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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin of planning brd 08/06/03 r Planning Board Minutes August 6, 2~3 i_ ;:' D i' : 10: III Tom French, Chair; Bernie Dolan, Clerk; Waher Jenkins, Fred Armstrong, ~ug Armino, Mark Cook, Ken Torman ':)q(' Shaun P. Burke, Director of PI and Develo ment ~, Ii,) 1. Meeting called to order at 7:30 p.m. I 2. Correspondence 1. July 23,2003 Minutes Motion: To approve as submitted (DoIim.Jenkins) Four in favor. Torman, Cook abstained. PASSES 2. July Building Permit Summary 3. Meeting notices Easton, North Attleboro, Norton, JTPG 4. The Beacon 5. New England Planning newsletter I 3. Form A Plans Sibilia/Awley- Groveffremont/West Streets. The plan shows two lots, with 4,500 square feet of one being granted to the abutter with frontage on Tremont Street. [Mr. Annino arrived at this time] The frontage will not be effected on either lot. r Mr. Burke explained there is a provision in the Zoning By.Law that would allow the reduction of the size of Lot 1, a lot that existed when less area and frontage was required. Several board members said they thought the house on the corner of West and Tremont Street was a new house, and had not existed prior to 1989. Mr. Burke said if the original house had been tom down and was completely rebuih after 1989, the lot would have required 150 feet of frontage and 45,000 square feet of area. Therefore, if the house was buih prior to 1994, it would still meet the provisions of section 1.4.7 because the lot continued to exist, and the use was not changed. The board asked to table the Form A because it is unclear when the houses were buih. 4. Special Permit Public Bearing Continued - Gounlin Circle Residential Compound - 11 Lots ofT MiD Street - Red MiD Realty Trust The clerk read a request from the applicant to continue the public hearing to September 10,2003 at 8:15 p.rn. Motion: To continue the public hearing to September to, 2003 at 8:15 (DoJan.Annino) All in favor. PASSES r I 5. Around the Table DiscussioD of August 13 Workshop Items Mr. Burke asked if the members would like to add or subtract anything from the list, and what sort of supporting documentation would be helpful. Mr. Annino said he and r Mr. Armstrong would research other town's zoning by.laws. Mr. French asked for an aerial photograph of the downtown area. Mr. Annino said he would take some digital photographs. Mr. Dolan asked if parking in general should be discussed, rather than only for residential uses. He said he was especially concerned about parking for restaurants and offices; Mr. Annino said towns tend to underestimate restaurant's parking requirements. Mr. Dolan said parking for future downtown projects should be carefully considered. Mr. Annino suggested a reconfiguration of the downtown streetscape may help to improve the parking situation. He said while parking is needed downtown, it should be behind the buildings so as not to break up the streetscape. Mr. Burke said turnover in downtown parking spaces is pretty fast, adding that most employers don't guarantee parking for their employees. Mr. Annino suggested having developers downtown contnoute to a fund to create parking. Mr. Dolan asked about the vacant lot next to the fire station; Mr. Burke said it is for sale, the asking price is very high, and might hold 25~30 cars. Mr. Burke said increased residential uses and conversions to multi-family uses downtown has made parking more scarce. Mr. Dolan agreed that parking is a big issue downtown, but he was concerned about the residential uses behind the businesses, and how parking behind would effect residents. r Mr. Burke said the special permit for George's Cleaners will be submitted soon, with business proposed on the first floor and residential on the second and third floors. The plan is short five parking spaces, so the applicant will have to apply for a variance. Mr. French asked if the board should discuss the train station, and how many parking spaces there would be. Mr. Burke said that number is unclear, because it depends on the town taking land downtown by eminent domain. He said the town owns some of the existing spaces, but the MBTA owns most of them; however, the town takes the parking complaints. Mr. Dolan asked if the Erin's Centre development would be able to get a certificate of occupancy prior to the traffic improvements being completed. Mr. Burke said the MEP A certificate requires the traffic improvements be done as part of the Shaw's phase as well as the Home Depot phase. In addition, Mr. Burke said the applicant's traffic engineer had written the town a letter committing to the traffic improvements, which became part of the Planning Board's decision. Mr. Dolan asked about the signs at Erin's Centre; Mr. Burke said he believes the special permit will have to be modified. The applicant received relief for the size of the signs, but Mr. Burke said he believes that is a separate issue from the special r r permit. He said the building inspector also believes the special permit will have to be modified. Mr. Dolan said he was concerned about the lack of site distance at the corner of Forbes Boulevard and Plymouth Street. Discussion with Board of Seledmen The board has an appointment this evening to discuss statements made by a member of the Board of Selectmen about the Master Plan. Mr. Dolan was concerned that member made incorrect statements about the town not having a current Master Plan and losing grant money because of it. Mr. Burke suggested the board simply respond to the statements that were made and set the record straight. He said four Master Plans have been done since 1960; 1960, 1972, 1989 and 1996. The 1996 plan was accepted in 1997. That member of the Board of Selectmen also asked why, if Attleboro and North Attleboro are redoing their Master Plans, Mansfield isn't as well? Mr. Burke said the last time those cities did Master Plans was in 1990 and 1991, a much shorter time period than between Mansfield's last two Master Plans. Mr. Dolan said a statement was also made that the Planning Board created an island out of the industrial park with the Planned Business District. Mr. Dolan said town meeting approved that zoning change, it wasn't simply an action of the Planning Board. r Mr. Dolan said when misstatements like that are made during televised selectmen's meetings, they sound factual. Mr. Dolan said he was disappointed that when the entire board went to the last selectmen's meeting, they were kept waiting for 45 minutes and then sent away. He said he felt that was discourteous, and that if a member or members of another board came to a Planning Board meeting, the board stop to take care of them. Mr. French said he would begin the discussion with a timeline of the Master Plan, as well as what is currently being discussed regarding updates. I 6. Adjournment Motion: To adjourn at 9:00 p.rn. (Dolan.Annino) All in favor. PASSES Date of next meeting: August 13,2003 at 7:30 p.m. ~Qf.l7'1~. Signature of Cler R.-~)--tJ3 Date of Approval r