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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin of planning brd 5/26/1999Planning Board Minutes May 26,1999 Present: H. Thomas French, Jr., Chairman; Marydee Flynn, Clerk; Mark Cook; Bernard J. Dolan; Scott A. Frank; Thomas P. McShane and Kenneth H. Torman. Also present was Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. Correspondence 1. Minutes of May 12, 1999 Motion: To approve as presented (Dolan- Flynn) 7 -0 PASSES 2. Letter from Michael Trowbridge re: Sherman Jackson Funeral Home Mr. Trowbridge explained that Sherman Jackson Funeral Home is putting on an addition that will change the overall layout, but there will be no additional viewing rooms. They are looking for an opinion from the Planning Board as to how many parking spaces they will be required to have. They now have eighteen spaces; however, the Zoning By -Law does not specifically address the number of parking spaces required for a funeral home. He pointed out that with no increase in the number of viewing rooms, there should be no additional traffic and noted the number of visitors is unpredictable, with people usually only staying for a short period of time. Motion: To find that the existing eighteen parking spaces at the Sherman Jackson Funeral Home is a sufficient number, provided that no additional viewing rooms are added. (Frank - Dolan) 7 -0 PASSES 3. Memorandum from Dan Clifford recommending partial release of surety for work completed at Stearns Hill Estates Phase 6 — Freedom Trail Motion: To release $25,503.60, leaving a balance of $40,394.54 which includes the 10% contingency. (Flynn- Frank) 7 -0 PASSES 4. Memorandum from Dan Clifford recommending partial release of surety for work completed at Stearns Hill Estates Phase 5 — Plantation Road and Mayflower Drive Motion: To release $2,553.31 for work completed on Plantation Road and $8,857.62 for work completed on Mayflower Drive, leaving a balance in the account of $64,518.53 which includes the 10% contingency. (Flynn - Frank) 7 -0 PASSES 1 Meeting of May 26, 1999 5. Letter from Edward F. Carl re: proposed restaurant at 160 North Main Street Mr. Burke explained there is an exemption from the off - street loading requirement in the B -1 Zone if the Planning Board finds that an unsafe situation is not created. He noted that Mr. Carl also sent letters to the Building Inspector and the Board of Selectmen requesting other issues be addressed prior to the granting of permits and licenses to conduct restaurant activities on the site. Mr. Dolan and Mrs. Flynn asked how this was any different from other businesses in the area. Dr. Torman pointed out that this is a narrow portion of North Main Street with two -way traffic and the reason the appliance store moved from this particular site was because of the difficulty with on- street loading. Motion: To send a letter to the Building Inspector advising him that this has come to our attention and requesting that when the application "is received, if no plan for off - street loading is provided, the applicant be advised to come before the Planning Board for a finding and the permit not be issued prior to our making the finding. (Frank- Torman) 5 -2 with Dolan and Flynn opposed PASSES - 6. Zoning Board of Appeals Decisions Coffinan Acquisition Trust (CVS) Special Permit — granted National Development of New England Special Permit — granted Bohler Engineering (Sunoco) Sign Variance — granted 875 South Main Street Realty Trust (Clemmey Parking Lot) Variance from requirements for internal landscaping islands — denied Vincent Tortora Finding (147 Central Street) — granted 7. Notice of Public Hearing— North Attleboro Planning Board 8. Decisions of Attleboro Zoning Board of Appeals 9. Notices of Public Hearings —Attleboro Zoning Board of Appeals 10. Notices of Public Hearings — Norton Planning Board 11. Notice of Public Hearing — Attleboro Municipal Council 12. "Downtown Directions" newsletter of Department of Housing & Community Development 13. "The Dollars and Sense of Open Space Summit `99" invitation from The Taunton River Stewardship Program 14. "Community Developments" newsletter of Department of Housing and Community Development 15. SRPEDD "Regional Review" "Planning" magazine 16. Letter from Attorney James D. Thrasher re: request of Stan Feck to re- petition Zoning Board of Appeals Motion: To schedule a public hearing June 23, 1999 at 8:00 p.m. with notice to abutters and a copy to the Zoning Board of Appeals (Frank- Dolan) 7 -0 PASSES 2 Meeting of May 26, 1999 17. Letter from Bodio Country Classics requesting release of remaining surety held for Winslow Way, said street having been accepted by Town Meeting vote Motion: To release the remaining surety held for Winslow Way (Dolan - Flynn) 7 -0 PASSES St. James Masonic Lodge Continued Public Hearing A letter was read from the Masons advising the Board of their withdrawal of the application, as well as their intent not to request any variances for the property. Motion: To send a Certificate of Action to the Town Clerk accepting the Notice of Withdrawal of the Special Permit application with prejudice. (Dolan -Cook) 7 -0 PASSES Motion: To close the public hearing. (Dolan -Cook) 7 -0 PASSES Lots 69 and 70 Oakland Street Special Permit Public Hearing — Robert Arnold /CEM Carpets Michael Trowbridge advised