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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Brd Min_6211995PLANNING BOARD MINUTES June 21, 1995 PRESENT: Chairman French, Clerk Sullivan PLANNERS: Bonda, Dolan, Flynn, McShane, Trombetta Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development 1. Meeting called to order at 7:30 P.M. 95 JM 29 —i;a 9 58 [•;����E;iIUS�TTS Motion: To appoint Planner Bonda Acting Clerk (Dolan- Flynn) All in favor. PASSES 2. Site Plan Review - School Projects Kevin McBride, Keyes Associates engineer and Dan Freeman, Keyes Associates architect, presented the projects for the three schools. Mr. McBride said the Robinson School has been through site plan review and the plan had been modified according to the department head comments. A bus loop will be added in order to separate bus /parent traffic, and the baseball field has been shifted to the west. Landscape architect Tamara Zimmerman explained they were trying to preserve as many existing trees as possible as a buffer between the building and pedestrian areas aridbetween the playground and traffic areas. — The Qualters Middle School will have a bus loop as part of the high school project, with the new entrance at the southeast corder. The parking lot will be expanded, keeping the drainage the same with a small swale which has been approved by the Conservation Commission. The existing curb cut will be modified for a better turning radii. The gym will be expanded with the walk behind the gym relocated. As many trees as possible will be preserved, and pedestrian paths, a courtyard, and plantings will be added. Mansfield High School will have two additions, with a separate bus /student loop using the existing curb out on East Street. A new driveway opening will extend westerly toward the muddle school. There will be some new drainage, and use of some existing drainage. Additional parking will be added, along with modifications for access. The area between the high and muddle schools will be open space, and the existing road between the two schools will be a path. The clerk read department head comments. Mr. McBride said they had complied with most of the comments and submitted modified plans, adding they had to stay within budget when decided which changes to make, and had been able to do that. Board Comment Planner Flynn asked if the school projects would have to comply with the new landscaping and screening regulations. Ah-. Burke said they were subject to reasonable regulations, so to the effect the Budding Inspector feels the landscaping regulations are applicable, the projects will have to comply. He added the parking areas do not trigger the interior landscaping regulations. Planner Dolan asked where the road behind the Robinson School stopped. Mr. McBride explained it would stop at the hard surface play area and the Fire Department felt it would have adequate access. - Planner McShane asked how the number of parking spaces was determined. Mr. McBride said they were trying to get what spaces they could with the space available, since there are not a lot of areas open for additional parking. Planner McShane asked if cars would still be able to get around the loop to the back access road. Mr. McBride said they would, as the middle and high schools will have a combined bus loop, though he couldn't guarantee it would stop on- street parking. Planner McShane asked which parking area would be used as a staging area during construction. Mr. McBride told him they would use the middle school parking lot. Emil Giordano, School Committee, said the jobs would be going out to bid at the same time, so they may be done together, or at maximum spread out over three years. Planner McShane was concerned about using existing parking areas during construction. Mr. Giordano said they wouldn't know exactly what they would do about parking until they had an overall construction schedule, but there were options available. Planner McShane was concerned about making sure children don't run from the new ballfieldlswingset area onto East Street or the parking lot. Ms. Zimmerman said they would be using plantings as buffering and a four foot chain link fence between the fence and the street. She added the paved play area would have a fence on one side and shrubs on he other side along the bus route. Mr. Burke was concerned about parking, especially at the high school. He said he understood the site and budget constraints, but with extensive expansion to the high school and minimum expansion to its parking, additional parking would be necessary. He suggested exploring other options, such as dedicated on- street parking, compact car spaces, expanding the parking area to the grass area in front of the auditorium, shifting the center line and having on- street parking on one side, or even closing East Street entirely. -David Young, MBC Chairman, said they would discuss the options and send the Board of Selectmen a memo about the possibility of on- street parking. Planner Flynn asked how much money would be saved by using ADS pipe. Mr. Burke told her the savings would be in labor, not the pipe itself. Planner Flynn said she agreed the high school parking issue was very important. Mr. Burke asked if the Planning Board would be supportive of closing East Street or putting barriers in the roadway to slow traffic. The board and the MBC said they would be, and it would complement the school projects. Planner McShane asked if the parking space figures had been done like a regular project, how many spaces would be needed? Ivfr. McBride said he would have to gel the trip generation numbers, but h87could figure it out. Planner McShane said he would like to see what the shortfall is, and if it were only a few, it wouldn't be a big deal. However, if the shortfall were large, they could consider going to the Board of Selectmen with the above ideas for East Street. Motion: To send the Building Inspector a positive recommendation on the MBC /School Committee school projects with all of the department head and board comments included. (Flynn- Dolan) Planner Flynn said the board should let the Building Inspector know its concerns about parking. All in favor. PASSES 3. Correspondence 1. Draft Decision - Woodland Park After a discussion with the applicant, Mr. Burke had added a paragraph concerning phasing of the subdivision. Clerk Sullivan suggested adding the phasing plan has to be approved by the Planning Board. Planner Flynn said she was concerned with the abutters dealing with lengthy construction. Mr. Burke said he could add each phase must stand on its own. Clerk Sullivan asked why the applicant hadn't brought up phasing during the public hearing process. Planner Trombetta asked if the board could do a public hearing on the phasing plan. Mr. Burke said it probably could, but a change is usually more substantial to do a public hearing. Chairman French suggested making the phasing subject to Planning Board