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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Brd Min_671995PLANNING BOARD MINUTES 95 JU ? 22 AN 10: 17 June 7, 1995 PRESENT: Chairman French, Acting Clerk Bonda PLANNERS: Dolan, Flynn, Trombetta iAS A GHUStTTS Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development 1. Meeting called to order at 7:00 P.M. 2. Correspondence Motion: To appoint Planner Bonda Acting Clerk (Flynn - Dolan) All in favor. PASSES 1. Street Acceptance P1ans:Joanna Dr, Beaumont's Pond Dr, Jefferson Rd, Longwood Circle, Donovan Ln, Rosewood Ct, Barnboard Rd, Whitetail Ln. Motion: To sign the street acceptance plans (Trombetta - Dolan) All in favor. PASSES 2. Winslow Estates Subdivision Plan. Mike Trowbridge has added the changes to the elevation at the 100 -year storm. Motion: To sign the Winslow Estates plans (Flynn - Dolan) All in favor. PASSES 3. Woodland Park draft decision Planner Flynn said she would like the earthen bean to follow South Main Street and be graded to fit in more naturally with the landscape. Regarding pavement width on Smiley Avenue, Nit. Burke suggested the board consider modifying the street width to allow it to be 24 feet in order to be consistent with the existing street. He mentioned narrowing the road would help prevent speeding. Planner Dolan asked why the 28 foot width was used at all, if it makes it easier to drive faster. Plainer Flynn agreed. Mt-. Burke said it was better to have streets between two major roads wider to accommodate a turning lane. Planner Flynt was concerned giving waivers would look like the board was making it easy for the developer. She said the developer would be spending less money by putting in narrower streets. Mr. Burke agreed, but said the board has a responsibility beyond making the developer spend the maximum amount of money; there is a public safety and fiscal impact on the town when the street becomes a public way. Planner Flynn agreed that in this instance, the road should be 24 feet. Regarding sidewalks, Ivh•. Burke asked what their installation would do a street where there are none. He said it may also involve putting the sidewalk in some front ,yards. Planner Flynn said she would like a 24 foot street with two sidewalks. Motion: To go with a 24 foot street, sidewalks on both sides, street trees within the unpaved portion of the right of way, and granite curbing. (Flyiut- Dolan) (N0 v'ort) Mr. and lU s. McGee said there is a stone wall in front of their house, and they do not want the street to come too close. \4r. Burke said the road could be jogged and the sidewalk run to the McGee property. Planner Flynt agreed, saying if it were a scenic road, the board would do anything it could to preserve tine wall. Mr. Burke said he did not know if the stone wall is in the right -of -way, as it is not shown on the plan. He suggested having the sidewalk end at the driveway of lot 46. Chairman French suggested having the sidewalk on the easterly side of Smiley Avenue end at McGee's property line. Mr. Burke suggested if the board goes with two sidewalks, street trees along Smiley Avenue should go in the location required be the Subdivision Regulations. Motion: To grant the waiver for a 24 foot roadway as it is in the best interest of the town and the neighborhood, and will be in keeping with the character of the neighborhood, and for public safety reasons. (Flynn - Bonda) Ali in favor. PASSES Planner Flynn said she wanted to see the more curvilinear detention area on the plan before filing the decision. Mr. Burke said he would add the staff and board conunents are to be addressed during the 20 -day appeal. period. 4. Memo from Dan Clifford RE: Partial release of bond - Stearns Hill Estates Motion: To release the recommended amount (Flynn - Dolan) All in favor. PASSES 5. Memo from Dan Clifford RE: Partial release of bond - Bay Brook Farm Motion: To release the recommended amount (Dolan - Trombetta) All in favor. PASSES 6. Memo from Dan Clifford RE: Bond amount - Bay Brook Farm 7. Memo from Joan Cutillo RE: Bond amount - Bay Brook Farm Motion: To set the surety at the recommended amount (Flynn - Dolan) All in favor. PASSES 8. Form J Bay Brook Farm Motion: To sign the Form J (Flynn- Dolan) All in favor. PASSES 9. Letter from Paul Folkman RE: Eastfreld Village Mr. Burke said the letter, with a list of items Mr. Folkman saw as issues to be resolved, was an attempt to get everything completed by the next public hearing. Planner Dolan was concerned about blasting and said the developer should be required to do pre -blast surveys for everyone concerned about possible damage. Planner Flynn agreed. Ivh•. Burke said he would draft a Iptter to Mr. Folkman acknowledging the concerns in Mr. Folkman's letter and listing the board's other concerns. 