MINUTES OF THE PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING
BEEHIVE BUILDERS APPLICATION FOR SITE PLAN REVIEW
242 WOODLAND STREET
AUGUST 10, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Patrick McKeon, Marc Frieden, Karen Paré, Vincent Vignaly, Lawrence Salate
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Wayne Amico, Patricia Domigan, Thelma Haddad, Pamela Hayes, Patrick Hayes, Marissa Hayes, Michaela Hayes, Gus Pingeton, Kathleen Scalera, Dominic Scalera, Andy Beardsley, Jacalyn Pruneau, Val Pruneau, Paul Conger, Jim Mitchener, Randy Ekstrom, Michael Kane, Paul Beardsley, Linda Isgro, Brian Allen
All documents referenced in these Minutes are stored and available for public inspection in the Planning Board office, 127 Hartwell Street
The Chair, Mr. McKeon, opened the public hearing at 7:06 p.m. The Clerk, Ms. Paré, read the Notice of Public Hearing that was published in the Telegram & Gazette on August 3rd and July 27th. Receipts from the Certified Mailings of the Notice to abutters were submitted by the applicant, Mr. Conger. Mr. Conger addressed the Board and stated that his engineering company needs five more days to review the comments from VHB and other town boards. He asked if the Board would consider continuing the public hearing until August 24th. Before having that discussion, Mr. Conger was asked by Ms. Paré to describe the project for the benefit of those members of the public in attendance at the hearing as well as for the Planning Board. He stated that the project involves
the construction of a medical office building at 242 Woodland Street in which doctors will be seeing patients. The building will be composed of two stories at the rear and one story in the front. Ms. Paré inquired whether both driveways will be used for entering and exiting traffic. At this time, Mr. Conger stated, that is the case. Hours of operation will be those of standard doctors’ offices, with no late nights and little traffic, if any, on the weekends.
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Beehive Builders – August 10, 2011
Mr. Jim Mitchener, 524 Prospect Street, suggested that for the sake of safety, traffic should be directed in one driveway and out another. There are numerous accidents at the intersection of Prospect and Woodland Streets, he stated, and the slope of the curb cut onto Prospect Street is substantial. Prospect Street has become a “mini Route 12”, he stated.
Mr. Wayne Amico, from VHB, review engineer for the Planning Board, stated that he had reviewed the plans and written a response letter on August 5, 2011. He did not receive the plans until mid-July. Since the applicants’ engineers were not present, he stated that he would not discuss his review in detail. However, he advised the Planning Board to consider requiring a traffic study because of the location of the project. Sight lines are a problem and traffic generation numbers are needed. The applicant should write a letter to the Planning Board requesting those waivers delineated in Mr. Amico’s letter. Signage on the plan violates the 10’ setback. The two-way entrance and exit drives should be reconsidered and the drainage plan needs further work.
Ms. Paré read the comments submitted by other town boards and departments:
Fire Department: Approval with modifications. Some of the parking spaces may need to be designated as parking lanes. They have been unsuccessful in attempts to get a response from the applicants’ engineer.
Board of Health: Approval. No restaurant will be on site.
Police Department: Approval.
Water District: Modifications must be made to plan. A list of eight changes was delineated by the Superintendent of the Water District in a letter dated August 3, 2011, including the relocation of the water connection from Woodland Street to Prospect Street for improved fire protection from a larger main.
A written note was submitted from neighbors, Neil and Lynne Norum, 106 Woodland Street. They expressed concern about traffic flow, accidents and whether a traffic light, four-way stop or speed bumps will be installed. They asked whether a study has been made of the accident rate at the intersections abutting the site of the project.
Mr. McKeon inquired whether the applicants have considered whether to have just one exit from the site. Mr. Conger stated that he had not yet done so. Mr. Amico encouraged the applicants to ask their engineers to do the calculations for sight distances from the exits.
