MINUTES OF THE PLANNING BOARD MEETING
JULY 8, 2009
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Lawrence Salate, Patricia Halpin, Patrick McKeon, Karen Paré, Vincent Vignaly
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Robert McLaren, Tony Pini, Robert Claise, Dan Feeney, Christopher Gagne, Patrick Healy
Mr. Salate called the meeting to order at 7:25 p.m. after the closing of the July 8 Public Hearing on the American Red Cross parking lot expansion.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Mr. Vignaly moved that the board approve the Site Plan Review for the American Red Cross Parking Lot expansion and that Mr. Salate be authorized to sign the approval on behalf of the board, with the following condition: a maximum of 25 parking spaces will be added and that if the discovery of bedrock causes the re-configuration/reduction in the parking spaces the board will be notified and the change will be reflected on the As-Built plan. Ms. Paré seconded the motion. The board approved the motion with all in favor.
Mr. Salate will compose and sign the approval for the board, since the board will not meet again until August 12th.
WACHUSETT PLAZA: SURABIAN REALTY
The Board signed the Certificate of Site Plan Approval which was voted at the June 24, 2009 Planning Board meeting. Mr. Healy presented the board with a plan set for the board signatures. The board signed the approved plans and Mr. Healy will make copies and return them to the board for distribution.
16 WOODLAND STREET: SUBMITTAL OF SITE PLAN REVIEW APPLICATION
Mr. Gagne, representing John Lugo who owns the property at 16 Woodland Street, submitted the application for Site Plan Review. The applicant is proposing a large, approximately 3,000 square foot, addition to his property which will be used as additional retail space, warehouse space and a pet grooming business. In addition the project will require re-grading work on the abutting neighbor’s property.
The board held a brief informal discussion of the plan with Mr. Gagne. Mr. Vignaly noted that the paving on the plan extended to the property line. Ms. Paré questioned how this would meet the requirements in the Zoning Bylaws for screening between a business use and an abutting residential district. Mr. Gagne reported that he thought he saw a mention of screening in the Zoning Bylaws but was unclear on whether it could be dealt with in Site Plan Review or a Special Permit and which board would be involved. The board informed Mr. Gagne that he will need to provide information regarding the lighting on the site and that the drainage and stormwater provisions will need to be reviewed considering that most of the site will become impervious. Mr. Vignaly requested that an
easement which details the scope of work on the neighboring property be included on the plans. Confirmation from the owners that they have seen the plans and approve must be provided to the board.
A public hearing for this project was set for September 9, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Ms. Abramson, the board’s assistant, will send information on the advertising requirements to Mr. Gagne when she returns.
FOLLOW UP ON RELEASE OF REVIEW FEES
Ms. Paré had sent an e-mail to Mark Brodeur, the Building Inspector, regarding the status of several projects. Mr. Brodeur reported that Ernie’s Car Wash has received their certificate of occupancy and that the wireless communications providers that were being added to the Lawrence Street tower were complete. The board agreed that any remaining review fees for these projects should be returned to the applicants.
The Verizon co-location on the Beaman Street wireless communication tower is almost complete. However, it was noted that the removal bond from Verizon was not received from the board, despite a letter to Attorney Valeriani on March 25, 2009. A condition of the approval for this Special Permit was that this bond, which is required in the zoning bylaws, be received before a building permit is issued. Ms. Paré has requested that the Building Inspector and the Municipal Light Plant hold up on completing the project until the bond has been received, but we have received no indication that they will comply with this request.
A discussion on tracking the conditions in the board’s approvals took place. Ms. Paré expressed the opinion that the board should require that these bonds be received by the Planning Board before the Special Permit is released. It is difficult to require other departments to enforce the board’s conditions. Ms. Halpin suggested that the board come up with a method to highlight conditions that must be met before a building permit is issued for the Building Inspector. Mr. Salate suggested a check-off list be provided. Ms. Paré noted that the state has provided new Municipal Permit Tracking software, but it is not yet clear that it will help with this issue. Mr. Salate will speak with Mr. Brodeur regarding the bond.
REPORTS FROM OTHER BOARDS
HOUSING PARTNERSHIP: Ms. Halpin noted that the Housing Partnership has still not met. Other members of the Partnership have been asking for a meeting to work on getting the Housing Production Plan begun. Ms. Halpin noted that the CPC has approved funds for the consultant to produce the plan. But the Housing Partnership must work with the consultant to produce the plan. While it is possible to use another plan as a basis, the plan must reflect the situation in West Boylston. The question of who is responsible for running lotteries for affordable housing was raised. Ms. Halpin stated that she thought that the Housing Authority should be responsible, since they have a full time staff member. Mr. Vignaly reported that, according the state, if the town has a
Housing Partnership, the Partnership is responsible for the lotteries. He stated that the members of the Partnership don’t have to do the work themselves but can hire a consultant to do it. In fact, the Comprehensive Permit developers are usually required to set aside money to fund the lottery process. The question was raised as to how the lottery for Afra Terrace was held before the actual houses were completed and where is the money that was put aside for the procedure. The board decided that Mr. McKeon will take over the role as the Planning Board’s representative on the Housing Partnership. Ms. Halpin will notify Mr. Gaumond.
OPEN SPACE IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE: There will be a meeting of the OSIC on July 9, 2009 regarding an application by Dr. Tashjian for an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) on 80 acres of his property off Lee Street. Dr. Tashjian is requesting that the Commonwealth purchase the development rights to this property which will require him and all future heirs to conduct agriculture on the land. The Board of Selectmen is soliciting comments from the OSIC and the Agricultural Commission and the OSIC is drafting a letter in support.
The Board of Selectmen is looking for input since this APR requires that the town contribute and may need to go to the CPC for funding. The amount that the state requires a town to contribute depends on the actions the town has taken for agriculture and may be 5%, 10% or 15%. Mr. Vignaly is going to meet with the Agricultural Commission to request they take some actions that would reduce the amount the town would have to contribute. The maximum price that the state allows for purchasing APR land is $10,000 per acre. If the town’s required match is 10%, we would need to contribute $80,000 for the 80 acres in question.
Ms. Halpin questioned why this property is more valuable than other land under discussion for the Open Space CPC money. There is a 7.5 acre parcel (5 building lots) on Prospect and another 5.4 acre parcel (1 building lot) on Lee Street. Mr. Vignaly replied that they are all valuable, but this opportunity gives us 80 acres for much less money and is the first on the list for the OSIC.
MINUTES/BILLS
Upon a motion by Ms. Paré and a second by Mr. Salate, the minutes of the Planning Board meeting of June 24, 2009 were approved as amended.
No bills were paid.
Upon a motion by Mr. McKeon and a second by Ms. Halpin, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Date Accepted: _______________________ By: ___________________________
Karen Fenerty Paré, Clerk
Submitted By: ________________________
Karen Fenerty Paré
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