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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin of planning brd 2/25/1998PLANNING BOARD MINUTES -` 1 February 25, 1998 r " Fi: -.:? 19 r- I u: 6 Present: H. Thomas French, Jr., Chairman; Bernie Dolan; Marydee .Flynn;_ Scott A. Frank; Thomas P. McShane and Kenneth H. Torman. Also pres'64 was, ShauniPI $urke, Director of Planning and Development. Meeting Called to Order at 7:30 p.m. Motion: To nominate Marydee Flynn Acting Clerk for the evening. (McShane - Torman) 5 -0 with Mr. Frank not present PASSES Correspondence Special Permit Decision for 155 East Street Residential Compound Motion: To grant the Special Permit (Flynn - Dolan) 5 -0 with Mr. Frank not present PASSES Mrs. Flynn: in favor because the project is in harmony with the existing neighborhood Mr. Dolan: in favor because it meets all the Town's requirements Mr. McShane: in favor because it's a reasonable use of the property and the applicant has been amenable to providing buffering and screening Dr. Torman: in favor because it's the best use of the property and the applicant has worked with the Board to be sure the project will be done properly Mr. French: in favor because it's the best use of the property in fitting with the neighborhood and environment Notice of meeting of SRPEDD to review ideas for improvements to the I- 495 /South Main Street interchange - Members noted that South Main Street residents are scheduled on the Board of Selectmen agenda tonight. The board discussed sending a letter to the Selectmen with their recommendation and suggesting a joint workshop to explore all alternatives. Motion: To send such a letter to the Board of Selectmen (Torman - Flynn) 5 -0 with Mr. Frank not present PASSES Minutes of February 11, 1998 Motion: To approve (Dolan- Torman) 4 -0 -1 with Mr. Frank abstaining. PASSES Minutes of February 18, 1998 Mr. McShane noted on page 1 regarding his discussion with Mr. Montgomery that Mr. Montgomery assured him they intend to "propose a buffering plan" and on page 3 regarding discussion of transfer station, his comment should read, "..the Weld administration has had a moratorium on trash facilities..." and "for the last Minutes of Febmary 2>. 1998 eleven years" should be deleted. ( Motion: To approve the minutes as amended (Flynn - Torman) 4 -0 -1 with Mr. Dolan abstaining and Mr. Frank not present PASSES x Letter from Bertram Cook re: zoning opinion on transfer station Mr. McShane said he's trying to avoid a situation where the Building Inspector is operating under one set of assumptions and the Planning Board is operating under another and we don't find out until it's too late. He noted it's the Building Inspector's decision, but asked if board members want to tell him they think it's "a stretch." Mr. Dolan said he doesn't see that it's a stretch and Mrs. Flynn stated she doesn't think the voters were thinking of a transfer station as a warehouse when they voted at Town Meeting and that finding a use and then going to the Zoning By -law to see what it fits under is ludicrous. Mr. McShane noted we have dealt with the definition of warehouse before when Mr. Clemmey wanted to do a project on Copeland Drive. Mr. Burke advised the board that it was a different issue in that Mr. Clemmey wanted to do self - storage units, which Mr. Cook considered to be "warehouse" and that is not an allowed use in the B -3 Zone. x Public Hearing Notice - Norton Planning Board x Public Hearing Notices (2) - North Attleboro Planning Board x Mass Interchange newsletter Yi[1 tge a# Mill o v Crass tgs (Cob b St rest }<Fubhc Hearrrtg Mr. Chris Engley of Village Retirement Communities explained the concept of assisted care and the three types of units -42 individual units for independent living, with the remainder being for those requiring assisted care with services limited to medical care and the 48 units for Alzheimer's. Jim Dunn reviewed the site plans and details on how the site will be developed on a 20 acre parcel on the south side of Cobb Street, approximately 500 feet in from South Main Street. He also showed the improvements to be made to Cobb Street. He reviewed the subdivision of the parcel, showing the Back Bay Brook and how the roads would be put through the project for traffic flow and emergency access. Edward Lyons, landscape architect, reviewed the landscaping plan, showing the placement of detention ponds located on either side of the stream to reinforce the landscaping and make the stream appear as meandering. He pointed out the various flowering trees, deciduous trees, and shrubs. He also noted they are retaining the wooded areas, adding fencing and some double rows of plantings. Also noted were the street trees and plantings around the two larger buildings, courtyard plantings, and groups of cluster plantings. Mr. Dunn reviewed on -site drainage and utility improvements to be made on Cobb Street. Mrs. Flynn read correspondence: 2 Minutes of February 25. 