Mr. Gus Pingeton, 554 Prospect Street, inquired how many employees would be on site (no definitive number is available) and the size of the building (less than 10,000 sf). He stated that the intersections are the “number one accident area in town”. The speed on Prospect and Shrewsbury Street is out-of-control. His wife was in a serious accident just trying to exit their driveway. He asked what the zoning district is for the site. Ms. Paré stated that the lot is zoned for Business use and that this is a light use compared to what it could be,
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Beehive Builders – August 10, 2011
such as a restaurant. Mr. Beardsley stated that the worse line of sight is the one coming up on Woodland Street. Mr. Vignaly inquired whether anyone had spoken with the Chief of Police about installing a four-way stop at the intersection. Mr. Beardsley noted that the Chief had no comment on the plans.
Mr. Patrick Hayes, 250 Woodland Street, noted that water pressure is very low and queried whether there is enough water to protect the building in the event of a fire. Mr. Beardsley replied that the Water Department has requested that the water connection be moved to Prospect Street to allow for improved protection from a larger main. Mr. Vignaly inquired whether a flow test has been conducted and Mr. Amico stated that this will be required before any building permit is issued. Mr. Val Pruneau, 29 Pinecroft Avenue, stated that the main on Prospect Street will be capped and that it will not interfere with pressure in adjacent homes. Mr. Dominic Scalera, 535 Prospect Street, stated that he had erected the fence on his property on Prospect Street at the intersection with Woodland Street and that it had reduced the
number of accidents. Now, more of the accidents are from cars travelling down Shrewsbury Street. Mr. Mitchener inquired whether any hazardous or dangerous materials will be stored on site and also what the security and lighting would be for the offices. Mr. McKeon replied that these will be doctors’ offices and as such, the storage of any drugs or hazardous materials is regulated by the state. Lighting is very important, Mr. McKeon stated, and he informed the applicants that the lighting will be of concern to the Planning Board. Lighting should not reflect on neighbors’ properties. Mr. Salate stated that a design and schedule of lighting should be submitted. Ms. Pamela Hayes, 250 Woodland Street, stated that she has two dogs who bark a lot and asked whether any fencing will be installed so that the dogs will have no sight line to people in the parking lot. Landscaping will be in place to screen the parking lot from the
adjoining homes. Mr. Scalera inquired when construction will start and Mr. Conger replied that it will begin after all the engineers’ concerns are addressed. It will take approximately nine months to complete the actual construction. Mr. Mitchener inquired if there is a “reuse” provision. Ms. Paré stated that, if the property’s use is changed to, for instance, a kennel or a restaurant, then the developer would need to go through the Site Plan Review process and abutters would be notified.
Mr. Amico stated that there is more than adequate parking and inquired whether there is a need for so much parking (and impermeable pavement). Mr. Beardsley stated that the amount of parking is a requirement of the tenant. Mr. Vignaly reminded the applicants that the Fire Department will need spaces for a fire lane. Mr. Conger asked if the date of August 24th would be considered for a continuation of the public hearing. Ms. Paré inquired whether all engineers will have had adequate opportunity to address all issues by that date. Mr. Amico reminded the applicants that their engineer needs to work with the Water and Fire Departments and suggested that the date of August 24th might be a little aggressive. Mr. Vignaly stated that contact must be made with the Police Chief (to
discuss a four-way stop), Fire Chief and with the Superintendent of the Water District. Sight lines must be calculated. He stated that he would prefer to wait until the next regularly-scheduled meeting of the Planning Board on September 14, 2011to ensure that all coordination between town departments and the engineers has been finalized. Upon motion of Mr.
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Beehive Builders – August 10, 2011
Vignaly and second of Mr. Salate, it was unanimously voted to continue the public hearing until September 14, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Hayes asked who will own the land. Mr. Conger replied that Beehive Builders will own the land. Mr. Vignaly urged the applicants to speak with the Chief of Police to see if there is any solution to improving the dangerous situation at the intersections.
Date Accepted:_____________ By:___________________________
Karen Paré, Clerk
Submitted By:_________________________
Susan Abramson
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