MINUTES OF THE PLANNING BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 24, 2008
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Patricia Halpin, John Baker, Karen Paré, Lawrence Salate, Vincent Vignaly
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Mark Brodeur
Ms. Halpin opened the regular meeting of the Planning Board at 7:15 p.m.
METRO/PCS: SIGN APPROVAL
A draft Certificate of Special Permit for Metro/PCS was prepared and submitted for signature by the Chair, Ms. Halpin. On September 10, 2008, the Planning Board voted to approve their application for a Special Permit to collocate on the telecommunications tower on Lawrence Street. After approving and signing the draft (Mr. Vignaly asked to be recused), Ms. Paré noted that the Board has not yet received the required bonds from Crown Castle (2) and Metro/PCS (1). The Approval will not be released until the bonds are received. Ms. Abramson will so notify the applicant and Ms. Paré will notify the Building Inspector, with the request that he not issue any building permits pending the receipt of the bonds.
ZONING ISSUES: MEETING WITH BUILDING INSPECTOR
The Building Inspector, Mr. Mark Brodeur, attended the meeting in order to discuss past and current zoning issues. He presented the Board with copies of letters he had written to owners of property on West Boylston Street. Slow expansion of the parking area behind the building at 235 West Boylston Street has been made over the years. Trees and landscaping have been removed, and encroachment has occurred into the General Residence Zone. He informed the owner, Mr. Anthony Ciociolo, that expansion of parking can require Site Plan Review and requested that a certified site plan be submitted showing existing conditions and plans for the future.
Similarly, the parking surrounding the Clinton Savings Bank building seems to be in the process of expanding, so Mr. Brodeur sent a letter to Ms. Karla Meola, owner of the
Planning Board Meeting 2.
September 24, 2008
property, requesting a certified site plan showing existing conditions and plans for the future.
Ms. Brodeur stated that he has had no response from Mr. Fotiades concerning the expansion issues at the Manor Restaurant. Future plans for the Keepers site do not at this time indicate that a Business Center will be the use for the property behind the restaurant. Honey Dew Donuts has an approved site plan but has made no request for a building permit. A purchaser of the former site of Crossroads/Rayann will use the building’s ground floor for a physical therapy practice. The dumpster needs to be screened. There are some questions whether the Marcello Landscaping operation on West Boylston Street is running a Business Center. There are two known entities currently operating at the site. Mr. Brodeur will send a letter to the owner requesting
clarification.
Mr. Brodeur indicated that he will make no request for any change to the Zoning Bylaws for the October Town Meeting.
EXPEDITED PERMITTING
Data was collected and a chart prepared indicating approval time for site plans presented to the Planning Board. In all but three cases, approval was received in less than 180 days. In those incidences when the approvals were not received in 180 days, delays were caused by the necessity for the applicant to receive approval first from other boards (i.e. the ZBA) or from the DCR. The very largest properties (i.e. Emuge, American Red Cross) received the quickest approvals (most likely because of the caliber of their engineers and plans). Mr. Vignaly noted that the adoption of an expedited permitting plan would not necessarily reduce the time for Site Plan Review. Mr. Brodeur stated that the town really does not have enough developable parcels left to make it worthwhile going through the 43D process. Ms.
Halpin queried whether adoption would make property more marketable or help with the state. Ms. Paré noted that areas would need to be rezoned in order to handle 50,000 sf buildings and Mr. Vignaly added that the only reasonable site for this would be the remaining lot on Century Drive. The conclusion of the discussion was that there would need to be significant effort to adopt 43D and perhaps an economic proposal for the targeted sites could be completed with far less time and work involved. Any economic proposals could show how quickly West Boylston in reality does process applications.
Mr. Salate asked what would happen if the town accepts 43D and an application is delayed beyond 180 days due to issues with the DCR. Does the municipality lose its powers? Ms. Paré stated that the Board of Selectmen would then have to become involved and vote to extend the deadline (an additional 30 days). A permit can be issued with conditions, Mr. Vignaly noted, and he added that this needs to be looked at in conjunction with revisions to the Master Plan. When the Master Plan was developed, fiscal aspects of development were not closely examined. This is not the only way to expedite projects, Ms. Paré noted, a broader view of economic development is needed in this town. A joint meeting with the Economic Development Commission, the Town Administrator, Mr. McCormick and the Planning Board
will be held on October 1st at 6:30 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting 3.
September 24, 2008
OLD BUSINESS
CMRPC: The Board reviewed the upcoming schedule for Web Conference Sessions being presented through the auspices of CMRPC.
Hillside Village: The Planning Board is still awaiting the results of the engineering review being made by the Condo Association’s engineer concerning the drainage issues at Hillside Village. Mr. Vignaly noted that he saw standing water in the detention basin more than 96 hours after a rain storm, which indicates that the basin is not functioning properly. Mr. Baker reiterated that the Planning Board should not be involved in a dispute between the Condo Association and the developer, other than to aid in resolving issues negatively impacting the abutters. Ms. Halpin will contact Mr. Staiti in regards to addressing VHB’s punchlist to insure that there are no impacts to abutters.
REPORTS FROM OTHER BOARDS
Mr. Vignaly reported that an Agriculture Committee will be created in town at the request of the Open Space Committee, in accordance with the Open Space Plan, to assist in keeping the rural, farming community together. Points will be given for this on the CommCap rating.
MINUTES/BILLS
Mr. Vignaly will request that VHB separate its charges for the review of the access road improvements to the communication’s tower on Lawrence Street, so that each of the four applicants waiting to collocate on the tower can be charged equally. An invoice for payment to VHB was approved. Upon motion of Ms. Paré and second of Mr. Salate, it was unanimously voted to approve as written the Minutes of the September 10, 2008 Continued Public Hearing for Metro PCS and to approve as amended the Minutes of the September 10, 2008 Meeting of the Planning Board.
Date Accepted:__________ By:________________________
Karen Paré, Clerk
Submitted By:______________________
Susan Abramson
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