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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 08/09/1978MANSFIELD PLANNING BOARD 3> AGENDA August 9, 1978 1. Call to order (7:30 P.M.) 2. Clerk's Report a. Correspondence b. Minutes of July 19, 1978 c. Minutes of August 2, 1978 3. Warrant 4. Visitors Agenda 5. Old Business 1978-79 Work Program - Wetlands Zoning Brookside Estates - Street Acceptance Plans Peter's Park Securities 6. New Business a. Stauts of Plans - New Submissions b. Correspondence c. Public Discussion d. Date for next meeting e. Around the Table 7. Adjournment Reminder: Board members are to review the Peter's Park Drainage Ditch prior to meeting on August 9th. MANSFIELD PLANNING BOARD MINUTES August 9, 1978 Present: Chairman Parsons, Clerk Lesuer Planners: Hartmann, Grant, Mahana, Mangiaratti Planning Director Maurer 1. Letters were read from the following: Board of Appeals decision on the application of Leon Grant - granted Board of Appeals decision on the application of Allied Auto - denied Board of Appeals decision on the application of Bristol Realty Trust - denied Board of Appeals decision on the application of Edward F. Brown - granted Amendment to Board of Appeals decision on the application of Camelot Trust Board of Selectmen to Planning Board, Conservation Commission Board of Health and Industrial Development Commission regarding meeting with SRPEDD Planning Board to Building Inspector regarding Surplus Material application of Karl Clemmey Planning Board to Home Developers, Inc. regarding release of securities for Rustic Acres Building Inspector to Henley Lundgren Co. regarding surplus material Planning Board to Circle M Realty Trust regarding securities for Maverick Drive. Planning Board to Home Developers regarding securities for Rustic Acres Planning Board to Mr. Scarpellini regarding securities for Foxfield Estates 2. Motion: To approve the Minutes of July 19, 1978 as presented. (Lesuer-Hartmann, all in favor) VOTED 3. Motion: To approve the Minutes of August 2, 1978 as presented. (Hartmann-Mahana, all in favor) VOTED Minutes August 9, 1978 Page 2 4. Board discussed the wetlands zoning. Board reviewed the map of the areas in which the Fire Department noted problems during the January 1978 storm, as well as the places noted by the DPW Director. Chairman Parsons felt that there were major problems that should be investigated by the Board and compare them with the zoning that is now in effect. Planner Mangiaratti noted that his understanding of the wetland zoning would be that it would prohibit any construction whatsoever and there is no zoning in effect like that now. Chairman Parsons noted that they have Water Body Setback zoning which may be in some of these areas now. Planner Mangiaratti noted that what the Board has to do now is decide whether or not this is a worthwhile project and that this deals with protecting the drinking water and felt he would like some background information on the present conditions in the Town. He noted that the other major objective was to prevent danger of increased flood hazard and that he would like to know how those objectives fit into the Towns situation. He felt that perhaps this was something that an engineer could look at and give them some information on,such as the watershed and whether the watershed is fed by these swamps and low lands and are they vital to the Town's drinking water. Planner Mahana noted that upon Oak Street and Ware Street area that they indirectly affect the wells. He noted that Rehobeth is having a problem now because of a small pond that seeped through to their wells and it was quite a distance from the wells. He felt that they should prohibit building in specific areas to minimize pollution. Motion: To put the Wetlands Zoning on the work program for things to be completed by the 1979 Annual Town Meeting. (Mahana-Hartmann, all in favor) VOTED Planner Grant noted that in reviewing the map from the Fire Department in which pumping was required that it is scattered throughout the community. He noted that the ironic part of it is that the heavily developed areas is where the water problems were. Planner Hartmann noted that he is working in a wetland area in Wilmington and that they allowed the developers to dredge ponds and streams and put the water into a narrow stream and then fill and build. He noted that the problem they are having right now is after a rain storm the water flows out of town at a rapid speed and these is no water left in town and they are having water bans. He felt that the same thing is going to happen here Planner Mangairatti noted that land is so valuable,that people are going to be trying to fill swamps and build. Planner Grant noted that this problem has been around for a long time and that most of the areas shown on the map are from frost near the foundations. Planner Grant noted that he would like to see this Board get together with the Conservation Commission, or other proper persons, to try to have areas like the Canoe River watershed cleaned out so that it is not stagnent. Minutes August 9, 1978 Page 3 5. Board discussed the Street Acceptance Plans for Brookside Estates. Planning Director Maurer noted that the Town Engineer reviewed the corrected plans and they are satisfactory to him. He noted that the one item not complied with is the correction of the puddling area on Carol Road. He noted that this work should be completed prior to the Town releasing the securities. Motion: To petition the Board of Selectmen to place the Street Acceptance Plans before the next Special and/or Annual Town Meeting for acceptance by the Town. (Grant-Mahana, all in favor) VOTED 6. Board discussed the drainage ditch for Peters Park. Chairman Parsons noted that there is water in the ditch and rubbish has been thrown in there. Planner