the Board that he has discussed their previous requests with the applicant. The applicant will be removing the mini - storage request and a revised plan will be prepared. He also noted discussion with Mr. Burke and Mr. Cook regarding the 75 foot setback and that it does not apply. He said the applicant will be going before the Zoning Board of Appeals on June 15 °i and asked for Planning Board support of the request. Mr. Trowbridge asked for a continuation of the public hearing until June 23`d Motion: To continue the public hearing to June 23, 1999 at 8:30 p.m. (Frank - Dolan) 7 -0 PASSES Forin A Plans A Form A Plan was presented, creating two lots on a 130,611 sq.ft. parcel on East Street owned by the Estate of Karen Hansen located at the old East Mansfield Post Office, each lot having sufficient area and frontage. Mr. Burke suggested that the plan warranted endorsement. Motion: To endorse the Form A Plan. (Dolan- Flynn) 7 -0 PASSES Planning Board Reorganization Mr. French noted that in keeping with tradition, the annual reorganization of the Board is held at the first meeting following the conclusion of the Annual Town Meeting. Members asked Mr. French if he would like to continue as Chairman. 3 Meeting of May 26, 1999 He said he would like to give someone else a chance to be Chairman, but would continue if that is the desire of the Board. Mrs. Flynn likewise agreed to continue as Clerk noting, however, that she thinks the Board should change leadership periodically and that other members should have the opportunity to serve as Chairman and Clerk. Everyone agreed, but nobody expressed an interest in serving as Chairman or Clerk at this time. Motion: To nominate Mr. French as Chairman and Mrs. Flynn as Clerk until the conclusion of next year's Annual Town Meeting. (Frank- McShane) 7 -0 PASSES Around the Table Mn McShane asked for a policy vote of the Board not to hold meetings on religious holidays. In discussing the matter, other Board members suggested that "religious" holidays was too inclusive and suggested an informal policy whereby meetings would not be held whenever they would- conflict with the observance of such holidays by Board members. Mr. Burke also noted that the Planning Board meeting schedule is set many weeks in advance and, while every effort will be made not to schedule meetings that would present a conflict, members were asked to review the schedule and advise the office of any potential conflicts. Mr. McShane asked if Mr. Burke had reviewed the Bombolini site plan. Mr. ( Burke said he has talked with Nick Riccio and they are going to put in the raised wooden planters at the Pratt Street entrance to the site. Mr. McShane asked about _ the landscaping project for Pratt Street in the vicinity of Vicino's. Mr. Cook told him the Highway Department will be doing it and at this point is waiting for _ direction from DPW to tear out the existing landscaping and believes funding will not be available until after July ls` for replacement landscaping. Mr. -Dolan brought up the meeting regarding the Route 140/495 ramps. Mr. Burke noted the outcome was that the southbound ramp is desirable, but the northbound ramp is a separate issue. While it was suggested MassHighway look at the northbound ramp, their recommendation would not-be binding. - The need for a southbound ramp was agreed upon. Public Comment . Karl Clemmey commented on several topics: the ramp situation, noting Dianne Royle made it clear that Mansfield is in charge of that ramp Conservation Commission hearings on Great Waves and his opinion that the Commission doesn't know what it's doing 4 Meeting of May 26, 1999 the manner and order in which Town Meeting articles are placed on the warrant, noting there were only 83 people when his articles came up at 11:50 p.m. would like to see density and dimensional regulations changed for the R -2 zone, noting the majority of existing homes in the R -2 zone are on much smaller lots than currently required the demand for industrial land in Mansfield and the need to take a new look at the zoning of the Airport Zone and Branch Street industrial area with the possibility of creating a new zone asked the Board to consider an amendment in the Fall to the recently passed Zoning By -Law amendment allowing housing for 55 years and older in the B- 3 zone, noting there's no other B -3 land left to build on and it's not fair for one person to control it. Discussion of these issues led to the following items being added to the Planning Board worklist: possible rezoning of I -2 areas (Tracy Circle, Ispo /Compo site) think about changing the definition of "warehousing" to exclude transfer stations Mr. French suggested the Board may wish to consider the site plan article again for the Fall Town Meeting. It was suggested that perhaps the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen might take a different position on the issue in the future if there is greater opportunity to discuss the issue with them prior to Town Meeting. He also suggested the Board consider writing a letter to the Building Inspector advising him that it was not the intent of the article to pit the Building Inspector against the Planning Board. Adjournment Motion: To adjourn at 9:45 p.m. (Cook - Frank) 7 -0 PASSES Signature Qf Clerk Y Date of Approval Next Meeting: June 9,1999 Meeting of May 26, 1999