1998 * Letter of December 2, 1997 from Karl Clemmey authorizing Village Retirement ( Communities and /or Peter J. Sangermano Construction Company to file in his name * Memo of January 6, 1998 from Lt. Joseph Sarro of the Fire Department requesting that five conditions be met * Memo of January 29, 1998 from Richard Lewis, Environmental & Conservation Planner * Memo of January 29, 1998 from Shaun Burke, Director of Planning and Development * Memo of February 3, 1998 with Water Department recommendations * Memo of January 29, 1998 from Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer * Letter of response from Dunn - McKenzie, Inc., dated February 5, 1998 * Memo of February 24, 1998 from Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer * Follow -up memo of February 25, 1998 from Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer * Narrative response from Dunn- McKenzie dated February 17, 1998 to comments of Department Heads Mr. Dunn reviewed the changes made to address Department Head comments, noting that all the changes were highlighted in yellow on the plan. He pointed out that irrigation wells would be used for watering of the plantings and that the estimated water usage of 18,200 gallons per day is comparable to the 42 houses which could be put on the site. He noted they are asking for a waiver for sidewalks on the south side of Cobb Street. Charles Meszoely of 158 South Main Street asked how many employees there would be. ( Mr. Sangermano replied there would be 120 full- and part-time employees over three shifts, with shift changes between 6 -7 a.m., 34 p.m. and 10 -11 p.m. The largest shift would be 40 -45 employees. Dr. Meszoely also asked how many residents there would be and was told there would be approximately 225 to 235. Paul MacDonald of 170 South Main Street asked if there would be any mentally ill people living there. Mr. Sangermano said there would be Alzheimer's patients with dementia, but they are not categorized as mentally ill. He noted the average age of residents living in the independent units is 75, with 83 years of age being the average in the assisted care units. Mr. MacDonald asked questions about the Bay Brook and flooding and if the pipe going beneath the brook would be in the water table. Mr. Dunn noted it would be done during the summer when the water table is 8 -9 feet down. Mr. MacDonald asked if a traffic study has been done at South Main and Cobb Streets. Mr. Dunn referenced the study done by Beta Engineering. Mr. MacDonald also asked if there would be an exit on the Connor side of the property and if there was any discussion about putting fencing in for the 3 -4 abutters where the proposed fencing ends. Thom Connor of 58 Pleasant Street, representing his father at 26 Aspen Street, asked if the traffic study was done to include food and supply delivery, trash pickup and other commercial vehicles. Mr. Sangermano said there were few deliveries, with Sysco once a week and trash pickup twice a week, but they were included in the traffic study. Mr. Connor also asked the height and type of fencing abutting his father's property and was told it would be 6 foot cedar stockade. He asked if there would be audible warning alarms 3 Minutes of February 25, 1998 ( and was told there would only be warning buzzers on the doors which would not be audible outside the building. He asked about the peak height of the tallest building. There will be one two -story building 35 feet high. He also asked if lighting would be shining onto abutting properties. Mr. Dunn reviewed the lighting, showing decorative lighting on the street and roads, with the remaining lighting to meet fire codes for emergency exits. He said there would be lights on the front of the buildings, but no lights would be directed onto abutting properties. He then asked the average cost per month to reside at the facility. Mr. Sangermano noted it depends on the level of service required -41,500 per month to $3,000 per month which he stated is in line with existing facilities throughout the area. Mr. MacDonald asked if there will be a limit on visiting hours and was told the front doors are locked at 7:30 p.m., but family members can still visit anytime, just like they would at a person's home. He asked about noise and hours of operating during construction and was told they would be working Monday through Friday, with some Saturday work. The timeframe established projects that the first phase would be done by fall, with completion in 6 -7 months. All heavy work is scheduled to be done during the first phase, and the typical work hours would be 7 -7:30 a.m. start, with quitting time 3:30 -4:00 p.m. this time of year, 5:00 -6:00 p.m. during the summer. He asked if trucks entering and leaving would interfere with traffic flow on South Main Street and was told they will have flaggers during the heavy construction phase. Mr. French also noted the Planning Board has some ability to set reasonable hours of operation. Mr. MacDonald asked how medical waste ( would be handled and was told they are not a medical facility and there is very little medical waste. They are regulated by the Department of Health and have a small waste disposal box, approximately 2 feet square. Mr. Frank asked if all the buildings would be going on -line at the same time and was told the large building and independent units would be constructed during Phase 1, and the Alzheimer's units in Phase 2. He asked about the fire access road in the back of the property and was told it was done at the request of the Fire Department and they were asked that it be constructed of material able to support the weight of the trucks. He asked about the width of the driveways at the independent living units and was told they are 12 feet to allow for visitor parking at the units. Mr. McShane asked if the traffic study shows changes in the level of service on Cobb Street. Mr. Dunn noted there are only four homes on Cobb Street, so it is difficult to study a before and after situation. Mr. McShane also asked what waivers