HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 10/03/2018Planning Board Minutes
October 3, 2018
Present: Don Cleary, Chair; Richard LeBlanc, Clerk; Tom French, Ralph Penney, Michael
McClanahan; Alternates Joe Cerretani and Sharon Friedman
Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development; Jennifer Davis, Administrative
Secretary
Motion: To appoint Mr. McClanahan Acting Clerk (Penney -French) All in favor. PASSES
1. September 26, 2018 minutes
P. 1 #4 — Gilbert Street — Mr. Cygawnoski said the trees were hickory trees, board asked them
to relocate or replant
p. 2 #6 last sentence first paragraph — Mr. Crugnale said he would like to go forward with an
update of the Reservoir Street project but wait until the next meeting for a vote
p. 4 top Mr. French asked about elevations for the retail component of Reservoir Street
p. 3 4t para — the Conservation Agent has met with the applicant's
Motion: To approve as amended
(Cerretani-Friedman) Five in favor. McClanahan abstained. PASSES
2. Public Hearing notices - Attleboro, North Attleboro
Town Manager's Strategic Planning Committee Discussion
Mr. Burke said he attended the Town Manager's Strategic Planning Committee meeting with
Matt Smith from Nelson Nygaard, the town's parking consultant and Matt Smith and Arec Galle,
Don Leighton and Bill McGrath from BETA Group. The group discussed an overview of what
has been done since 2014 and what the consultants have been contracted to do. Nelson Nygaard
has been contracted to look at parking downtown and to work with BETA on parking in the TOD
area. Mr. Burke said he would like to have Mr. Smith talk to the board about his observations
downtown and how it relates to the possible downtown parking amendments the board has been
discussing.
Mr. Burke said the committee discussed a study with one access option rather than the many
options that came out of the 2014 BETA Study. He said MassDOT has bought the Framingham
secondary line from CSX, and Representative Barrows has been working with MassDOT to
relocate the grade crossing from the Hatheway-Patterson freight yard closer to North
Main/Angell/County Streets. They are working with MassDOT and JP Noonan to get the grade
crossing and relocate the freight yard so there would only be a single grade crossing. Mr.
Penney asked if the access will be from Highland Avenue or Draper Avenue. Mr. Burke said
BETA is under contract with MassDOT to look at changing the geometry at Routes 106 and 140,
and the Town of Mansfield has BETA under contract to look at Copeland Drive/Route 106. He
said part of that is also getting Draper Avenue/Route 106 surveyed and looking at that as an
access point. Mr. Penney said he doesn't think the elevations at Draper Avenue would work as
well as Highland Avenue; Mr. Burke said the surveys will look at the whole intersection. He
said the town made a commitment to the Highland Avenue neighborhood to keep commuter
traffic out of their neighborhood.
Planning Board 10/3/18
Mr. Rego distributed a memo responding to Mr. Alves's October 2, 2018 comments, a plan
showing all the proposed Reservoir Street improvements and a plan showing that the edge of
their property on South Main Street is the edge of the MassHighway layout.
Mr. Rego explained the proposed improvements to Reservoir Street, including sidewalk from the
entrance to their site along Reservoir to meet the existing sidewalk on Route 140; widening and
restriping of Reservoir Street for a right -turning lane; and a traffic signal at the intersection and
signage along Route 140. He said Vanasse will be working with MassDOT on the location of
the signal.
Mr. McClanahan asked how many cars can queue in the right -turning lane on Reservoir Street;
Mr. Rego said it can fit four cars, but noted that will be a right on red, so the traffic consultant
does not expect a long queue.
Mr. Rego explained he has addressed Mr. Alves's technical comments, including showing the
slopes of the sewer pipes; verified the service table, added a manhole to meet the existing inlet of
the line on Reservoir Street, adding the 100 -year storm to the infiltration summary table. He said
he does not think adding another inlet to the sewer manhole will harm it, but said they will
replace the manhole if it becomes necessary.
Mr. Rego said Mr. Burke asked for a warning sign on Reservoir Street before the site; he said he
will add that to the plan.
Mr. Penney asked about MassDOT approval of the traffic signal at the intersection; Mr. Rego
said he has met with MassDOT about the need for a light and at that intersection and the
additional lane. He explained they are also going through the MEPA process, during which
MassDOT requested the warrant analysis be provided; Vanasse working on that and will file it
next week. They will also have to do a Section 61A filing through MEPA. Mr. Rego said he is
very confident the intersection will be approved by MassDOT. Mr. Penney asked what would
happen if it is denied; Mr. Rego said they would come back to the board, but said he doesn't
think that will happen.
Ms. Friedman asked the ratio of the parcel being left green; Mr. Rego said post -construction,
there will be 60.9% open space.
Mr. McClanahan asked if the existing cell tower will remain; Mr. Rego said it will.
Mr. Cerretani said the revised plans show the Mass Highway piece along South Main Street and
asked if that changes anything inside the site. Mr. Crugnale said nothing will change in the
parking lot. Mr. Rego said they did some additional surveying and added the line to the plan.
Mr. LeBlanc asked if they would be taking care of the property up to the curb; Mr. Crugnale said
they would.
Mr. Penney asked about renderings; Mr. Crugnale showed the board a rendering and suggested
adding a condition that he return to the board when he lines up tenants and the buildings are
better defined.
Planning Board 10/3/18
• Address Conservation Agent's comments;
-McClanahan)
A resident asked for a condition there be no tailgating and no commercial parking. Mr. Burke
said the Chair of the Norton Board of Selectmen has already requested that be included.
Mr. Cleary asked about sewer capacity. Mr. Burke said the board received correspondence from
Mr. Azinheira and the Norton Sewer Commission indicating there is sufficient capacity.
All in favor. PASSES
Motion: To continue the public hearing to October 17, 2018 at 7:05 p.m.
(French -Penney) All in favor. PASSES
The next Town Manager's Strategic Planning Committee meeting will be October 23, 2018, 6pm
Mr. LeBlanc asked if it is illegal to park on a sidewalk; Mr. Burke said it is. Mr. LeBlanc asked
how much is available in the sidewalk account; Mr. Burke said he would check that.
Mr. LeBlanc asked about the Methodist Church; Mr. McClanahan said the abutting property
owner, Dr. Lynch, is proposing 10 one -bedroom units, has received a parking variance and will
have to apply to the Planning Board for a special permit.
Ms. Friedman asked if there are requirements for a toilet to be on a construction site; Mr. Burke
said that is a Board of Health issue.
Mr. Cleary said the board's minutes and meetings have been added to the board's web page. Mr.
Cleary asked about scheduling the public hearing for citizens' petitions for Special Town
Meeting; Mr. Burke said that public hearing has been scheduled for November 7.
Mr. French asked whether town counsel has responded to the board's questions about the Branch
Street wireless tower. Mr. Burke said he has spoken with Attorney Lou Ross, who is working on
those questions. Mr. Burke said he would contact Attorney Ross again tomorrow. Mr. French
asked about the discussions about relocating the tower to the Cable Access site across Branch
Street; Mr. Burke said he has not had any updates on that issue.
Motion: To adjourn at30 p.m. (McClanahan- All in favor. PASSES
Next PI Bo d Meeting: October 17, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Signatura<of Clerk Dat `of Allproval
5 Planning Board 10/3/18