Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutplanningbrdmin03242010 Planning Board Minutes March 24, 2010 '; "n Present: Tom French, Chair; Beth Ashman-Collins, Clerk; Doug Annino, Anthony' .,. ij:=-;: ICE Jodice, Don Cleary, Olivier Kozlowski . I Timothy Verrochi, Alternate n r=) J: ~ 3 Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development 11. Meeting called to order at 7:30 p.m. i.:";""'.; ,-'" -"'C'j I 12. 1. Correspondence March 1 0, 2010 minutes Motion: To approve as submitted (Annino-Verrochi) Four in favor. Two abstentions. PASSES 2. ZBA application for variance - 37 Donald Allen Drive - sideyard setback Mr. Burke explained the applicant is requesting a 19.5 foot setback where 25 feet is required. He said there is a large wetland valley to the left of this house, and nearly the entire lot is within the 100-foot buffer. The proposed addition is as far from the wetland as possible. Mr. Burke suggested a positive recommendation be sent to the ZBA because this is really the only place to build due to the wetland and lot shape. [Mr. Jodice arrived at this time] Motion: To send the ZBA a positive recommendation because the lot is irregularly shaped and the wetlands encroach on the property. However, the board is concerned about the impact of this addition on the nearest neighbor. (Annino-Collins) Six in favor. One abstention. PASSES 3. ZBA application for variance - 1730 West Street - front yard setback. Mr. French said he would abstain from this discussion. Mr. Burke explained that because this is a comer lot, the 40-foot front yard setback has to be maintained on both West Street and Chambers Court. He said with the variance, the house would still be farther off the Chambers Court side than it is now on the West Street side. He said this house existed before the subdivision existed, and the construction of Chambers Court made this a non-conforming lot. Mr. Kozlowski noted the addition would be closer to Chambers Court than the existing house. Mr. Burke suggested four feet could be trimmed so the addition doesn't get closer to Chambers Court than the existing house. Motion: To send the ZBA a positive recommendation, suggest the addition could be moved four feet so it isn't closer than the existing house to Chambers Court, and suggest the addition stay within the setback on the Chambers Court side (Kozlowski-Cleary) Six in favor. One abstention. PASSES I 3. Form A (ANR) Plans Planning Board 1 3/25/2010 ,. IA.Discussion with StanFeck__(jteen'l'r~~c..~(C21mden Lane)-Elm Street Mr. Feck explained he has bought the unfinished subdivision and before he starts work, he would like to discuss some issues with the board. The first is the sidewalk on the right at the beginning of the roadway, where there is a steep bank. He said to make the sidewalk work in that location, a lot of existing trees would have to be removed, which the abutter was adamant should stay. Mr. Feck said the six-lot subdivision was approved with sidewalk all the way around; he would like to leave out this part of the sidewalk to avoid having to grade the bank and losing the tree buffer. He said the road has been built to binder, and the drainage has been installed. Mr. Feck said there is a similar grading issue with the sidewalk around the cul-de-sac. He suggested eliminating the grass strip between the curbing and the sidewalk as the sidewalk enters the cul-de-sac and building the sidewalk around the cul-de-sac at the back edge of curbing, with no grass strip. The sidewalk will continue back to the mouth of the cul-de-sac, with a handicapped ramp installed. He said the curbing has already been installed on the inside of the island, but not on the outside. Mr. French said he understands Mr. Feck's concern about the cul-de-sac landscaping. Mr. Annino agreed, but said he wouldn't be comfortable taking out the sidewalk entirely. Mr. French asked if the roadway could be narrowed; Mr. Feck said the road is too far along and the drainage installed. Mr. French suggested taking two feet off the pavement width; Mr. Feck said he would look into that option. Mr. Burke said this was originally permitted a traditional subdivision with no waivers. Mr. Burke said he likes having the sidewalk around the cul-de-sac. However, he said he agreed that installing the sidewalk on the right side of the roadway would result in the removal of several large, mature trees that would buffer the neighbors. He said the sidewalk that would remain is on the side where four of the six houses are to be built. Mr. Feck said using a four-foot sidewalk instead of a five-foot sidewalk would help in the cul-de-sac. Mr. Burke said hooking the