HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning 12/12/2018Planning Board Minutes
December 12, 2018 RECEIVED.
Present: Tom French, Acting Chair; Richard LeBlanc, Clerk, Beth Ashmaj1 '4Yh9, Kfle4FF ICE
McClanahan, Ralph Penney, Michael Feck; Alternates Sharon Friedman and iu •ejri
Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development; Jennifer Davis, A e a y P 1-21
tion: - To appoint Mr.
1. November 28, 2018 minutes
p. 4 95 – Change Board of Selectmen to Select Board
in
p. 1 - realignment of Chauncy Street/Route 140 - Mr. Burke said he is waiting for Mr.
Azinheira's draft letter. Mr. Penney asked to add a discussion of Chauncy Street/Route 140 to
the January 9 agenda.
p. 2 - Columbia Gas has done work lately "on Central Street from West Street to the railroad
tracks."
The board discussed asking the building inspector for his opinion about the issue of
handicapped access at the proposed 11 North Main Street redevelopment.
Motion: To approve as amended
(McClanahan -LeBlanc) Six in favor. Two abstentions. PASSES r
2. November 28, 2018 letter from Lou Andrews, NRT re: Rolling Fields Open Space
Mr. Burke explained the open space was to have been donated to the Natural Resources Trust,
but that has not happened yet. The issue has been turned over to town counsel, who has been
in touch with the developer's attorney, Tim McGann. The easement off the end of Camden
Lane will be eliminated, to which the NRT has agreed, so access to the open space will be
from McKenzilane–Mr. Burke said he called Attorney McGann's office Monday—, not
had a call back. Mr. French asked if the open space can be developed; Mr. Burke said it
cannot. Public Hearing notices – Attleboro, North Attleboro
3. The Beacon
4. December 12, 2018 roadway improvement plan of the intersection of East Street/Pratt Street,
prepared by the Engineering Department
Mr. Cerretani asked where the salt shed will be built; Mr. Burke said the idea now is to put it
behind the Water Department building.
The clerk read a request from the applicant's attorney to continue the public hearing.
Mr. Burke explained the Mansfield Cable Access Corp is in possession of a lease agreement and
is negotiating with EcoSite to locate the proposed tower on MCAC property at 300 Branch
Street. He said if the parties come to an agreement, the applicant would have to withdraw this
application and file a new special permit application for the alternate site. Mr. Penney asked if
the fees could be waived for the new special permit; Mr. Burke said only the Select Board can
Planning Board 12/12/18
waive fees. Mr. French asked about sending the Select Board a recommendation to waive the
fee; Mr. McClanahan suggested waiting until they reapply. Ms. Friedman said she would like
- the applicant to pay the fee for a new special permit.
Motion: To continue the public hearing to February 27, 2019 at 7:15 p.m.
(McClanahan -LeBlanc) All in favor. PASSES
The clerk read a request from the applicant's attorney to withdraw the special permit application
without prejudice.
Motion: To accept the withdrawal of the 51 West Church Street special permit application
without prejudice (McClanahan -LeBlanc) All in favor. PASSES
946/960 East Street
To separate Parcel A (3,722 square feet) from the existing 960 East Street (parcel 48A) and
combine with existing 946 East Street (parcel 47). Parcel A is labeled as a non -conforming lot.
Both lots remain conforming and Mr. Burke recommended endorsing the plan.
Motion: To endorse the Form A plan (McClanahan-Feck) All in favor. PASSES
Mr. Burke presented a draft RFP and the state statute regarding Master Plans. He said Town
Meeting was supportive of the proposal to update the Master Plan and approved the funding. He
said he has heard that a member of the Select Board is not in favor of conducting charrettes and
noted the statute requires the Planning Board to prepare the Master Plan using a public process.
Mr. French suggested having one consultant and leaving it up to them to choose a sub -consultant
for certain sections. Mr. Burke said that was originally how the RFP was drafted, but he said he
thinks the economic development section should be a focus. He agreed it may be better to have
one main consultant.
