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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 03/12/1985PLANNING BOARD'S MINUTES MARCH 12, 1985 Present: Chairman Fiore, Clerk Brugliera Planners: Bachman, Flynn, Genatossio, Boldrighini and Doucette Planning Director Mannarino 1. Meeting called to order at 7:30 P.M. 2. Discussion of Environmental Impact Statement Chairman Fiore welcomed the developers and people for attending the meeting to discuss the Environmental Impact Statement. Planning Director Mannarino reviewed an outline that he prepared. He stated that the area which is in- volved encompasses the northeast corner of Mansfield, and the main roadways include Maple, Winter and Franklin Streets. The main issues of this study are drainage, water quality, and traffic, The cost of this impact state- ment is based on the number of feet of linear roadway that is proposed for various subdivisions. Water Quality and Drainage Paul Folkman, President of The Folkman Company, Inc., asked the Board what type of expertise they were looking at for the drainage study. The Board replied that they were looking for someone who specializes in hydrogeology, someone who can determine the surface and ground water flow and how it is going to change from the impact of the proposed subdivisions; so a civil engineer really doesn't have the background to perform this type of study. Ronald Bonvie, of the Bonwood Company, asked the Board if this study is going to be performed on the assumption that Whiteville Pond is going to be cleaned out and the possibility of sewer being installed in this area; the Board responded that the sewer wouldn't affect drainage or traffic and the issue of sewer may become a mitigating matter for water quality and as far as Whiteville Pond being cleaned out, the Board must evaluate the current conditions and not what may happen in the future with the pond. Planner Genatossio asked the Planning Director if the Board was going to have the 100 -year flood line included in the study. Planning Director Mannarino replied that it would fall under the drainage section of this study; and that this study should not be made too specific to ensure of getting the large picture. Planner Flynn stated that the study should also entail the vegetation that is going to be stripped, the compacting of the soil, and the increase run-off from paved streets, driveways, parking areas, and sidewalks, to see how these things are going to affect the ground water. Paul Folkman asked the Board if they are going to look at the existing conditions today and what happens as one subdivision after another is added to that area. The Board replied that they will be looking at the before, as well as after, conditions when performing this study. Planning Board's Minutes March 12, 1985 Page 2 Mr. Folkman then asked the Board since they are going for the before and after affects when performing this study that a civil engineer could do the work. Joseph Zeneski, DPW Director, explained to Mr. Folkman that the Town is not looking for what size pipes to place in these areas, but rather the relationship between the rain fall and the water budget - those types of things - and that a civil engineer does not have the background to give the Board that information. Mr. Folkman also asked the Board whether the consultants are going to be given the individual subdivision plans and look at it in that manner. Chairman Fiore stated that the Board is going to need recommendations from the consultants to handle the information that is given to them, how to use it so it benefits the Town so there will not be problems in the future. The following people are consultants which attended the meeting and what their specialty is: Rodney Plourde - traffic engineer. Gary Sanford - wetlands. Bill Roach - traffic engineer. Phil Warner - hydrogeology. Phil Warner, hydrogeologist from Lycote, asked the Board if there was a sewer line out in this area. The Board responded that there are plans for a sewer line in this area, but they are not finalyzed yet. Mr. Warner stated that if there is a sewer in that area and the intentions for Whiteville Pond will greatly affect the quality of the water. Joseph Zeneski, DPW Director, stated that the Board must look at main- taining and improving these conditions. Planning Director Mannarino stated that the Board should evaluate current conditions and ensure that the pro- posed subdivisions are not going to have a negative impact on drainage, traffic, and water quality. Chairman Fiore stated that the following assumptions have been gathered from this meeting: 1. No sewerage. 2. Whiteville Pond will be looked at as is. 3. Just the subdivisions that are presently before the Board and those that have been recently approved will be considered in the impact study. Chairman Fiore stated that the following output has been arrived at through this discussion: 1. The Board shall obtain recommendations from the consultants to maintain the present status quo. 2. The study will look at the before and after conditions of the area. 3. The study will determine the threshold level of development for the area before any negative effect would result. 4. The Board will draw up a set of guide- lines for the consultants to follow. 5. The Board will be looking for a set of specific recommendations which they should follow. The drainage impacts to be studied include: 1. The disruption to vege- tation. 2. Compacting soils. 3. Creating impermeable surfaces as how it will effect drainage. The water quality aspects include: 1. Aquifer protection. 2. The drinking water quality. 3. Water budget analysis. Planning Board's Minutes March 12, 1985 Page 3 Planner Flynn stated that she believes that the undeveloped land that is not currently in front of the Board, but can be developed in the future, should be taken into consideration. If the Board only looks at the sub- divisions that are before it, the consultants may not find any negative impacts, but then when another subdivision is added there could be a negative impact. Planning Director Mannarino stated that the consultants, in doing this study, could find problems without even having to look at/ any subdivisions; he also stated that the Board should make sure that these subdivisions do not negatively impact the current situation. Planner Doucette stated that the Board should be looking at the negative impacts of these subdivisions and recommendations to mitigate these negative effects. Ronald Bonvie, of the Bonwood Corporation, stated that he doesn't believe the developers will cooperate with the Board if they are going to take into consideration that land that is not currently proposed for subdivisions, he stated that only the land that is currently in front of the Planning Board now should be looked at for the study. Planner Genatossio stated that the next subdivision may have a negative impact