approval and giving the board the option to hold a public hearing on the phasing plan. Planner Bonda said the board shouldn't add anything about phasing, sign the draft as it is, and let the - -- - -applicant petition for a modification later. Chairman French said he would rather they phased the project than rushed through the whole thing. Motion: To approve the draft decision as written with the addition of 5a - "subject to the approval of the Planning Board. The board reserves the right to hold a public hearing on the amended definitive plan, which may include submittal of such a phasing plan." - (Sullivan- Trombetta) Planner Dolan asked if this would change the time frame. Mr. Burke said the board usually says two years per phase and the next phase may not be started until the first is complete. Motion Withdrawn. Motion: To approve the draft decision as written (Bonda- Sullivan) All in favor. PASSES 2. Letter from John Walsh RE: release of funds - Treetops An opinion will be solicited from Mr. Clifford, and Mr. Burke will check on a contribution in lieu of the street trees. 3. Draft letter to Paul Folkman RE: Eastfield Village Planner Flynn asked that the open space lots be shown on the plan and the applicant take the necessary steps to acquire an easement from Mr. Covett. Motion: To send the letter with the above amendments (Sullivan - Bonda) All in favor. PASSES 4. Minutes June 7, 1995 The board requested "no vote" be added to the fast motion on Woodland Park Motion: To approve the minutes as amended (Dolan - Bonda) Five in favor. Two abstentions. PASSES 5. Appeal of Back Bay Circle subdivision decision 6. Memo from Mr. Burke RE: Impact Fees public hearing Planner McShane said the board should go on record as supporting Franklin's petition, since Mansfield's public hearing is coning up. Motion: To send a letter to Governor Weld supporting Franklin's impact fee petition with copies to Mansfield's legislators (McShane - Flynn) All in favor. PASSES 7. Vadala Settlement Motion: To sign the agreement (Sullivan- Flynn) Six in favor. One abstention. PASSES 8. Letter from Mr. Burke to Mr. Folkman RE: Weaver Lane 9. Memo from Mr. Williams RE: META Train Station Joint Venture 10. Memo from Scott Leite RE: smoking 11. FormZCovenant - Woodland Park 12. Letter from Mr. Burke to Thomas McDonald RE: Mansfield Oil 13. Memo from Mr. Burke to Mr. Williams RE: Dr. Mullin report 14. Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins RE: 4 Piasecki Drive 15. ZBA decisions - Campbell - Granted Stop and Shop - Denied - -- CI Associates - Granted 16. Letter to Building Inspector from Karl Clemmey RE: surplus removal special permit, South Main Street. As this application was not received until 3:15 P.M. today, the board decided to take up the matter at its June 28, 1995 meeting. 4. Master Plan Discussion - Mr. Burke presented the board with an alternative format for the Master Plan Committee, which includes seven Planning Board members, one representative each from the ZBA, Conservation Commission, and Board of Selectmen, and three citizens - at- large, with a Citizens Advisory Committee to meet periodically with the Master Plan Committee. Mr. Burke explained this was an attempt to involve all of the Planning Board members and decrease the size of the committee, while having citizens involved on the advisory committee, which may not meet as often. Planner Dolan said he had wanted the whole board involved because whatever happened, it would take the blame or praise for the plan. He asked who would be in charge. Chairman French said as a subcommittee, it should have a different chairman. Planner McShane agreed the board should have a big role, and citizens have to be involved. He suggested having the Master Plan Committee made of the Planning Board and six citizens -at- large, with staff and other board and committee members on the Advisory Committee. Clerk Sullivan liked Mr. Burke's suggestion that other board members should be on the decision making committee. He said he liked having the Advisory Committee open and encouraging staff and other board members to attend. Planner Flynn suggested adding three more citizens to Mr. Burke's suggested format. Planner Trombetta was concerned having all seven Planning Board members on the Master Plan Committee may interfere with regular Planning Board business. He also asked if 13 members would be too big, saying problems getting the plan done quickly may arise with a large- group.- Planner Bonda said she liked Planner McShane's idea, -- which would distribute the influence between the board and the public. Planner Trombetta was concerned the public may not be as knowledgeable about Master Plan issues as staff or board and committee members. Planner McShane said members of the public on the voting committee would give the public more of a voice, and if the board and committee members on the advisory committee had something to say, he was sure they would, whereas citizens -at -large on the advisory committee may not speak up. Planner Dolan said there would be times all seven Planning Board members wouldn't be able to make the Master Plan meetings, but there would still be a board presence. Clerk Sullivan thought all seven members should attend the meetings. Mr. Burke was concerned the plan would be seen as an "insiders' plan" if the Master Plan Committee is made up entirely of board and committee members. Motion: To make the Master Plan Committee of seven Planning Board members, one representative each from the ZBA, Conservation Commission and Board of Selectmen, and three citizens -at -large as voting members, with Mr. Williams__ and Mr. Burke non - voting members. If the committees do not appoint a representative, a citizen -at -large will be appointed in their place. (Dolan- Sullivan) Five in favor. Two opposed. PASSES Though she was opposed, Planner Bonda said she would support the board's decision. Planner Trombetta said some staff or board members would be more important on some issues, and the committee could invite them when working on those sections. Clerk Sullivan said there should still be a steady representative. Motion: To establish the Advisory Committee as an open committee with representatives and alternates solicited from each board and committee. (Sullivan - Bonda) All in favor. PASSES Clerk Sullivan asked what the process would be for selecting members of the Master Plan Committee. Chairman French said he would like to get time on the Board of Selectmen's agenda in order to update them. Planner Dolan suggested advertising for citizens -at- large. 5. Around the Table Planner Dolan asked if the board could get developers to bring sewer to the end of the last lot shown on their plan. Mr. Burke said he was working on that issue with other staff members and town counsel. 6. Adjournment Motion: To adjourn at 12:00 A.M. (Flynn - Dolan) All in favor. PASSES Date of next meeting: June 28, 1995 Signature of Clerk Date of Approval