sidewalk around the cul-de-sac and removing the grass strip around the cul-de-sac would work. He said if this subdivision were being permitted, this would require a waiver, but because this road is so far along, it could be a field modification. Motion: To modify the Green Tree Acres subdivision plan to eliminate the portion of the sidewalk on the north side of Camden Lane and build the sidewalk tight to the back edge of the curb around the cul-de-sac (Annino-Cleary) All in favor. PASSES S..Sp~cb".PeJ'ltlitPtlblicll"aJiltge()1ltin.u~;...?05>Sollth..MainStl'eet.....C()1IlIllercial Parking Lot The clerk read a request from the applicant's attorney to continue the public hearing to April 28, 2010 Motion: To continue the public hearing to April 28, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. (Kozlowski-Annino) All in favor. PASSES Planning Board 2 3/25/2010 TO' 6.SitePlalD.l{evie'WlMuD.idpal~learingJ.louse-CateSprings Chemi~1 Feed FacDityllllprf)Vemellts-MapleStr'eet...Lee ~b.eira, DPW Director Lee Azinheira, DPW Director; Kurt Gaffney, Water Operations Manager; Bob Chapelle and David White, Woodard & Curran Mr. Azinheira said Cate Springs is the town's oldest and best producing well. He said new DEP regulations require the water to have a certain amount of "chlorine time," and this proposal will address the new regulations as well as the existing issues. Mr. White presented the plan for a 150,000-gallon storage tank at the south side of Maple Street and a new single-story, pre-fabricated building adjacent to the existing access road. Both structures are beyond the required setbacks. Some trees will be removed, but many will be left in place. The water line will be replaced from the pump building to the new storage tank. The existing asphalt drive will be removed; however, there will be a slight increase in impervious surface, which will be mitigated. The result will be 3,000 less feet of pavement and about 1,200 more feet of impervious surface because of the new tank:. Mr. French explained the board has to make recommendations to the Building Inspector on the site plan and to the Board of Selectmen as Water Commissioners on the municipal clearinghouse. Department Head Comment The clerk read comments from the Electric Department, Engineering Department and Mr. Burke. Mr. White presented the board with a letter explaining how they have addressed and complied with all of the department head comments. He said he received a follow-up memo from Mr. Alves on March 23, and provided the board with a response to that memo dated March 24, as well as revised sheets 4 and 6 to address Mr. Alves' concerns. Board Comment Mr. Cleary asked if there were any comments from Police and Fire. Mr. Burke said the Police Department didn't have any problems because it is an existing driveway, and the new design will improve the turning radius. Mr. Cleary asked if there will be a bathroom and a septic system on this site; Mr. Azinheira said there will not be. Mr. Annino asked where the floor drains go. Mr. Chapelle said there are small drains to collect clean water from analyzers, which go to a dry well outside the building. He said there will be no roof drains. Mr. Annino asked if there is a stone bed around the building to take rainwater from the roof. Mr. White said there is not, but one could be added. Mr. Annino said he is concerned about the aesthetics of the new building. Mr. Azinheira said it will be a pre-cast concrete building, and they are open to color suggestions. Mr. Annino said he would prefer the building have a smooth surface, rather than the grooved Planning Board 3 3/25/2010 11' building used at the Morrison well. Mr. Annino said basic concrete grey may be the best way to go, and suggested the tank should be the same color. Mr. Annino asked if the building will be heated and cooled. Mr. Azinheira said it would be, because the chemicals they use require specific temperatures. The mechanical equipment will be inside the building. Mr. Annino asked about potential explosion issues. Mr. Gaffney there are none because they use liquid chlorine, not gas chlorine. Mr. Chapelle said there are tank vents to the outside of the building. The fill will be on the outside of the building with a level indicator and an alarm. Mr. Kozlowski asked if the color would change the cost. Mr. Chapelle said it wouldn't be significant. Mr. Azinheira agreed. Mr. French asked if the tank is concrete; Mr. Chapelle said it is. Mr. French asked why part of it is buried; Mr. Chapelle said they will try to make it as unobtrusive as possible. Mr. Burke suggested positive recommendations be sent to the Building Inspector and