Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNINGbrd_10162013Planning Board Minutes October 16, 2013 Present: Tom French, Chairman; Don Cleary, Acting Clerk; Ralph Penney, Cher Collins; Rich l CF LeBlanc�13 .W 12 Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development; Jennifer Crotty Davis, Administrative n� Secretary Motion: To appoint Mr. Penney Acting Clerk (Collins - Cleary) All in favor. PASSES 2. Correspondence 1. October 16, 2013 memorandum from Mike Ahern, Subdivision Inspector re: Bond Amount Rolling Fields Village Phase II (McKenzi Lane) Motion: To set the bond at $230,359.88, which includes the 20% contingency, and to reserve Mr. Ahern's right to review the bond estimate and make necessary adjustments or corrections. (Cleary - LeBlanc) All in favor. PASSES Mr. Burke said Mr. Walsh has already done a lot of work on the roadway, including sidewalks and curbing. Mr. Walsh wants to put the mailboxes in the sidewalk, so it will be widened to accommodate the mailboxes and ADA requirements. 2. Subdivision Bond dated October 16, 2013 from CorePointe Insurance Company in the amount of $230,350.88 for Rolling Fields Village Phase II (McKenzi Lane). Mr. Burke said the insurance bond uses the new language prepared by town counsel. The original bond will be kept by the Treasurer's Office. Motion: To accept the bond from CorePointe Insurance Company for $230,350.88 (Cleary- Collins) All in favor. PASSES Form J Release from Covenant — Rolling Fields Village Phase II (McKenzi Lane) Lots 1 -10. Lot 16 will remain under covenant until Mr. Walsh submits his written proposal for the affordable housing unit. Motion: To sign the Form J Release from Covenant — Rolling Fields Village (McKenzi Lane) Lots 1 -10 (Cleary - Collins) All in favor. PASSES 4. Minutes September 18, 2013 Mr. LeBlanc is shown as present in the minutes, but was not. Motion: To approve as amended (Penney - Cleary) Four in favor. LeBlanc abstained. PASSES 5. Minutes September 11, 2013 Typo under the Chauncy Street/Route 140 site plan; second line of the third paragraph should be "proposed" access. Motion: To approve as amended (Penney- LeBlanc) All in favor. PASSES 10/16/2013 Ms. Collins said most of the signs are gone from the North Common and asked who oversees signs on town -owned properties. She said she spoke with Mr. Ross about a recent sign on wheels, who said the Board of Selectmen approved it but did not know it would be on wheels. Mr. French said the Board of Selectmen approves the signs and enforcement is through the Building Inspector. He said the small temporary wire signs on public property are not allowed, and those signs on private property have to be permitted by the Building Inspector. Mr. Burke suggested sending the Board of Selectmen and Recreation Commission a letter suggesting the adoption of a unified policy and permitting process. Mr. French asked about BETA's progress. Mr. Burke said they have been meeting with landowners on the west side of the railroad tracks, and have asked for a list of owners on the east side. Mr. Burke said he has asked BETA for a meeting schedule, which he has not received yet. Mr. Burke said some of BETA's information has been posted on the website and asked the members to let him know if there is anything else they would like to include. Mr. Penney said he is glad BETA is meeting with private landowners, but asked if that is outside the Scope of Services. Mr. Burke said engaging the public was a priority in the RFP and meeting with landowners was anticipated. Mr. Penney asked if it would be more efficient to have one meeting with all the landowners; Mr. Burke said it would have been, but some landowners did not want to do that. Mr. Burke said the contract is for a fixed fee, so if BETA choses to do more work than planned, it will not cost the town any more. Mr. Burke said the project has to come in on time and within the budget and lie thinks BETA understands the timeline. Mr. French said he thinks BETA understands it has to arrive at both short- and long -term solutions and said he thinks they will do a good job. Mr. Burke said he thinks residents and landowners have to talk with BETA so they are informed and are involved in the process. Mr. French said the focus should be on identifying the optimal points of access. Mr. Penney said he would like to see concrete solutions, not just another study. Mr. LeBlanc asked if the board should be concerned about the consultant showing more attention to some landowners than to others. Mr. Burke said he thinks it is human nature for people to want attention, but said the reason for the public meetings is to get everyone involved. He said it is important for the consultant to keep all the landowners in mind when identifying the optimal access points. Ms. Collins said she thinks BETA has experience working on issues like this. Mr. Penney suggested the board look at revisions to the Zoning By -Law and Subdivision Regulations over the winter, including 1334, cape cod berm, residential compounds, signs and medical marijuana. Mr. French suggested looking at those issues after the holidays and noted the Subdivision Regulations do not have to go to Town Meeting and can be amended with a Planning Board public hearing. Mr. Burke said DPW has been meeting in -house about what changes it would like to see to the Subdivision Regulations and would like to have a workshop meeting with the board. Mr. Penney asked about getting continent from applicants; Mr. Burke said he would like to get staff's input first, then ask for public comment at the public hearing. 2 10/16/2013 Mr. Penney asked about working on TOD. Mr. Burke said he hopes that will be at the top of the board's list and it will go along with the study BETA is working on. He said there is a lot of infrastructure in the area, but it is so old, it may be better to cap it and install new utilities for new development. He said the same thing happened in the business park about 10 years ago, when the utilities had to be upgraded for new uses. Mr. Burke said TOD could be either an overlay district, with the current uses allowed by right and new uses by special permit, or be a new zone with its own performance standards. Mr. Penney suggested spending some time on that over the winter. He said this has to be a win-Win situation for both the town and the landowners, and said some landowners will be helped by TOD. Mr. Burke said the landowners should be helped by the new zoning. Mr. Penney asked what the best way would be to approach the CSX crossing issue. Mr. Burke said Mr. Ross has been in touch with Victoria Maguire from DHCD and Ron Morgan from the MBTA; he said he thinks this issue will be best dealt with through those two offices and the Town Manager. Mr. French agreed. Mr. Burke said he was discouraged when someone at the Board of Selectmen's meeting suggested BETA is not looking at all the access options. I-Ie said they are looking at all the options, and this is the appropriate time, at the beginning of the process, to do that. Mr. French agreed. Mr. Penney said the funding of each option has to be a consideration. Mr. Burke said TOD and building a viable access will work together to help get grants and encourage private funding. I-Ie said the town could build a great road, but businesses have to be willing to invest in the area. Mr. French asked if the town got finding from the state for public outreach. Mr. Burke said it did not get that funding because the TOD zoning was not done at Amoral Town Meeting, and there is no 2013 Special Town Meeting planned. Mr. Burke said the grant is revolving, so if the Town adopts the TOD zoning at the 2014 Amoral Town Meeting, it would be eligible for the next round of funding. Mr. Burke noted the town has done an in -house build -out study and plans to do a study for TOD buildout and infrastructure. Mr. Penney asked what the proposed height was in the TOD by -law. Mr. Burke said it was left at 45 feet. Mr. Penney asked how tall a parking garage at the train station would have to be. Mr. Burke said it would have to be at least four stories to go over the high speed wires with handicapped access and elevators. Mr. Penney asked about going under the tracks. Mr. Burke said he did not think that would be possible. Mr. French said the water table in the area is very high. Motion: To adjourn at 8:00 p.m. (Collins- Penney) All in favor. PASSES Next P//launing oard Meet g: November 6, 2013 at 7:00 p.nr. h Nov 6 , Z ©13 Signature of Clerk I Date of Approval 10/16/2013