from Friberg Parkway. The parking wraps around the building. The current building and site conditions are in full compliance with the zoning bylaws and the dimensional regulations. A health group is interested in using the building. Because it is a different use it had to go before the ZBA last year for a Special Permit for Use that was granted in April of 2015 and extended January, 2016 to allow the health facility in this building. They are proposing a 160 bed hospital. They are planning a one story 3,000 square foot addition to be used as a gym for
patients. This small addition to the building footprint and the proposed site improvements are also in full compliance with the zoning bylaws and dimensional regulations. They will repave the driveway and move the handicap spaces closer to the building. At the front of the building they are creating a location for ambulances to drop off patients. We have met with the Fire Department and the existing main interior circulation driveways are adequate to accommodate the anticipated traffic patterns and have been redesign at the front of the building’s main entrance to allow for adequate fire vehicle access. The fire vehicle access was reviewed on site with Lt. Chris Knight to show with turning movements for fire apparatus trucks. As part of the analysis a little widening needs to be done. The Fire Chief is fine with this. When site was originally built they put in 358 parking spaces. We only need 160 spaces for the hospital (1
space per bed). We can remove some of the parking to create green space. There is a calculation that there will be no increase in impervious space. We have held meetings with many of the Town Departments. This building is in an Industrial B District which is an allowed use. This project complies with zoning bylaws and will not create a nuisance, hazard or congestion to the surrounding neighborhood. They have created plans taking out the banned windows and making windows for the individual rooms. The building will also be softer in color.
Chairman Brian Bush said this is one of the few times that the special permit is issued by the ZBA and not the Planning Board. We are allowed to make comments and then the Town Planner will send our comments to the Board of Selectmen in a written memo.
Member Mark Silverberg asked who owns the Building now.
Minutes of Westborough Planning Board
March 08, 2016
Page 2
Mr. Russell Dion, Campanelli Construction responded that they sold the property to Signature Health Care last June, 2015.
Member Bill Spencer asked if the parking is one space per bed?
Mr. Waterman responded yes, that is all that is required. We have the opportunity to take 61 spaces away off site. There is no increase in impervious space. These spaces will become green space.
Member Bill Spencer asked about the change in traffic.
Mr. Dion responded the hospital has three shifts: Day Shift (7 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). On this first shift there are 100 full-time and 50 part-time employees; the second shift (3:00 – 11:00 p.m.) has 100 full-time and 35 part-time employees. The night shift (11 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) is the smallest shift with 35 full-time and 5 part-time employees. The largest need for parking is at shift change and at that time we will need 210 spaces. However we only need 165 spaces on a daily basis. Because of the hours, we will help the cut down the traffic flow due to their hours.
The Town Planner asked if there was a template on the plans showing truck turning?
Mr. Randy Waterman said he brought a reduced set of plans that he can review with the Board. The Fire Chief is okay with the traffic flow circulation pattern and he asked that they widen the road near Friberg Parkway.
The Town Planner said on the lighting plan it shows lights removed and lights to be installed. Make sure there is good lighting coverage in the parking area near the edge of the parking lot. It is important for safety.
Member Bill Spencer asked where are the water risers.
Mr. Randy Waterman replied they are in the stairwells of the building. This is a new solution.
The Town Planner said he will submit comments to the Board of Selectmen.
Member Mark Silverberg asked when to they plan to move in.
Mr. Dion responded that they have submitted for Building Department review. Hopefully we will have the Site Plan review done by April and be able to open in May. Went back to ZBA in January, it expired in November of 2015. It was renewed in January of this year. The Permit is active we have another 6 months to obtain the building permit.
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March 08, 2016
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Member Mark Silverberg motioned to send recommendations to the Board of Selectmen on Site Plan Review for 300 Friberg Parkway – Behavioral Health Hospital. The motion was seconded by Member Bill Spencer and unanimously voted.
At 7:20 p.m. the Planning Board prepared to discuss an ANR Plan on 146 & 148 Oak Street (former Nathan Fisher House).
The Town Planner said that Waterman Design has presented a new ANR Plan for the Nathan Fisher House and the new commercial building to be located at 146 & 148 Oak Street. The Plan satisfies the ANR requirements of the State Zoning Act and shows the new Town Assessor assigned addresses for the property which are 201 Turnpike Road (formerly 146 Oak Street) and 205 Turnpike Road (formerly 48 Oak Street). The proponents asked for a Turnpike Road address for visibility. They will still have access from Oak Street. One lot has an unusual shape due to frontage requirements. Both lots have 200 feet of frontage and line of sight. There will restaurant and retail in the commercial building.
