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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 8/19/2020r e Planning Board Minutes August 19, 2020 MEETING HELD VIRTUALLY USING GOTOWEBINAR PLATFORM - Present: Beth Ashman -Collins, Chair; Joseph Cerretani, Clerk; Richard LeBlanc, Michael McClanahan, Sharon Friedman; Adrian LeCesne and Diana Bren, Alternates Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development; Jennifer Davis, Administrative Secretary The chair read the following statement: Whereas both the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have advised residents to take extra measures to put distance between themselves and other people to further reduce the risk of being exposed to COVID-19, Governor Baker has issued an order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, Massachusetts General Law c. 30A, §20. In order to satisfy the Open Meeting Law requirements, today's Town of Mansfield Planning Board meeting will available for to public via GoToWebinar and Mansfield Cable. The instructions for joining via GoToWebinar are in the Meeting Notice on the Town's Website at www.mans ieldma.com and then clicking on today's date on the calendar. 1. June 10, 2020 Motion: To approve the June 10, 2020 minutes as submitted (Cerretani-Friedman) LeBlanc — Abstained Bren - Abstained Friedman —In favor LeCesne — In favor Cerretani — In favor Ashman -Collins — In favor Four (4) in favor. None (0) opposed. Two (2) abstained. PASSES [Mr. McClanahan arrived at 7:35] 4.Speeial, Permit Public Hearing continued 70 Nfaah Road.- Accessax Apartmeht_— yaderwood and Vatentirio The clerk read the public hearing notice. Homeowners Ed Underwood and Mary Valentino explained the application for a Special Permit under Sections 230-5.5, Special Permits and 3.9, Accessory Apartments as special permit use, of the Mansfield Zoning By -Law to allow a one - bedroom accessory apartment within the existing single-family home at 70 Potash Road in the Residential 1 (Rl) Zone. The following documents were introduced: • Application for special permit, filed with the Town Clerk's office June 9, 2020; • Copy of legal advertisement; • Certified mailing return receipts; • Pages 1-3 of plans titled "Underwood Basement Renovation 70 Potash Road Mansfield, Planning Board 1 8/19/2020 MA 02048" dated June 7, 2020, prepared by Rustic Elegance, Inc.; As -Built Plan of 70 Potash Road, dated November 13, 1986, prepared by Dunn Engineering Co., Inc. Mr. Underwood explained the application for the construction of a one -bedroom accessory apartment for his son, who has physical and intellectual disabilities, in the basement of the existing house. He said the work could have been done as a renovation with a building permit, but the HUD housing voucher program requires the space to be a separate, permitted unit. Ms. Ashman -Collins noted all the changes are interior and'will not change the appearance of the existing house. Board Comment Mr. McClanahan said he understands the applicant needs a special permit for the HUD housing voucher program. Mr. LeCesne asked about the septic system; Mr. Underwood said spoke with the Health Agent and there is plenty of capacity for an additional bedroom Ms. Friedman asked about a hard -wired fire alarm system; Mr. Underwood said that is a requirement of the building permit. Mr. LeBlanc asked if there are precedents for this type of special permit and what would happen when the house is sold. Ms. Ashman -Collins said "accessory apartment' is an existing special permit use and noted 2020 Town Meeting removed the age requirement for accessory apartments, so it will be a legal unit. Department Head Comments There were no department head comments, Public Comment The chair read the following statement: It is important to us that you have a platform, for your questions and comments during this meeting, therefore to ask questions or make a public comment during tonight's virtual meeting you must have registered and joined the meeting via GoToWebinar where you now have the ability to submit your question or comments through the questions option in your control panel, or you can use the raise your hand option to be allowed to speak. For those who have joined the meeting via telephone who would like to ask a question or make a comment, you are now welcome to unmute your phone. We ask that you only have your phone unmuted while you are asking your question. Please mute when you are no longer live. You can unmute your phone by pushing *6. Please then state your name and address, and when acknowledged by the Chairperson you can then state your question or comment. When you are done with your comment please mute your phone again by pushing *6. As with any public hearing we ask you to be respectful of the Board members and the other residents who are making their comments by patiently and quietly waiting your turn. Thank you. There was no public comment. Planning Board 2 8/19/2020 Motion: To approve the special permit for a one -bedroom accessory apartment within the existing single-family home at 70 Potash Road in accordance with Sheets A-001, A-002 and I- 001 of "Underwood Basement Renovation 70 Potash Rd Mansfield, MA 02048," dated June 7, 2020, prepared by Rustic Elegance, Inc.; and the As -Built Plan of 70 Potash Road, dated November 13, 1986, prepared by Dunn Engineering Co., Inc. (McClanahan -LeBlanc) Cerretani — In favor. The applicant did a great job anticipating and answering questions in his application, the benefits outweigh the detriments, the use falls in line with the recent Town Meeting vote, it will provide another housing option and increase the tax base, but will not adversely impact public safety or municipal services. McClanahan — In favor. The benefits outweigh the detriments, will be an ideal situation for this family, and will have no negative impacts on the neighborhood. LeBlanc — In favor. The benefits outweigh the detriments, and there will be no adverse effects on public health and safety. Friedman — In favor. The benefits outweigh the detriments and there will be a positive impact on the health and welfare of the family by allowing them to continue to take