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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 01/22/1979MANSFIELD PLANNING BOARD i AGENDA January 22, 1979 1. Call to order (7:30 P. M.) 2. Clerk's Report a. Correspondence b. Minutes of January 17, 1979 3. Warrant 4. Workshop Meeting with Mr. Michael Whalen on Wetland Zoning 5. Old Business 6. New Business a. Status of Plans Bee Cee Realty Trust b. Correspondence c. Public Discussion d. Date for next meeting e. Around the Table 7. Adjournment MANSFIELD PLANNING BOARD Minutes January 22, 1979 Present: Chairman Parsons, Clerk Lesuer Planners: Grant, Mangiaratti, Matoian Planning Director Maurer 1) Chairman Parsons called the meeting to order. 2) Correspondence was read from the following: Legal Notice from Town of Sharon Board of Appeals on the application of Lester and Barbara S. Wax for a variance for an existing house that is less than 30' from the street line at 40 Pole Plain Road for hearing on February 1, 1979 at 7:30 P. M. Notice of public hearing in Foxborough on February 6, 1979 at 8:30 P.M. on the application of Lawrence Coppola, Nempco, Inc. for site plan approval at 7 'Perry Drive. Board of Health minutes for January 10, 1979. 3) Motion: To approve the minutes of January 17, 1979 (Grant - Matoian, all in favor) VOTED 4) Motion: To endorse plan of land showing Lot #1 and Lot #202 on Central and Chauncy Street owned by Bee Cee Realty Trust and Paul F. Boyden. (Grant - Matoian, all in favor) VOTED 5) Chairman Parson's brought before the Board the possibility'of rezoning land around the Airport on Fruit, Short and Ware Streets from Industrial to Agricultural as the area is being developed into a residential area. He stated he felt industrial growth in the area would create traffic problems as the roads are not adequate to handle the additional traffic. Planner Matoian felt if it was rezoned to Agricultural it would be harder to rezone back to Industrial if there later proved to be a need for Industrialland. Planner Mangiaratti felt there are other areas in Town more suited for industrial development. No action was taken. 6) At 8:00 P. M. Chairman Parsons introduced Michael Whalen of the Soil Conservation Group from Raynham to the Board and members of the Conser- vation Commission; Paul F. Boyden, Charles Meszoely, Stuart Sweet, David Devnew and Doris Webb. Mr. Whalen felt the Water body Set Back and Wetland Protection wording was fine. He felt that the Soil Associations listed in the By-law are too general and the Town should use more specific terms. He stated he could prepare a report based on the soil information listed and the description of soils that would be wetlands. A wetland area is one that Minutes January 22, 1979 Page 2 one that has water near the surface for more than nine months of the year. Planning Director Maurer noted the Board would like to change the setback from brooks and streams to get away from measuring from the center line. Mr. Whalen noted that zoning regulations could use a certain distance from the low water line. The main thing to be concerned about in building too close to a stream would be the increased run-off that could cause problems downstream if too many dwellings were built close to the water. He suggested first screening out areas that would flood. In answer to a question about rivers changing course When<iflooded Mr. Whalen stated that a study would point out the obstructions that would make the river change its course and that would be in a report to the Town. He noted you can't prepare for every eventuality but you can be prepared. Planner Grant mentioned the fact that there is no waterway maintenance at all in this Town. Chairman Parsons wondered if our soil classification was too restrictive, but noted that based on work in other communities the Town is in better position in protecting the Town from encroachment into their wetland areas. Mr. Whalen noted the Soil Association groupings are too general. With soil maps and reports you could figure out if it is more restrictive or not. He felt it would be beneficial to have a map prepared to indicate the soil areas that would be considered wetlands. Conservation member Paul Boyden wondered how many Towns in the area have adopted this type of zoning and how it is working. Mr. Whalen stated wetland zoning is too new to get a feedback on whether there are problems. Three communities, Carver, Rochester and Middleboro have adopted it. In the State as a whole, Raliegh, Harvard, Concord, Sudbury and Georgetown have it. Conservation member Charles Meszoely noted the method seems more precise. He noted they are trying to find new ways to define wetlands. Chairman Parsons asked Mr. Whalen what is involved in asking him to make a study. Mr. Whalen stated there is no charge for the service, it is just a matter of sending a letter -to the Bristol Conservation District asking for help. and you would have the information within a month. He explained the services they supply. They go through the Soil Association and .describe the ones that have definite tendencies for wetlands. They do field investigation and report on what the community has in the form of a master plan. There is a Planning Program that could be done for the Town. They have subdivision review to spot potential problems. They do inventory and evaluations. He noted if the Town has ahy problems with land to call them and if they can't help they can refer the Town to someone who can. Minutes January 22, 1979 Page 3 Planner Grant suggested the Planning Board and Conservation should request the Soil Service to study the past, present and future uses of wetlands. Mr. Whalen stated this is the time of year for them to do that because they work with farmers in the spring. Conservation member Stuart Sweet wondered if the setback would apply to lakes and ponds. Mr. Whalen noted the problem is to draw a line where the pond ends and the wetland begins. He stated with soil maps you can correlate your information and find potential problems. He told the Board to put their concerns in a letter requesting what they want the Soil Service to do. Motion: To send a letter to the Bristol Soil Conservation Service requesting a study of the wetland areas. (Grant - Matoian, all in favor) VOTED 7) The possibility of rezoning Ware Street was brought up again and after discussion it was decided to put it on the agenda for the next meeting. Frank Allen asked to .be put on the agenda to discuss the issue. 8) Planning Director Maurer noted the Board has a request from the Housing Authority to rezone land where Bicentennial Court is from Agriculture to Residence B. That will be put on the agenda also. It was noted the Board has not discussed new ponds in the gravel removal regulations and that will also be put on the agenda. 9) Margot Jellinek asked to be put on the agenda for the next meeting to discuss pond restoration. 10) Planner Mangiaratti asked to be put on the agenda for the next meeting to discuss the Fairfield Property. 11) The date for the next meeting was set for January 31, 1979. 12) The meeting adjourned at 9:20 P. M.