Member Mark Silverberg motioned to approve an ANR Plan prepared by Waterman Design Associates, Inc. entitled “201 and 205 Turnpike Road (formerly 146 & 148 Oak Street) dated 2/22/16, prepared for Release Well- Center, LLC and Five Partners, LLC. The motion was seconded by Member Charlie Diamond and unanimously voted.
New Business:
Reappointment of Design Review Board members:
Chairman Brian Bush stated that the Planning Board needs to vote to reinstate the Design Review Board (DRB) members for another year. The Design Review Board is made up of an architect, Planning Board member, Historical Commission member, graphic artist, downtown business owner, downtown resident. All the current members want to remain on the board: Debbie Schradieck, Dan Martin, Charlie Diamond, Todd Alexander, Mike Hally and Cindy DuBose.
Member Charlie Diamond said he happy to be on the Board as the Planning Board representative. They are very talented people, business people and do a wonderful job in accessing changes to the districts they oversee.
The Town Planner said there is an open spot on this board. The seat is for a voting alternate, member at large.
Member Bill Spencer motioned to approve the Design Review Board members for reappointment of a one year term. The motion was seconded by Member Mark Silverberg and unanimously voted.
Minutes of Westborough Planning Board
March 08, 2016
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The Town Planner said at the EDC meeting on March 1st they voted to support Articles #11, 12, 13, 14) and EDC Member Jim Ball will stand up to speak for the EDC in supporting the articles.
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Town Meeting Articles:
The Town Planner said that Chairman Brian Bush will read the motion and report on the MUD Article #11.
Chairman Brian Bush said there are 4 Articles connected with the State Hospital Reuse Committee; Article 11 – to modify the zoning first to prohibit undesired uses and allow desired uses in the Mixed Use District (MUD); Article 12 – to allow the Senior Living Overlay District (SLO) in this District and modify the SLO regulations to better reflect these intended uses and to reflect MGL. This Article will be presented by Member Mark Silverberg; Article 13 is to create an agreement between the Board of Selectmen (Owner) and the Conservation Commission (Caretaker) of certain parcels retained by the Town; and Article 14 is to allow the Board of Selectmen to issue an RFP for the disposition and development of a certain parcel of land at the former State Hospital. The order of these Articles is important. We must pass the zoning changes first.
Chairman Brian Bush commented that this will be a long Town Meeting.
The Town Planner said he will be sending out power point presentations on the SLO.
The Town Planner said the Planning Board has voted to recommend Articles 11 (MUD), Article 12 (SLO) and Article 39 (Spurr House). Articles 13 and 14 are the Reuse Committee’s Articles and the Planning Board should show support.
Chairman Brian Bush agreed that it is a good idea to have the Planning Board support the Reuse Committees Articles. We can discuss and review the two articles and then we will vote at Town Meeting.
Member Mark Silverberg mentioned that we need to vote on our Chair and Vice-Chair positions on the Planning Board.
Member Mark Silverberg motioned to elect Member Brian Bush as Chairman of the Planning Board. The motion was seconded by Member Bill Spencer and unanimously voted.
Chairman Brian Bush motioned to elect Member Mark Silverberg as Vice-Chairmen on the Planning Board. The motion was seconded by Member Bill Spencer and unanimously voted.
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March 08, 2016
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Chairman Brian Bush said our next meeting will be on March 22nd and we have Toll Brothers coming in for a Modification of their Special Permit.
Member Charlie Diamond asked if new Member Tim Paris will be able to vote.
Chairman Brian Bush responded yes because this is a new Modification Special Permit Public Hearing. Toll Brothers has met with the Planning Board informally. Toll Brothers also has met with the ZBA and continued their hearing until the Planning Board has acted on their new Application for a Modification to the Special Permit. We have asked for Town Counsel to comment on their request.
The Town Planner said we asked Town Counsel two questions: Is it in the capacity of the Planning Board to hold this hearing or the ZBA. Town Counsel said the Planning Board can modify it. The second question was can we eliminate or exclude basement units that have been sold or not sold. The Town Planner said we have not yet had a response.
Chairman Brian Bush said we are waiting for Counsel’s opinion. It is good to get a read on their documents. They are going on the offense because they are getting heat from the residents.
The Town Planner said he can meet with Member Tim Paris and go over the Toll Brother’s project.
The Minutes of February 02, 2016 and February 16, 2016 were approved and endorsed.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandy Spinella/Administrative Assistant
APPROVED:
--------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------Brian Bush, Chairman of Board Mark Silverberg, Vice-Chairman of Board
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Charlie Diamond William Spencer Tim Paris
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