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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLANNINGbrd_02032016Planning Board Minutes February 3, 2016 Present: Tom French, Chairman; Don Cleary, Clerk, Beth Ashman- Collins, Michael McClanahan, Ralph Penney, Michael Feck Alternate Joe Cerretani Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development; Jennifer Davis, Administrative Assistant A Motion: To appoint Ms. Ashman- Collins Acting Clerk (McClanahan- Cerretani) All in favor. PASSES ��x�GU�sEOgy��hT? �Wre, ��__ k' �' �7 ���rie�fet� •���r�'rn_~.,�,>`pdaf� ��'�'"� =� -�- �_: Lee Azinheira, DPW Director; Mark Cook, DPW Highway; Mike Ahern, DPW Special Projects Mr. Ahern introduced Joe Milanie and Dave McKinley from Kaestle Booz Architects and Jeff Alberti from Weston and Sampson. Mr. McKinley explained Weston and Sampson will be doing the civil engineering and designing the DPW building. He explained there have been some changes to the parking to improve traffic flow and noted VHB is separately doing a traffic study on the intersection of Pratt/East Streets. Mr. McKinley said the first thing to be determined is the best way to get out onto East Street. Mr. McClanahan asked about moving the driveway to line up with the intersection and install a light. Mr. McKinley said they looked at that, but it would involve a land taking; he said there will be a light, which will remain green all the time and be triggered by vehicles leaving the facility. He said there will be a secured area around the public safety area. VHB has provided a plan showing a left turn lane onto East Street. Mr. McKinley explained the location of the Police and Fire offices in the building have been switched on the latest plan due to parking issues. Mr. McKinley explained there is a lot of visitor parking on the site because of a police training room; the parking has been pulled as far as possible back from the entrance. Mr. McKinley said there will be a berm along the western edge of the property to protect abutting property owners from sound and views. Mr. Ahern said there are a lot of tall pine trees on the property. Mr. Penney asked if it would be an earthen berm; Mr. McKinley said they are working on that. Mr. Ahern said the area nearest the residences will be storage, with the mechanics' work area on the other side of the site. Mr. McKinley explained the plan's 40' front and rear setbacks and 25' sideyard setbacks. The site is approximately 60 acres and they will be using around eight acres. There will be 193 -195 parking spaces, not including the existing Water Department parking. There will be a covered car port and a small outbuilding for storage of bicycles and other small equipment. The Fire Department dormitories will be as far from public areas as possible and have a fenced in patio and grass area. Planning Board 2/3/2016 Mr. Penney asked the life of the buildings; the answer was 35 -50 years. The buildings have brick veneers and load - bearing masonry. Mr. Ahern said they are looking at options to save money, like steel on the backs of the buildings, rather than brick. Mr. McClanahan asked the number of parking spaces for the Police Department; there will be spaces for all the police vehicles and visitors. Mr. McClanahan said that area looks tight and suggested moving the island down to make room for DPW traffic. Mr. Azinheira said he thinks that parking will fill up fast. Mr. Cook said there will have to be enough parking for the current shift, the shift coming on and detail officer parking. Mr. McKinley asked for the board's opinion on the number of parking spaces proposed, noting the Zoning By -Law does not have a parking calculation for this use. Mr. Azinheira said he hoped to include excess parking area in order to have enough room to shift cars around during the winter. Mr. Ahern said he plans to meet with the neighbors about the berm and buffering. Mr. Penney suggested some type of sound barrier. Mr. McKinley said a number of studies have shown vegetative barriers do not really cut down sound. [Mr. Cleary arrived at this time] Mr. McClanahan asked what would be in the open area at the left of the plan; Mr. Cook said that will be a storage area. He noted most vehicles will be kept inside, so there will be less noise. Mr. Ahern said they will work on keeping the costs down. Lee Azinheira, DPW Director; Mark Cook, DPW Highway; Mike Ahern, DPW Special Projects Mr. Burke said many of the proposed changes, such as the medium on which plans are to be submitted, updating FEMA maps, etc., are simply to update the regulations. Mr. Burke said there are a few substantive proposals, including Low Impact Design. He said the idea is to have drainage conditions post - development be as close as possible to pre- development conditions. Mr. Azinheira said DPW's biggest issues are pavement thickness and materials. He said roads should have a minimum of three inches of binder and only be allowed to sit for one winter before the top coat is put down. Mr. Penney asked about a minimum temperature; Mr. Ahern said it should be at least 50 degrees, an increase from the former standard of 40 degrees. Mr. Azinheira said Superpave, which requires