Grant noted that there is water in his ditch area which has been dry for 6;Iong time and that it is due to the heavy rains. Planner Mahana felt that if he has loamed and seeded the ditch that he has completed his obligation. Planner Mangiaratti felt that the purpose of the seeding is to prevent erosion. Clerk Lesure suggested that they hold a portion until the Fall, or until adequate grass'is there to prevent erosion. Motion: To release all but $400.00 from the securities held for Peters Park until the grass is sufficiently established. (90 days) (Grant-Mahana, all in favor) VOTED 7. Board discussed the -memorandum from the Board of Selectmen noting that SRPEDD will meet with the Town to discuss the Growth Policy for I-495 and the Water Quality in Mansfield. Planning Director Maurer noted that there is a hand out which was the report from SRPEDD. He noted that all the members last week voiced their concern with the report. He noted that the meeting will also relate to a study that they are doing for selected Towns within the region on Water Quality Management. He felt that this would tie into the Wetland Zoning. Planner Mangiaratti questioned what the main objections of the Board were. Chairman Parsons noted that the first objection is that because Mansfield is having substantial industrial growth that they should send some to Taunton for a three year period and share the tax wealth with the surrounding communities. Planner Mahana noted that another item was that Foxborough will not develop their portion of the industrial park if Mansfield will let them tie into the treatment plantfor nothing. 8. Mrs. Jellinek came before the Board and noted that they are misunderstanding the wetland zoning as it has nothing to do with flooded cellars. She noted that right now you can build 100 feet from the center of the river and even in the flood basin. Under the wetland zoning this would not be allowed. She noted that the Conservation Commission can not forbid filling it but can only put stringent requirements. Mrs. Jellinek advised that there is a project starting in October using CETA workers under:^the direction of the Soil Conservation Service in Raynham, for stream cleaning. Mrs. Jellinek noted that her intent was not for the Planning Board to write the zoning for this but to have a Committee that will work with the State in the legal arm and the committee should also have members of the Conservation Commission and great woods Commitee and Planning Board. Minutes August 9, 1978 Page 4 Mrs. Jellinek noted that she just would like to know before September 1st if the Planning Board would support such an article. Chairman Parsons noted that the Board has answered that for her this evening in their vote. 9. Board met with Mr. Wynn Davis of the New England Consortium on Environmental Protection. Mr. Davis noted that he is working with the Western Observatory on a National Science Grant on the coal basin from Scituate through Newport and down through this area. Mr. Davis noted that they are looking at the possibility of anthracite coal. He noted that they have reviewed the legal and environmental aspects of anunderground coal mine and have submitted a report on this to the National Science foundation. Mr. Davis noted that the purpose of this meeting is that they have been asked to speak to one Town to discuss a hypothetical case. He noted that the basin is 1100 square miles and they have done alot of drilling, but they don't know how extensive the coal is, how much there is and if it is worthwhile mining. Mr. Davis noted that assuming that they can meet all the legal and environmental requirements and the coal is in Mansfield, what would be the this Boards questions, worries and concerns about a deep mine or a shaft mine. Planner Lesuer questioned how he would envision transporting the coal from the site. Mr. Davis noted if it were to be mined it would be trucked or shipped in freight cars. Planner Lesuer noted that a large mine would create alot of trucks. Mr. Davis noted that they are considering a gasification plant right on the site and ship it out as gas. Chairman Parsons questioned how big the site would be, including parking. Mr. Davis noted that you have the opening of the mine, then an area for cleaning process, then it is returned to the mine, so there has to be alot of storage, as much as a square mile. He noted that during the process there would be a certain amount of waste material lying on the ground. Planner Mangiaratti questioned air pollution. Mr. Davis noted that this has been addressed in their environmental aspect of the study. Planner Mangiaratti questioned if the State standards would be sufficient as there have not been coal mining in this State for a long time and the current regulations might not take into account the coal mines. Chairman Parsons questioned if a new law was just passed on coal mining. Planner Mahana noted that Senator McCarthy passed a bill for coal mining. Mr. Davis noted that under this bill you have to be licensed to explore and to mine and this takes into consideration the topography of the land and posting of a bond. Planner Mangiaratti noted that this was a land control bill and not air pollution and questioned what type of air pollution they envisioned from a deep mine. Mr. Davis noted that air pollution is not the real environmental concern but water pollution is. He noted that anthracite coal is a cleaner burning coal but has an ash content and that they would have to clean the coal before they burn it to get rid of the ash. Planner Mahana noted that with the density in population in Mansfield he would say it would have to go into the Great Woods and that another concern of his is the acquifying process is going to use alot of water and will affect the drinking supply . Mr. Davis noted that the problem with