Board of Selectmen as Water Commissioners. Motion: To send the Building Inspector a positive recommendation on the site plan application with the following conditions: I. A stone bed should be added around the building to take roof runoff; 2. The color ofthe building and tank should be the same, and should match the grout (Annino-Cleary) All in favor. PASSES Motion: To send the Board of Selectmen as Water Commissioners a positive recommendation on the municipal clearinghouse application with the following conditions: 1. A stone bed should be added around the building to take roof runoff; 2. The color of the building and tank should be the same, and should match the grout (Annino-Cleary) All in favor. PASSES ().... SiteiPla...R..,vielVll\fu..i(:iPaal(:)~~ollSe....~alsh\VenW..ter'fr..,.tJ1tel.\t FacilityUpgrades......GilbettS~et...tee.Azirtheria,))P\V Director Lee Azinheira, DPW Director; Kurt Gaffney, Water Operations Manager; Bob Chapelle and David White, Woodard & Curran Mr. Azinheira explained there have been a number of problems with this well, including the green sand filters, pumping and keeping a steady flow from the wells. The backwash filters currently pull water from the distribution supply, which can result in solids in the water. The new DEP regulations also affect this well site. Mr. Azinheira said this tank is 1.5 million gallons, so it is much larger than the Cate Springs tank. He showed the board a photo simulation of the site from Gilbert Street. He Planning Board 4 3/25/2010 ,.. said the tank will be the color of "winter grass" in order to blend in during the winter; he said the trees will buffer the site in the summer. Mr. Azinheira said after the tank is in, if there are areas that require additional buffering, they will plant evergreens. Mr. Cleary asked how far below the road level the site is. Mr. Chapelle presented the board a plan with a cross section through the site, showing the new tank about 5.5 feet higher than the existing tank. The bottom elevation of the tank is 120. Mr. French asked why the bottom of the tank is 120 and existing grade is 113. Mr. Chapelle said groundwater is right below the surface on this site. Mr. French asked if the tank could be dropped down to existing grade. Mr. Jodice asked about fencing. Mr. Azinheira said there would be a chain link fence beyond the tree line. Ms. Collins asked what the sources of contamination are; Mr. Azinheira said the wells are very shallow, so it could be animals or upstream septic systems. Mr. Gaffney noted the Walsh Well is not used unless it is absolutely necessary, and the improvements will correct the chlorination issues, backwashing issues, iron and manganese issues, pumping issues, and will allow the town to get 1.5 million gallons out of the well. He said it is very hard to get a new well permitted these days. Mr. Azinheira said with a 1.5 million gallon storage tank~ there will be a supply in case other wells go down. Mr. Gaffney said the town's average water use is about 2 million gallons a day; he said trouble comes when one of the wells go down. Ms. Collins asked if development around the wells cause issues with the wells. Mr. Azinheira said most problems happen after heavy rains. Mr. French asked how deep the wells are. Mr. Chapelle said they are very shallow, 25-30 feet deep. Mr. Azinheira said the water table in that area is also very high. Mr. Burke said the original Walsh Well construction took a tremendous amount of time and money, and he was disturbed to find that the town hasn't been able to use it. He said Mr. Gaffney has been working hard to preserve the permit and maintain the original design capacity. Mr. Gaffney said the treatment plant itself works well. Mr. Chapelle said the plant was designed to take backwash from the filters to a holding area below the building. There isn't enough capacity or time for the solids to settle out of the backwash, so they go back into the system, clogging it. The new system will function as a settling tank to keep the solids separate; they are eventually pumped out and incinerated. Department Head Comment The clerk read memos from the Light Department, Engineering Department and Mr. Burke. Mr. White read a response explaining how those comments have been addressed. Planning Board 5 3/25/2010 'lII Mr. White read a March 24 memo from Mr. Alves. Mr. White said they will address those comments. Board Comment Mr. Jodice said he understands projects like this have to be done, but said he was very concerned about the size of this tank in a residential neighborhood. Mr. Burke said when this was originally permitted, the biggest concern was that it have a minimal