10. ZBA application for finding - Barrett - Columbine Road The application is to build up, not out, and the addition will be within the footprint of the existing building, so no new non - conformity will be created. Motion: To send the ZBA a positive recommendation (Dolan - Flynn) All in favor. PASSES 11. ZBA application for variance - Mabry - Jewell Street The applicant wants to create a second lot,which would conform, but, the fast lot wouldn't Motion: To send the ZBA a negative recommendation (AAii - Trombetta) All in favor. PASSES 12. ZBA application for variance - Helix Technology The application does not show the location for the sign or (lie sign. Motion: Not to send the ZBA a recommendation because there is not enough information for the board to act at this time. (Bonda- Trombetta) All in favor. PASSES 13. Minutes May 17, 1995 Planner Flynn asked that under the discussion of Fram Estates, it be added that the agreements with abutters should be completed before the applicant comes back. Motion: To approve the minutes as amended (Dolan - Flynn) Four in favor. One abstention. PASSES 14. Minutes May 24, 1995 Planner Flynn asked that under the Eastfreld Village discussion, it be noted that she asked Mr. Burke to took into Section 3.3.2.14 to see if the developers need an easement. Motion: To approve the minutes as amended (Dolan- Flynn) All in favor. PASSES 15. Memo from Tracy Pereira RE: Board of Selectmen meeting schedule 16. Environmental Notification Form - Reconstruction of ✓Till Pond Dam 17. Letter from Paul Folkman to Dave Archard RE: Tata and Howard proposal 18. Letter from Planning Board to the Mansfield News and Sun Chronicle RE: Trait Station 19. Memo from Mr. Burke to John Walsh RE: Treetops electrical punch list 20. Memo from Dianne Royle RE: Communications with town staff 3. Master Plan Discussion Nh•. Burke gave the board a suggested outline and process time line. Chairman French said the board should try to organize and focus its discussion, working on the composition of the committee and the elements of the plan. Chairman French discussed having the Master Plan Committee doing the work and using an Advisory Committee as a sounding board. Planner Trombetta asked if there were two or three Planning Board members on the Master Plan Cormmittee, what would the role of the other Planning Board members be. Asir. Burke said it would provide a two - tiered effect, with the members on the Master Plan Committee updating the full board on the Master Plan activities, and the board giving the Master Plan representatives feedback and ideas to bring to the Master Plan Committee. N"Ir. Burke expressed concern about those members on both boards suffering burnout. Planner Flynn thought it important everyone on the Planning Board participate it the Master Plan process. She said being part of a Master Plan Conunittee was part of the commnitment the members made when they were appointed to the Planning Board. She said the last time the Master Plan was updated, the committee had trouble getting quorums even though the committee was large. Planner Dolan said it may be more effective to have members of other boards involved when it comes time to have the Master Plan accepted at Town Meeting, but added he did not want the Planning Board to give up control over the process. He agreed with Planter Flynn that the members should be involved, and if there are Master Plan meetings some carrot make, there would still be Planting Board representatives. Planner Trombetta suggested a three- tiered approach, with the Planning Board having the final say, a Master Plan Committee, and a Citizens' Advisory Committee. Planner Flynn was concerned the Planning Board would be able to shoot down all the work the Master Plan Committee does. Mr. Burke agreed, saying during the last Master Plan update, the final version did not include all of the Master Plan Committee's work. Planner Flynn said the makeup of the Master Plan Committee is important, and where the last time the committee was made up of many developers, this time the Planning Board should take a major role. She said the blaster Plan should be more balanced, not geared toward developers or large land owners, and thought the Planning Board would be able to strike that balance by getting as many people involved as possible. Mr. Burke suggested