care of an important family member. LeCesne — In favor. There will be no negative impacts on density or traffic, and will be a positive for the family. This is a good thing for the community, and fits in perfectly with the Town Meeting Vote to remove the age limitation on accessory units. Bren — In favor. This will have a positive impact on the family, will have no negative impacts to the neighborhood and aligns with the recent Town Meeting vote. Ashman -Collins - In favor. The benefits outweigh the detriments, and the proposal will have no negative impact or a positive impact on the natural environment, municipal facilities and neighborhood character. Seven (7) in favor. Zero (0) opposed. Zero (0) abstentions. PASSES Motion: To close the public hearing (McClanahan -Freidman) Friedman — In favor LeCesne — In favor LeBlanc — In favor McClanahan — In favor Bren — In favor Cerretani — In favor Ashman -Collins - In favor Seven (7) in favor. Zero (0) opposed. Zero (0) abstentions. PASSES 5, special permit $alilc Tearing contmtct SOU SchpolYreeY MarijuananItiation ' acility=Gomift, ltyCrardezrs5liie, The clerk read a request from the applicant's attorney to continue the special permit public Planning Board 3 8/19/2020 hearing to September 23, 2020. Motion: To continue the 500 School Street special permit public hearing to September 23, 2020 at 7:40 p.m, (McClanahan -Friedman)' LeCesne — In favor LeBlanc — In favor McClanahan — In favor Friedman — In favor Bren — In favor Cerretani — In favor Ashman -Collins — In favor Seven (7) in favor. Zero (0) opposed. Zero (0) abstentions. PASSES 2. August 12, 2020 memorandum from Mr. Burke re: follow-up correspondence re: 560 West Street (Amazon) Site Plan; July 15, 2020 letter from Karl Clemmey and Bill Clemmey; August 3, 2020 letter from Jane and John Haddigan; August 6, 2020 email from Carolyn Haddigan; August 19, 2020 letter from Diana Cole, 437 West Street Ms. Ashman -Collins said the board approved the site plan for 560 West Street at the July 8, 2020 meeting, and that decision addressed several traffic issues. Mr. Burke explained the residents would like all the traffic leaving the Amazon site to use the business park roadways rather than residential roadways. Ms. Ashman -Collins suggested asking Amazon to restrict their delivery vans to using business park roadways unless they have local deliveries, and to require their employees not to use residential roadways on the way to and from work. Ms. Ashman -Collins said the board's site plan decision addressed delivery vans going west on West Street, and the residents' concerns are about the segment of West Street between the Amazon site and Route 140. Consensus of the board was to send a letter to Amazon encouraging them to direct their delivery persons to go through the Cabot Business Park rather than through residential neighborhoods, and to direct their larger vehicles like box trucks and tractor trailers to use Forbes Boulevard to Routes 140 and 106. Ms. Ashman -Collins said that would be consistent with the requirement of trucks entering and leaving Erin's Centre to avoid residential roadways. Mr. LeCesne asked about the possibility of adding sidewalks to West Street. Mr. Burke said he would speak with Mr. Azinheira about the possibility of fitting a sidewalk on one side within the existing West Street right-of-way. Mr. LeBlanc suggested looking at adding sidewalk on the north side of West Street, where there is already some sidewalk. Ms. Friedman said the Open Space & Recreation Committee is working on goals and looking at conservation areas. She said the Conservation Commission and DPW have been working together to clear trails. Planning Board 4 8/19/2020 Mr. LeCesne asked if anyone has thought about the 55-foot maximum building height that has been discussed for the TOD district adjacent to the train station and Route 106. He said he has visited the area, and said the structures cannot really be seen by drivers coming up Route 106, and he thinks there would be more visual impact on pedestrians. Ms. Ashman -Collins said the Downtown Committee has been meeting, and a grant application was submitted "parklets" for outdoor restaurant seating along North Main Street, which was not funded. She said there has been discussion about including public art on the new ramps at the train station. She said the MBTA has to approve the design and it would be considered temporary, which means they could remove or paint over it at any time. Ms. Friedman said the idea of public art may be something to explore as downtown becomes more developed. Ms. Ashman -Collins said Mr. Dumas is putting together a gift fund to receive donations for downtown improvements and said there is a group interested in adding a play structure on Old Colony Way. Ms. Friedman asked about the North Main Street Fire Station RFP. Mr. Burke said it went out, but there were no respondents so it will be revised and re-released. Mr. Cerretani said that may have been because of Covid; Mr. Burke agreed and said the original RFP went out right before the Covid-related shutdowns began. Mr. Cerretani asked about the movie theater at Mansfield Crossing; Mr. Burke said he has not heard from them since the special permit was approved. Mr. LeCesne said theaters have been hit hard by the pandemic. Mr. Cerretani asked about the ReLeaf retail marijuana business; Mr. Burke said they have their state permits, but have not filed for any building permits. The board members welcomed Ms. Bren to the Planning Board. Ms. Bren said she is very excited to be part of the board and said she has lived in downtown Mansfield for about 10 years, works in the business park and has been involved in the Master Plan, Mansfield Women of Today and the Return to School plan. 7. Adjoarnment Motion: To adjourn at 8:30 p.m. (Cerretani-LeBlanc) LeCesne — In favor LeBlanc — In favor Friedman - In favor Bren — In favor Cerretani — In favor Ashman -Collins — In favor Six (6) in favor. Zero (0) opposed. Zero (0) abstentions. PASSES Next Planning Board Meeting: September 23, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. �i" Signa re of Cle < Date of Approval Planning Board 5 8/19/2020