impact. Mr. Jodice said he was very concerned about property values in the neighborhood. Mr. Azinheira said the row of trees will block the site in the summertime, and said they would plant additional evergreens where appropriate to block the view in the wintertime. He said it will be more visible from coming up Gilbert Street from the right, so that may be where additional trees may be needed. Mr. Jodice asked if the tank's diameter could be increased and the height decreased. Mr. Chapelle said that could be an option, but he didn't know how it would effect the stormwater and drainage calculations. He said it would make the project more expensive. He said the manufacturer has recommended it not be sunk into below groundwater level. He said they could look at a 20-foot high, wider tank. Mr. Annino said he wasn't sure that would help because of the mass of the structure. Mr. Jodice asked if it could be built into the side of the hill. Mr. Chapelle said they would have to find out where the groundwater is in that area. Mr. Burke asked about scheduling a neighborhood meeting. Mr. Azinheira said that is still under consideration. Mr. French asked about planting trees right up against the tank to help screen it more. Mr. Azinheira said with the proper plantings, it could still have a minimal visual impact. Mr. French noted that the tank will be 350 feet away from Gilbert Street. Mr. Cleary asked if this is a scenic road. Mr. French said it is, but there is no work proposed in the right-of-way. Mr. Annino asked about moving the tank closer to the road. Mr. Azinheira said cutting into the bank would require a retaining wall and be a more substantial earth removal operation. Mr. Chapelle said they would have to do borings to find out where the ground water is. Mr. Azinheira said the groundwater in the area is so high, the tank would probably have to be raised to get above it. Mr. Annino asked about the building. Mr. Chapelle said it would be block and brick, and match the color of the Cate Springs building. Mr. Annino asked if a cupola could be added to make it look more like a farm building. Mr. French asked about adding architectural details to the side of the building that faces the street, like a double rectangular window at the top. Mr. Chapelle said some architectural details that could be added to the tank, as well. Mr. Annino said he thought the tank should be left as designed, as simple as possible. Mr. Burke asked if the neighborhood meeting will be scheduled. Mr. Azinheira said they would be. Mr. Burke suggested adding additional angles to the photosimulations. He Planning Board 6 3/25/2010 ..- also suggested holding that meeting with the Board of Selectmen, similar to what the Light Department recently did with the Bird Road substation. Ms. Collins said she appreciates the minimal lighting. Mr. Chapelle said the wall lights are 75 watts. Mr. Kozlowski said the existing, smaller tank is 77.5 feet from the property line of a residential property; the Zoning By-Law requires a 75-foot buffer between commercial and residential uses. He suggested adding additional plantings to shield the residential properties from the smaller tank. Mr. Kozlowksi said the abutters have not had any notice about this, and he would feel more comfortable acting on this application after a public meeting. Mr. French said it is very helpful to see the photosimulations and those should be supplied to the neighbors. Mr. Burke said there could be additional changes after the public meeting, and the board may want to hold off on its recommendations until after that. Mr. Azinheira said they have to go to town meeting for the approval of funding for these projects, but they do not need to have all the board and committee approvals in place. He said they also have to go through DEP. Mr. Burke asked if April 28 would be enough time to have the plans revised and hold the public meeting with the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Azinheira said that would depend on the Board of Selectmen's schedule. Mr. Burke suggested if they cannot get on the Selectmen's agenda, they could do a meeting with the neighbors on another night. Motion: To continue the site plan review to April 28, 2010 at 7:15 p.m. (Kozlowsi-Annino) All in favor. PASSES !7.PublleCOI1l.Dlent I.. 8. ....Aroulld the Tabl.e Mr. Burke said he has a meeting tomorrow with the Town Manager and the finance team to discuss the Planning Department budget. Motion: To adjourn at 10:15 p.m. (Jodice-) All in favor. PASSES ~~ Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Lf -1 ~ 201 0 Signature of Clerk Date of Approval Planning Board 7 3/25/2010 11'