a committee that big would become unmanageable. Planner Dolan asked about cutting down on the citizens -at- large; Planner Flynn said they were the most important part, and the number of representatives from boards should be cut down. She suggested having the Planning Board and members of other boards as the Master Plan Committee and the citizens -at -large as the Citizens Advisory Committee. Planner Dolan agreed with the idea. Mn-. Burke was concerned that if the Planning Board were to do all the work, it would be perceived as the board's Master Plan, not the town's, which is why the idea of a Citizens Advisory Committee is a good one. Planner Trombetta said if the plan is approved at Town Meeting, the plan would not be perceived as being the Planning Board's. Planner Flynn remembered the citizens -at -large attended the Train Station Advisory Committee meetings at the beginning, then stopped. Mr. Burke agreed, but said they should be given the opportunity to participate, but reiterated he did not want a huge committee; on the other hand, he said he did not want it to be so small it seems exclusionary. Planner Dolan reminded the board the law says the Planning Board shall do the Master Plan, so whatever happens with the plan, the board will get the praise or blame for it, and perhaps the board should do it. Planner Flynn said the document would have wide support and a better chance of being accepted if everyone has their say; the worst thing would be for the Planning Board to do the plan and have it not be accepted at Town Meeting because no one else was involved. Planner Trombetta suggested soliciting recommendations and comments to the Planning Board from the public and other boards, but said the role of the Planning Board should be the greatest. Planner Dolan agreed with Planner Flynn's earlier statement that it would be hard to get people to do all the necessary work if they know the Planning Board can veto the whole thing. Planner Trombetta said he was talking about some kind of middle ground and that it comes down to what the Planning Board feels its role should be. Mr. Burke suggested the Planning Board as the Master Plan Committee with a Citizens Advisory Committee bringing ideas to the board to be fit into the process. Planner Dolan said if there were to be two or three Planning Board representatives, he would not want to be one. Planner Flynn agreed, saying it would be hard for her to express her own opinions and the board's if she were representing the whole Platming Board. Chairman French was concerned about a small committee being perceived as exclusionary and not soliciting enough input. Planner Dolan said he did not want it to look as though the Planning Board were relinquishing its duty to do the Plan by having two or three representatives. Chairman French said by doing it that way, it would look like the Planning Board was both fulfilling its duty and seeking input from others. The board discussed the Planning Board as a steering committee with a subcommittee reporting back. Chairman French thought the subcommittee could meet with both the Planning Board and the Citizens Advisory Committee. Mr. Burke said what would be done in -house and what would be sent to a consultant had to be decided. 4. Around the Table Planner Dolan asked if the board would be willing to postpone the Saturday site walk- to Eastfreld Village. The board agreed they could visit the site individually. Chairman French asked if anything had been done on Weaver Lane. Nh•. Burke said he had not seen a proposal, but could send Nlr. Folkman a letter requesting a proposal. Planner Bonda asked if anything had come of the developer's 5th Amendment complaints. Mr. Burke said the town's position was that none of the complaints had any validity, so there was nothing to discuss. At that point, apparently the developers said they would drop the lawyers if the town were willing to talk about it. Planner Dolan said he had been asked when sidewalks would be installed at Stop and Shop. Ivh% Burke told him they would not, because, although Stop and Shop was willing, they had found there is not enough room to install a sidewalk. Planner Dolan was concerned about things being promised when developments are proposed and never happening. He said someone should have checked to be sure sidewalks could be installed before telling the neighbors they would be. 5. Adjournment Motion: To adjourn at 10:40 P.M. (Bonds- Dolan) All in favor. PASSES Date of next meeting: Wednesday, June 2t, 1995 at 7:30 P.M. igrlahu /f Clerk — - Da Approval - - --