both an inspector at the plant and an inspector at the delivery end, has much tighter specifications. Mr. Cook explained Superpave is a modified polymer liquid asphalt cement that controls the temperature of everything going into the mix and has a low percentage of recycled asphalt. He said the Town is in the second year of three -year contract; the first year's bid was $5 more per ton, and this year the Town is paying the same rate as towns not using the Superpave spec. He said the Superpave contract has more teeth because the Town has an inspector on site and at the plant, and the paving company has one at each end Planning Board 2/3/2016 Mr. Feck said traffic goes fast on cul -de -sac roadways and asked if they could be narrower; Mr. Cools said that could be an issue for public safety vehicles. Mr. Penney said he appreciates the discussion with DPW and said it would be worthwhile to repeat annually. Mr. Ahern asked about existing subdivisions; Mr. Burke said if they have already been approved, they will come under the existing regulations. 1. December 16, 2015 Minutes Motion: To approve as submitted (McClanahan-Feek) Five in favor. Ashman- Collins, Penney abstained. PASSES 4. Public hearing notices — Attleboro, Easton, North Attleboro, Plainville 5. The Beacon 29 Webb Place — Earls Mr. Burke explained the Form A seeks to separate a piece of the property (Lot 1 is labeled non- conforming, non - buildable), which will be deeded to the Mansfield Housing Authority. Mr. Burke said the plan warrants endorsement. Motion: To endorse the Form A (McClanahan- Cleary) All in favor. PASSES Mr. French said the Chocolate Factory special permit application and plans were filed yesterday. Mr. French asked if the board wants to sponsor any zoning articles for 2016 Annual Town Meeting. He noted Mr. Bill Clemmey brought several articles to Town Meeting last year that failed; therefore, he cannot bring them back for two years unless they have changed substantially. Mr. Clemmey discussed several of the articles with the board in December 2015; Mr. French said the only way a failed article can go back to Town Meeting the following year is for them to be substantially changed or for the Planning Board to sponsor them. Mr. McClanahan said he could consider supporting the 55 and Over article. Mr. Feck said he could consider supporting that article and the mixed -use in the B4 zone. However, he said he thinks Town Meeting understood all the articles in 2015, did not support them, and said he would be concerned about bringing them back so soon. Mr. French said the board needs to maintain and build its credibility with Town Meeting. Ms. Ashman - Collins said she understands the concern about not bringing the issues back to Town Meeting too soon, and suggested the board look at the 55 and Over use in terms of criteria and location. Mr. Penney said he thinks there was some confusion during the Planning Board public hearing about where the use could be done; Mr. French said he thinks Town Meeting understood the issue. Mr. McClanahan said there are other parcels of land, or combinations of parcels, where the use as proposed last year could be done. Consensus was not to sponsor the article at 2016 Town Meeting, but to look at the 55 and Over �- issue further. The Planning Board members agreed there is a need for more 55 and Over housing, but there are questions about things like location, density and parcel size. Planning Board 2/3/2016 Mr. French noted the warrant closes March 1, so the board would have to identify any articles it wants to bring to Town Meeting prior to that date. Mr. French the board has discussed amending the sign regulations, but said he doesn't think there was a lot of support from members to do that this year. Mr. Penney said there are a lot of sign applications going to ZBA. Mr. French said signs are always an issue, with some people wanting more and larger signs, and others preferring smaller and fewer signs. Mr. Penney said the board worked hard on the downtown A -frame sign by -law, and businesses have not really taken advantage of it. Mr. Feck said CIP will meet again when the final numbers are available; the school may change depending on state reimbursement amounts. Mr. Cleary said the MBTA had a meeting in Mansfield today about possible schedule changes. Mr. Penney asked about the street tree list; Mr. Burke said he would like to change some of the street trees in the Subdivision Regulations. Mr. Penney said trees with fibrous roots, like sugar maple, are hard on sidewalks. Mr. Burke said sugar maples would be good in a cul -de -sac island rather than along the street. Ms. Ashman- Collins said the IDC has finished its survey and talked about having a discussion with the Planning Board. Mr. Ross said the new director of MMED was introduced at this evening's Board of Selectmen's meeting. He said he attended today's MBTA public hearing and it was very well attended. MM _ Motion: To adjourn at 9:15 p.m. (McClanahan - Penney) All in favor. PASSES Next Regul PI g Board eeting: If 1 /31�i Signature of Clerk February 24, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. o2 -a kl -aol6 Date of Approval Planning Board 2/3/2016