HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PB - 01/18/2017 Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 1 of 3
January 18,2017
COHASSET PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
DATE: JANUARY 18,2017
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL—BASEMENT MEETING ROOM
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET,MA 02025
Board Members Present: Clark H. Brewer, Chair (CB)
David Drinan,Vice Chair (DD)
Brian Frazier, Clerk (BF)
Michael Dickey,Liaison to CPC (MD)
Charles A. Samuelson(CS)
Erik Potter,Associate Member(EP)
Board Members Absent:
Recording Secretary Present: Jo-Ann M. Pilczak
CALLED TO ORDER AT: 7:02 P.M.
7:02 P.M. PLANNING BOARD MEMBER UPDATES
(DD). Town Hall Renovation Committee received responses to RFQ from six designers. Committee will be
asking for funding for design work at Annual Town Meeting.
(MD): CPC has received two requests for funds: the first to assist with a complete rebuild of the Osgood
Playground and the second to upgrade the Varsity Ballfield.
7:10 P.M. INITIAL INTRODUCTION & REVIEW OF DRAFT ZONING ARTICLES FOR
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
• ARTICLE T - AMEND SECTION 2.1 DEFINITIONS— "RESIDENTIAL GROSS FLOOR AREA
Board thought this clarifies what counts towards space to be included in RGFA calculations.
• ARTICLE U - AMEND SECTION 18.1.b — SPECIAL PERMITS IN THE VILLAGE BUSINESS
DISTRICT
Board thought Article T above offers clarity so this article is not necessary
MOTION: By Member Drinan to retain draft Article T for the warrant even though some of language will
be further refined and to simultaneously not submit Article U for the warrant.
SECOND: Member Samuelson
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION CARRIES
• ARTICLE V- AMEND SECTION 9.7.8.b - SPECIAL PERMITS
Really just a simple housekeeping article
MOTION: By Member Drinan to recommend Article V be placed on warrant
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION CARRIES
• ARTICLE W-AMEND SECTION 2.1 DEFINITIONS- "DWELLING UNIT" and "FAMILY"
Currently there is no definition of what constitutes a"family" —ZBL is silent on this. There recently has been an
instance where this definition was needed to protect character of neighborhoods.
MOTION: By Member Drinan to recommend this article be placed on the warrant and, recommend 3
minor changes be made: include blood relative or kinship as one element of part (a); putting and/or at the
end of part(a); and, putting"excluding minor children" after persons in part(b).
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION CARRIES
Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 2 of 3
January 18,2017
• ARTICLE X - AMEND SECTION I Z 5— VARIANCE
MOTION: By Member Samuelson that this article be tabled for the time being and not submitted to the
warrant.
SECOND: Member Dickey
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION CARRIES
• AMEND SECTION 21 —SCENIC ROADS IN COHASSET(Submitted by Att. Tom Callahan on behalf
of the Citizens for Cohasset's Future(CCF)
NOTE: THIS IS A GENERAL ARTICLE, NOT A ZONING ARTICLE. GENERAL ARTICLES NOT SUBMITTED
BY THE PLANNING BOARD.
MOTION: By Member Samuelson to make a recommendation to the BOS that they adopt this as a
General article on the warrant with the additional consideration that they consider the legal definition of a
right-of-way and its impacts and also that there is something added that covers the cost of doing this and
who incurs the costs,whether it's the homeowner,the abutters,the Town.
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION CARRIES
• AMEND SECTION 11 —LAND ALTERATION MANAGEMENT (Submitted by Att. Tom Callahan on
behalf of the Citizens for Cohasset's Future(CCF)
Board felt this was conceptually a good idea but felt that some of the constraints are too restrictive, that it might
devalue land that is difficult and, that it may promote demo & reconstruction. Also thought it while it does try to
balance property owner rights and interests of the community, it is very complex which could result in confusion -
does need work.
MOTION: By Member Samuelson that while the Board is sensitive to the issues, the language and
computations are not ready for prime time and recommends it be tabled and more time taken to work on it.
SECOND: Member Drinan
VOTE: 4-1 MOTION CARRIES (CB opposed)
• ARTICLE Y - AMEND SECTION 11 — REGULATIONS GOVERNING EARTH REMOVAL
(submitted by ZAC)
MOTION: By Member Dickey to recommend this article be placed on the warrant
SECOND: Member Samauelson
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION CARRIES
• ARTICLEZ - AMEND SECTION4.3.14 - INCL USIONAR Y ZONING
Adds the VBD to the inclusionary zoning requirement and provides cash payment option in lieu of providing
affordable units. Cohasset has to carefully watch the numbers to insure we comply with the 10% affordable
housing quote. This proposal will keep Cohasset constantly adding new inventory to the count.
MOTION: By Member Drinan to recommend this article be placed on the warrant
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 4-1 MOTION CARRIES (CS opposed)
• AMEND SECTION 5.5 - LARGE HOME REVIEW PROCESS (Submitted by Att. Tom Callahan on
behalf of the Citizens for Cohasset's Future(CCF)
Proponent feels this article puts conditions on houses of particular size and puts criteria on the application and
decision making. Exempts houses that go to ZBA. Changes LHR to a Site Plan Review. Some Board members
felt this gives the Board more teeth in the Large Home Review. Others wonder how someone can be denied the
right to build a conforming structure and, are leery of the fact that if a house conforms with the Zoning Bylaw,
should the Board be dictating taste.
MOTION: By Member Drinan to recommend this article be submitted to the warrant.
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 3-2 MOTION CARRIES (Members MD and CS opposed)
Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 3 of 3
January 18,2017
• AMEND SECTION 5.3.1. TABLE OF AREA REGULATIONS (Submitted by Att. Tom Callahan on
behalf of the Citizens for Cohasset's Future(CCF)
This bylaw amendment is about proportionality to lot size. Needs illustrations as to how these new percentages
would apply to real world situations.
MOTION: By Member Drinan to recommend this article be submitted to the warrant.
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 4-1 MOTION CARRIES (CS opposed)
10:25 P.M. ADMINISTRATION
- VOTE TO APPROVE JANUARY 4, 2017 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION: By Member Dickey to approve the January 4, 2017 meeting minutes
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES(CS and DD abstained—absent from 01/04/17 meeting)
- VOTE TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR PERIOD ENDING JANUARY 8,2017
MOTION: By Member Dickey to approve the payroll for period ending January 8, 2017
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION CARRIES
- VOTE TO RATIFY C.BREWER SIGNATURE ON INVOICES: no invoices
MOTION: By Member Frazier to adjourn at 10:30 P.M.
SECOND: Member Dickey
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION CARRIES
NEXT MEETINGS: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017 AT 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES APPROVED: BRIAN FRAZIER, CLERK
DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2017