Ms. Friedman said she would like to see more collaboration around the housing element with the
Housing Authority and Local Housing Corporation. Mr. French said the RFP should be broken
out based on the elements required in a Master Plan, with the consultant working with Mr. Burke
and the board, as well as building consensus.
Ms. Friedman asked how the Town Manager's Strategic Planning Committee will work with the
Master Plan. Mr. Burke said that group, which is meeting December 18, is working on the area
around the train station. At that meeting, the parking consultant will present his first report on
findings, traffic counts and parking locations.
Ms. Ashman -Collins said she likes the way the RFP calls out the requirement for the consultant
to have experience in economic development and public participation.
Mr. Burke suggested adding discussion of disabled residents to the housing paragraphs; Ms.
Friedman said the town should work to assist residents who will be displaced by new apartment
2 Planning Board 12/12/18
developments. Mr. Burke said he has spoken with Social Services about that issue. Mr. Burke
said the Inclusionary Housing by-law requires affordable units; larger residential developments
also include universal design units.
Mr. French suggested adding a reference to the Strategic Development Committee's work on the
train station; there are already consultants on board and the Master Plan consultant will have to
work with them and incorporate the products.
Mr. Penney suggested the Master Plan look at the B4 district.
Mr. McClanahan said the Primrose School appears to have cut Route 140 and installed a line and
drainage on the other side of the street from its site. Mr. Burke said he would look into that.
Mr. Penney asked about adding marijuana to the Master Plan discussion. Mr. French said that
could be part of the land use section.
Mr. Penney asked if the board would have to go with the lowest bid; Mr. Burke said it would not.
He said consultants would be required to submit separate work and price proposals, so the board
will be able to evaluate each proposal without considering the price.
Ms. Friedman said the 2012 Strategic Plan discussed the need to establish the town's identity or
character, and suggested the Master Plan discussion include that issue, along with downtown
businesses and the potential cultural district, to help arrive at what makes the town special. Mr.
Cerretani said he thinks the town needs an identity or a theme that sets the town apart. Ms.
Ashman -Collins said the identity and marketing pieces are already being worked on; Mr. Burke
said the Downtown Committee has been working on branding. Ms. Friedman said the Master
Plan should include some sense of character and identity. Ms. Ashman -Collins said a Master
Plan consultant wouldn't typically deliver -a branding or marketing plan; Ms. Friedman said the --
issue should be incorporated.
Mr. French suggested requiring eight meetings.
Mr. Burke said he has met with a group interested in constructing a new building in the business
park.
The board discussed uses like restaurants, retail and supermarkets in and around the business
park.
None
Mr. Feck suggested working on zoning issues over the winter. The board has discussed
downtown parking issues and multi -family development. Mr. Burke suggested looking at
Planning Board 12/12/18
stopping the downtown overlay district at Villa Street rather than bringing it to East/West/North
Main/South Main.
Mr. LeBlanc asked about changes to federal wetland regulations; Mr. Burke said those changes
would not affect the local or state wetland by-laws. He said those changes may affect projects
that have to go through the Army Corps of Engineers, especially in coastal communities.
Mr. Burke said he met with the MBTA's Director of TOD and representatives from the parking
department, who said they are interested in working with the town on TOD projects.. They do
not provide funding, but would provide letters of recommendation for projec Ashman -
Collins asked if they would provide advice on the town's TOD zoning; //Buke�aid they
would, but noted the town's zoning already matches theirs pretty closely. $e d adopting
Chapter 40R would make the town's design guidelines into enforceable regulations. Mr. Penney
said the MBTA is motivated by ridership, but the town has to deal with parking and traffic.
Motion: To adjourn at 8:50 p.m. (McClanahan- ) All in favor. PASSES
Next Planning Bo Meeting: January 9, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
ignature of Clerk
Date of Approval
Planning Board 12/12/18