a mine is you cant' say it is going to go here, it has to go where the coal is. Planner Mahana questioned if in the course of the experiments, don't they have some areas that they consider to be feasible? Minutes August 9, 1978 Page 5 Mr. Davis noted that they categorized the diffrent areas such as the fresh water bodies, salt water bodies, etc. and then ranked them on a computor mapping system such as under land uses and topography, but they did not choose a specific area because they don't known where the areas for coal are and they have not gotten specific. Chairman Parsons questioned if they have learned anything about the quantity of coals at any place that would make it feasible. Mr. Davis noted that when they talk about the Narraganset Basin they are talking of Attleboro and Northeast. He noted that there is so much in the way of movement of the earth that the coal would be compacted into large pods. If we put a drill down 100 yards from where we found a 20 foot seam in Mansfield we might find nothing. Planner Mahana questioned if they would require alot more studying. Mr. Davis noted that it would require alot of drilling. Planner Mangairatti noted that Mr. Davis referred to water pollution and questioned how serious this would be. Mr. Davis noted that the problem with Mansfield is that it has a high water table and permanent wetlands and as you drill down and start mining it will be natural for the water to move into that area and will require pumping. It has to be pumped continuously because there are acids in the rock which when merged with water will break down and will develop an acid run-off. He noted that before they had the more modern techniques of mining the acid ruined the land, however under modern techniques you pump the water, which prevents this acid run-off. He noted that in Pennsylvania and Virginia there are mines that are preventing this problem. Mr. Davis noted that they have avoided getting into specific areas of mining because they don't want to alarm people to domething that may never come about. Planner Lesuer questioned the feasibility of a mine in Mansfield and trucking the coal becuase a power plant takes 100 carson a train a day for a nominal size plant. He noted that a power plant is not feasible in Mansfield because there is not enough recoverable water and questioned the ability to transport as the train lines are clogged up now. He noted that gasification is still in a preliminary stage. Mr. Davis noted that gasification is used in Germany and Canada. He noted that there is a new plant being developed in Wyoming and that it is being done underground and disturbs very little land area. Chairman Parsons questioned if the present property owners own the rights to their coal under their homes. Mr. Davis noted that they do but that does not say the Government can't come in and take it by eminent domain. Chairman Parsons questioned if they had found oil in the Basin. Mr. Davis noted that they found the bottom of the Basin but did not find any oil. He noted that they did around 27 holes out of 1100 miles and that there were 3 tests done in Mansfield. Chairman Parsons questioned if this would be a tax paying operation. Mr. Davis stated th&t it would but he didn't know how the Assessors would value a coal mine. Planner Grant noted that in most places it is assessed at so much a ton. Mr. Davis noted that the National Science Foundation phase is completed and now they are presenting a hypothetical case to the Town to get their reactions and this will go to the Bureau of Mining in January. He noted that this phase of the project is funded by the Bureau of Mining and noted that this is his thftd summer working on the project with Western Observatory. Henoted that most of the land use aspects were done and a computor mapping program was done and that this would all be available to the Town, now a geological drawing is the only aspect left to the study. Minutes August 9, 1978 Page 6 Chairman Parsons questioned if the environmental aspects are guarded in the Legislature recently passed by Senator McCarthy. Mr. Davis noted that Federal Air and Water Pollution will have to be met by the mine and an environmental impact statement will have to be done for the State. Planner Hartmann noted that the only thing that Mansfield will get out of this is pollution and unemployment. Mr. Davis noted that if the land use planning is done properly the land will be returned to is present state. 10. Mrs. Jellinek came before the Board and noted that in other country's that have gold mines it is piled up with debris up to 700 feet and the sand is in your food and on your clothes and questioned if coal mines come to Mansfield what are they going to do with the debris. 11. It was the consensus of the Board to hold the next meeting on August 16, 1978 at 7:30 P.M. 12. Planner Mangiaratti noted that he feels badly that he has not attended a SRPEDD meeting sincebeingappointed andthey are doing some important things that the Town should participate in and he 'would like to be relieved of this duty. Planner Mahana noted thathe's liketo see Planner Mangiaratti maintian this position but suggested that when he can't attend another member does. Chairman Parsons felt that it would be appropriate for him to attend the monthly meetings for SRPEDD and miss the Planning Board meeting that week. It was the consensus of the Board that the entire Board attend the SRPEDD meeting in September. Planner Grant noted that he is the Selectmen's representative to SRPEDD and felt that the entire Board should attend the monthly meetings. 13. Planner Mahana questioned what construction is taking place on School Street. Planning Director Maurer noted that they are moving a house there to take it out of the path of Route 140. 14. Meeting adjourned at 8:55 P.m. Date