on this area so the land that could be developed in the future will not be looked at specific- ally - it will be looked at in a general manner. Mr. Bonvie responded that if the Board feels that any other subdivision in that area will have a neg- ative impact on this area, then that developer should have to pay for an Environmental Impact Study just as the developers are doing now. Mr. Joseph Zeneski, DPW Director, stated that the Board cannot put these sub- divisions on a first come, first serve basis; the Board should look at what that area can tolerate and then look and see if the particular sub- divisions will maintain or increase the recharge area, that is how it has to be looked at. Traf f is Chairman Fiore stated that the Planning Board is in general agreement with what they want established from this study as Planning Director Mannarino stated in his summary, which says, "The EIS should contain a traffic analysis including Average Daily Traffic counts (ADT), directional approached, levels of service analysis, volume to capacity ratios, and A.M. and P.M. peaks under existing and proposed conditions. In the event that significant congestion is predicted, mitigative measures should be identified and eval- uated." Bill Roach, traffic engineer, stated that the Board should also be looking at the site distance issue and the improvement of roads, inter- sections, and sidewalks. Time Chairman Fiore asked the several consultants what the time frame was in which this study could be completed. Bill Roach, traffic engineer, stated that the entire study will probably take about three months, the traffic study would be the quickest part of the entire study. Phil Warner, hydro - geologist, stated that the study could take any where from three to six months, but that it really depends on the depth that you want to be studied. Joseph Zeneski, DPW Director, stated that the field work could be done in two weeks, but that you would only get two weeks worth of information and it may be in the Planning Board's best interest to take the time to get the study done correct so that they have enough information to approve or disapprove these subdivisions. Mr. Bonvie, of the Bonwood Corporation, stated that to get the report of this study is going to take three months Planning Board's Minutes March 12, 1985 Page 4 and then it is going to take time after that to get the whole subdivision process completed; and he believes that that is a really long time to hold up the developers in the Town, Donald Baker and Paul Folkman were in agree- ment with Mr. Bonvie concerning the time period of three to six months being too long of a time to wait for the whole process to be complete. Financing Chairman Fiore asked the consultants which were present at the meeting for a rough estimation of how much a study of this nature would cost. An estimation for the traffic study would be between $5,000 and $7,000 and for water quantity, water quality, and drainage would be between $6,000 and $8,000. This estimation is based upon using existing sources of data from the Town. Planner Flynn stated that there is an article on the warrant for the Town Meeting to have a hydrogeological study of the Town of Mansfield done, the sponsor is the DPW Director. Planner Bachman stated that the Board should wait and see if that article goes through and then do the study in that manner instead of having the developers pay for the con- sultants to do the study. The Planning Director and the DPW Director pointed out to Planner Bachman and the rest of the Board that if the article is accepted at Town Meeting the work couldn't start until July 1, 1985, and the Board and the developers do not have that type of time frame to work with. Mr. Ronald Bonvie stated that, personally, he can live with the time frame of three to four months for the whole EIS process to be complete, Donald Baker was in agreement with Mr. Bonvie, but he stated that the limit for a waiting period should be four months. Planner Doucette stated to the developers at the meeting that there must be some give and take when this study starts because if the consultants feel once they start that they cannot give the Planning Board enough information in the time period that is allowed, they should be given more time to complete the study. Method of Payment Planning Director Mannarino stated that the cost for each individual devel- oper should be based upon the linear roadway of his proposed subdivision. Mr. Ronald Bonvie disagreed with this method of calculation and stated that he believes the cost should go by how many lots are approved by the Planning Board when the subdivision process is final. Clerk Brugl.iera suggested to the developers that if they do not like the way the Board calculated the costs for this study, that the developers should get together and work out a process in which to pay the consultants and come back withthat proposal to the Board. Planner Bachman stated that he would like to incorporate all these subdivisions into Mr. Zeneski's proposal for Town Meeting for the hydrogeological study for the Town. Joseph Zeneski, DPW Director, disagreed with Planner Bachman's proposal and feels that the developers should do the work for this study because it is for their subdivisions. Planner Boldrighini asked the Planning Director and DPW Director if the study could be done for the amount of money that was estimated. Joseph Zeneski, DPW Director, stated that the Planning Director and himself will have to figure out the scope of work involved to see if it can be done for that amount of money. Chairman Fiore stated that the Board will discuss all the concerns brought up at this meeting during the week and will hold another meeting with the developers next Tuesday, March 19, 1985, so the final plans can be made concerning this study. Planning Board's Minutes March 12, 1985 Page 5 *The developers left the meeting. Planning Director Mannarino stated to the Board that he has some concern with this study because if the consultants say it is safe to build houses in this area of town and the Planning Board may still have some doubts about approving the subdivision plans, there is going to be a battle with the developers. The are expecting approval because of all the money that is being spent for the study. Planner Ronald Doucette asked what happens if this study recommends narrower streets or no sidewalks. Planner Genatossio replied that the Subdivision Regulations may have to be amended, or the lots could become larger. Joseph Zeneski, DPW Director, stated that he has talked to three consul- tants which attended the meeting and they stated that they would be in touch with the DPW Director and the Planning Director, if not in writing, by telephone, before the end of the week. 3. Date of Next Meeting is March 13, 1985, at 7:30 P.M. 4. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M. DATE ��—T