HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 08/15/2018Planning Board Minutes
August 15, 2018
Present: Don Cleary, Chair; Rich LeBlanc, Clerk; Tom French
Alternate Sharon Friedman
Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development; Jennifer Davis, Administrative
Secretary
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1. Minutes July 18, 2018
Ms. Friedman — p. 7 1St para last sentence — Mr. Monte de Ramos said they first "looked" for
alternate sites; p. 11 — Mr. French asked to have the erosion control checked and stabilized,
and if "no" work is going to be done...
Motion: To approve as amended (Friedman -LeBlanc) All in favor. PASSES
2. Public Hearing notices —Attleboro, Easton, North Attleboro
The Beacon
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Katherine Wroth and Gail Gilman of the Cultural Council Ili orie District Subcommittee,
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Ms. Gilman explained the Mansfield Cultural Council has met with a representative of the
Massachusetts Cultural Council, mapped out the possible district, talked about points of interest
and got tips on lighting, parking and things other towns have done. They walked around
downtown, looked at options for art installations and met and toured MMAS with Mr. Butler.
They toured the Black Doll Museum and talked about their next steps; she said the Mass Cultural
Council representative seemed positive and encouraging.
Ms. Wroth said they have also met with the Town Manager and have attended a Mass Cultural
Council regional meeting to connect with other Bristol County Cultural Councils.
Mr. French asked about the next step. Ms. Wroth said they need continued support. Mr. Burke
suggested one of the things the Massachusetts Cultural Council said was important is ongoing
support from the Planning Board, Board of Selectmen and Town Manager. Ms. Wroth said the
Town of Mansfield would be the applicant for a Cultural District, and the Cultural Council will
take the lead.
Mr. Burke said the Mass Cultural Council representative complimented the council on all the
work it has already done. He said the next step should be to keep the momentum going. Ms.
Wroth said the Mass Cultural Council requested the Mansfield Council create a Management
Partnership, so they have put together a list of potential members, including representatives from
the town, business owners and the art community. Ms. Wroth said they plan to hold two or three
community meetings between now and March, when they hope to submit the application, to give
people an opportunity to discuss what they would like downtown to look like.
Planning Board 8/15/18
Ms. Friedman asked how it is more beneficial to increase the allowed size than to have someone
apply for a variance. Mr. Burke said most sign variances cannot meet the statutory criteria for
the grant of relief, he said the cleanest way is to make provision for it in the Zoning By -Law in a
specific zone. Mr. Cleary asked if other businesses in the zone could have a marquee sign; Mr.
Burke said it would have to be an arts -based business.
Mr. LeBlanc asked about the maximum height; Mr. Burke said signs cannot exceed the
building's roofline.
North Main Street Overlay District
Mr. Burke explained the draft and said he thinks it would go a long way to reducing the impact
of additional residential units from the density bonus. He said the number of units was a big
issue when the board presented this by-law the first time, and there was discussion about making
residential development special permit. He suggested allowing site plan up to a certain number
of units, and requiring developments over that to be special permit. Mr. French said Mr. Burke's
original draft was good, and said he would be concerned that putting a number of units threshold
on a development may encourage developers to split a large development into two.
Mr. French suggested requiring five streetscape incentives instead of four, and three public
incentives. He suggested allowing a maximum of 50% subcompact parking.
Mr. French said the by-law currently allows developers to take credit for parking spaces within
the frontage of the project and asked if that should be reduced or eliminated. Mr. Burke said he
has met with staff and suggested the available on -street parking would be better used for public
parking. Mr. French said it should be non-residential parking. Mr. Burke said the 2012-13
parking study encouraged business owners not to allow employees to park in front of the
business. Mr. French said the incentives are what get a development to the point where it can
use more compact and subcompact parking. Mr. Burke said he doesn't want to create a by-law
that pushes developers into all residential projects, noting residential uses subsidize commercial
space. Mr. French suggested allowing 50% on -street parking for non-residential use and
suggested limiting the number of tandem spaces. He suggested changing the landscape
regulations to require a minimum of 10% landscaped area for a project with 20 or more parking
spaces.
Ms. Friedman asked how this would impact the transition between a large project and abutting
neighborhoods. Mr. Burke said the maximum building height would remain 45 feet. Ms.
Friedman said she is concerned about large developments on North Main Street abutting existing
single and two-family residential areas. Mr. French said this by-law would not affect the height,
but would reduce the density of a development. Ms. Friedman asked if there is a way to be
sensitive to the abutting residential neighborhoods; Mr. Burke said the allowed height would
have to be changed. Ms. Friedman said without a stet' -down area, there could be a large
development right next to a residential neighborhood. Mr. LeBlanc said that could happen along
any zone line. Mr. Burke said a single-family home can be 35 feet high, which is about 2-3
stories tall. Mr. French said a step-down zone would have to require certain building heights in
certain locations, which would be difficult in the small downtown area. Ms. Friedman said she
thinks there is an opportunity; Mr. Burke said he doesn't think the downtown area is wide
Planning Board 8/15/18
Mr. LeBlanc asked about the annual value of home sales in town and said the amount of tax
under the CPA could be less than 3%.
Mr. Burke said he met with the Cable Access Board of Directors last week.
None
Motion: To adjourn at 8:45 p.m. (French- ) All in favor. PASSES
Next Planning Board Meeting: September 12, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
S n e of Clerk
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Planning Board 8/15/18