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HomeMy WebLinkAboutplanningbrdmin04272011 Planning Board Minutes RECEIVED April 27, 2011 " tnWN f:LERKS nFFICE Present: Tom French, Chair; Beth Ashman-Collins, Clerk, Antfiony JOalCe; ~na'Wn MacDonald, Don Cleary, James Ragazzo 2011 MAY 13 A II: 31 Ralph Penney, Alternate Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development MANSFIELD Not in Attendance: Michael McLanahan MASSACHUSETTS 11. Meeting called to order at 7:05 p.m. Mr. French I 2. Correspondence 1. April 13, 2011 Minutes Motion: To approve as submitted (MacDonald, Cleary seconded, Ragazzo abstained) All in favor. PASSES 2. Meeting notices North Attleboro, Norton I 3. Form A (ANR) Plans None 4. Planning Board Workshop - Hatheway-Patterson Site, Transit-Oriented Development, Access Issues Mr. French started discussion - stated the Planning Board looked at Hathaway-Patterson for a number of years - Cecil Group did a study. Mentioned Mr. Clemmey had a few uses proposed; girls' softball also proposed a use. Mr. Burke briefed everyone on this review. Gave everyone Dave Lederer's powerpoint presentation on the site. Wanted to stockpile material on the site. Site was broken out into 4 quadrants. Mr. Burke went through history timeline. Asked if the Board wanted to walk the site. Mr. Penney mentioned Dry-Con process and heavy trucks going over bridges. Mr. Ragazzo asked who would do certification of bridges - Mr. Burke said they would have to hire a structural engineer. Mr. Ragazzo said not the State's responsibility? Mr. Burke said no, because this is private property. Mr. Penney asked if the plan was they were going to stockpile & cap in place. Mr. Burke said yes. Everyone discussed how many yards of soil have been removed - over 31,000 cy and 43,500 ton excavated. Mr. Penney commented Congressman Barney Frank was heavily involved with this project in a positive way. Mentioned an easement across the tracks to the site. Ms. Collins asked if CSX owned the whole bed. Mr. Burke said yes. Planning Board 5/9/2011 !'II With regard to Old Foundry Street, Mr. Burke said you can't take land back by eminent domain twice. Mr. Ragazzo said now it is land-locked. Mr. Jodice asked if we could buy it - Mr. Burke answered yes. Mr. Penney mentioned back piece being used for a fuel pit for soaking timber. Mr. Burke mentioned the Cecil Group's report. Did 2 studies on Transit-Oriented Development. Mr. MacDonald asked if you could leave the back piece as open space. Mr. Burke said that was their "elegant solution", explained Transfer Development Rights. Mr. French asked if along the stretch on West side of the tracks you could put recreation.. .Mr. Burke said there was enough space. Crossing of pedestrians across the railroad tracks would not be allowed. New MEMA storage building built for us because they knocked down the old one which was on our property. Mr. Ragazzo asked about the zoning in that area. Mr. Burke said in that area, it is zoned for just about everything. Ms. Collins clarified TDR by saying we do not give the rights to the property away "for nothing" - Mr. Burke said no, because there is value in the property; rights are transferred to others. Mr. French asked about gaining access to the back land to use for recreation - we need access - that part of the Foundry Street land has been sold off - however, could try to trade it off; development rights for access. Mr. Penney said the town should have some sayan how the activities and use limitations works. Everyone agreed. Also mentioned we would see the deed anyway before it was approved. Mr. Penney discussed area on Foxboro line. Mr. Burke explained they asked for it to be capped and paved, so the EP A did. Mr. Penney asked how they are doing with the parking lot. Mr. Burke said not good. Mr. Penney asked if GA TRA going there - Mr. Burke said yes. Mr. Penney suggested we should use the land for an Industrial Park. Mr. Burke said should not be used for residential re-use. Everyone agreed. Mr. Ragazzo asked could we have temporary use for solar panels on this site. Mr. Burke said yes. Mr. Burke went over the options for use and compared the commercial/industrial sections of town. Planning Board 2 5/9/2011 w Mr. French and Mr. Penney said a big perk is the rail being there. Mr. Jodice suggested it could be used for recycling. Mr. Penney said road access should be worked in toward the north/west end of the property that can be used. Mr. Burke said they already met with SRPEDD on that but nothing