were being requested. Mr. Dunn said they are listed on page 1. He asked if Road 1 is considered a dead -end street and was told it is a private way. Landscaping and buffering were questioned, and Mr. Lyons pointed out they are shown on set 3 -L. Mr. McShane also asked about access to the proposed bike path. Mr. Dunn explained that access is blocked now at the end of Cobb Street at Mr. Clemmey's request due to safety concerns. If the bike path is developed, Mr. Clemmey says he will deed access to the Town from the t deadend at the end of the cul -de -sac. Mr. McShane asked what alternatives to dry basins have been considered and discussion followed. He also asked what type of sidewalks 4 Minutes of February 25, 1998 were being constructed and was advised they would be concrete with monolithic curbing Mrs. Flynn noted that she is concerned about drainage and hopes the proposed drainage works. Mr. Dunn reviewed work that was done on the Bay Brook by the Corps of Engineers and discussion continued regarding drainage issues. Mrs. Flynn also asked about the elevation of the buildings. Mr. Dunn noted that each building is picked up about a foot in the rear to encourage drainage into the center of the property, noting that run -off after development cannot be greater than before. Mrs. Flynn also expressed concern about lighting, stating she would like the lights to be positioned in such a way that residents can stand in the courtyard at night and look up and be able to see the stars. She asked if units would be sold prior to construction and what will happen if the units cannot be filled. Mr. Sangermano responded that units are being rented, and cannot be rented until they're ready for occupancy. He does not anticipate filling the units will be a problem and they cannot be turned into apartments. She asked about the waiver for the length of the cul -de -sac street and was told it would be 1,075 feet from South Main Street. She also questioned why the grass strip at the sidewalk was being eliminated and was told the waiver was being requested based on concerns of neighbors due to their homes' proximity to the roadway. Mr. Clemmey spoke about access to the proposed bike path, noting there were other points of access, and noted his safety concerns with access from Cobb Street. Discussion continued regarding lighting and the types of lights to be used at various locations. Mr. French expressed concern about the slopes on the road profiles, fearing that puddles and icing would be a problem. Mr. Sangermano noted they are private roads and there is on -site maintenance at the facility around the clock. Mr. French also asked if they have done an erosion control plan. Mr. Dunn replied that it is in the filing of the Notice of Intent, along with an operation and maintenance plan. Mr. MacDonald further asked how drainage gets taken care of during construction and if the fence crosses the brook at the Connor side of the property. He questioned child safety issues in crossing the street during construction and expressed concern that traffic would be backing up on Cobb Street with vehicles trying to get out onto South Main Street. He also asked again if there would be mentally ill people or child molesters living there and was told that anyone over the age of 55 who has the means to live there will be allowed to live at the property, just as they would be anywhere else in town. Dr. Torman questioned the estimated water usage and what the figures were based on. Mr. Sangermano said their figures came from actual meter readings at their other property. Board members summarized items for follow -up, which included the following: * Would like traffic engineers to provide "before and after" level of service on Cobb Street * Deeded access to bike path from Cobb Street 5 Minutes of February 25, 1998 • Easement for sewer lines traveling on Cobb Street • Parking lot lighting and other lighting within the park to be shielded and directed downward so that people can look up at the sky at night and see the stars • Information on groundwater depth in spring and how deep the water will be • Minimum slopes on roadways; concerns with puddles and icing conditions • Report from Lance Lawson, Police Safety Officer, regarding South Main Street and Cobb Street intersection and traffic and location of nearest bus stop * Cut or information regarding on -site lighting fixtures * Photometrics of site lighting * Erosion control plan * Sequence of construction information * Outline of plan of construction operations; construction mitigation plan * Draft of language regarding deeded access to bike path * Alternate drainage proposal * Chart on level of service change from traffic engineer * Reconsideration by Town Engineer regarding issue of slopes of roads, catchbasins, depth of groundwater at basins, and if groundwater comes up into them in spring; do calculations as presently reflected and what design intention is * Opinion from Town Engineer on feasibility of wet basins vs. dry * Possible problem with waiver for one sidewalk on Cobb Street Motion: To continue the Public Hearing to March 11, 1998 at 8:15 p.m. (Flynn - Frank) 6 -0 PASSES Mrs. Flynn said she would like to see changes to the lighting regulations so we can all see more of the stars. Mr. Dolan reported that funding for the bike path will probably be a CIP recommendation this year. Motion: To adjourn at 11:1Op. m. (Frank - Torman) 6 -0 PASSES -? /I-,- �il ignature of Clerk Date of Approval Minutes of February 25, 1998