seemed to work because of wetlands. Ms. Collins said we can't have pedestrians go over the tracks, not practical. Mr. Penney commented on the two tracks - one passenger, very hard to cross, the other is freight - which might also be tough to cross. Mr. MacDonald asked about a height restriction and possible parking garage. Mr. Burke said 45 feet and that a parking bridge over the tracks would be too expensive. Ms. Collins asked if they ever came up with a price.. . Mr. Burke said no, a detailed study had not been done. Ms. Collins asked on drafting a proposal. Mr. Burke said no commitments were ever made. Ms. Collins asked how much money it would take to have a study done on the access. Mr. Burke said far too much based on the limited information we have. Mr. Penney commented people at town meeting are going to question who would benefit from commercial takings. It may not go over well. Ms. Collins said access issue is the biggest issue we have. Has to be figured out before moving ahead. Mr. Penney asked on roadway layout options.. . are there plans done up. Three or four best options should be drawn up. Mr. French said we need everything laid out to look at and discuss. Ms. Collins said before feasibility, need to know traffic impact. Mr. Penney asked what other towns have done in this situation. Can we learn from them. Everyone discussed but nothing was suggested. Ms. Collins asked how much of Mansfield uses the rail. Mr. Burke said there was a study done but would have to check it again, wasn't sure on exact counts. Mr. French said next plan has to be access study. Mr. Burke said management of flow of traffic has to be the priority. Mr. MacDonald asked where do we go from here? Mr. Burke suggested a traffic study. Ms. Collins says rank the alternatives; first find plans of all the alternatives, then agree to narrow the alternatives down as much as possible. Money to do these studies is the issue. Mr. Burke will dig up all the old plans. Planning Board 3 5/9/2011 .. Mr. French asked about the other southeast/southwest piece of HP site - thinking softball fields. Temporary use - would have to commit for several years. But questioned that use because what if someone comes back & says they want the parcel and offers good money for it. Mr. French asked if there is a way to come up parallel of the crossing.. .Mr. Burke said can't because anchors are all the way to the edge. Mr. Burke mentioned Parking Revolving Fund monies available. Mr. Bill Clemmey explained what monies are used for - can be for any parking lot use or study for train station. Motion: Ask if we can use a portion of the Parking Revolving Fund as an allowable expense (to study access to commuter rail parking) - Ms. Collins, Jodice seconded, all in favor - PASSES. Motion: Would it be worthwhile to ask the Town Manager to give CSX a call to start negotiations for a crossing. Penney, MacDonald seconded, all in favor- PASSES. Mr. Penney confirmed Mr. Burke to ask the Town Manager. Mr. Burke agreed. Pending: Mr. Burke - mentioned summer schedule, meeting once per month. Nothing was approved. I 8. Public Comment Karl Clemmey discussed talking with Norton on land being taken by Eminent Domain - highly recommends Route 495 Northbound Ramp being widened. Brings land out for redevelopment. Everyone discussed how the traffic is going to be managed at Comcast. Leonard Flynn discussed problems occurring now. Leonard Flynn also discussed SRPEDD; Zoning reform legislation that is pending. Had a list of the three items not allowed and all recommendations that were made. I <9. Around the Table I Ms. Collins mentioned ads/signs showing up on residents lawns. Mr. Burke said he had a meeting with Building Inspector & Neal - they to put joint letters out to people who have put these signs out telling them they are in violation of the law and we can move the signs if we have to. Mr. Burke noted we are not allowed to touch private property though. Mr. Jodice, why is there a left turn at Borders. Mr. French mentioned CVS left hand turn out of lot. Discussed piles of dirt that were compounded and why. Mr. Burke announced next Wednesday is the public hearing on South Coast Rail. Planning Board 4 5/9/2011 , .. Mr. Burke announced next meeting is May 11 th; Mr. French asked about Special Permit hearing.. .Mr. Burke explained what they propose to do. 110. Adjournment Motion: To adjourn at 9:20p.m. (Jodice- MacDonald seconded) All in favor. PASSES Next meeting: May 11,2011 at 7:00 p.m. Planning Board 5 5/9/2011 ..