HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PB - 03/07/2018 Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 1 of 3
March 7,2018
COHASSET PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
DATE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET,MA 02025
Board Members Present: Clark H. Brewer, Chairman (CB)
Erik Potter(EP)
Associate Member Amy Glasmeier(AG)
Board Members Absent: Michael Dickey, Vice-Chairman (MD)
Brian Frazier, (BF)
Charles A. Samuelson (CS)
Recording Secretary Present: Jennifer Brennan Oram
CALLED TO ORDER AT: 7:00 P.M.
Chairman Brewer called the meeting to order. He appointed Associate Member Glasmeier as a voting
member this evening.
7:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED ARTICLES FOR THE COHASSET ANNUAL
TOWN MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 30, 2018
Chairman Brewer read the public hearing notice aloud for all of the proposed Zoning Bylaws.
Article 20: Adopting the Renumbering of the Zoning Bylaw and Revisions
To see if the Town will vote to renumber and recaption the Zoning Bylaw of the Town by (a)
designating the Zoning Bylaw as Chapter 300 of the Code of the Town of Cohasset; (b)
renumbering each section and subsection of the bylaw accordingly; (c) inserting article and section
titles; and (d) updating internal references to reflect the new numbering system.
Chairman Brewer explained that this is being done to clean up the Bylaws and at the same time, make our
Bylaws easier to use and to update. The General Bylaws will be updated as well. This is an industry
standard and brings the Town current with other communities.
There was no public comment.
MOTION: By Member Potter to recommend this Zoning Bylaw Revision(s) to Town Meeting.
SECOND: Member Glasmeier
VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB, EP and AG)
Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 2 of 3
March 7,2018
Article 22: Section 5.5: Lame Home Review: To see if the Town will vote to amend the Cohasset
Zoning Bylaws, so as to provide new, clearer and residential specific standards for applications,
reviews and decisions in the Large Home Review process.
Chairman Brewer reviewed the history of this proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment. Amendments for
this Bylaw were proposed at the 2017 Annual Town Meeting by a Citizen's Group, but that proposed
amendment was defeated. The Planning Board then held public hearings with new language for the 2017
Special Town Meeting, but agreed, as a Board, that the language was not ready for Town Meeting and
withdrew it from the Warrant. This year they have been discussing new language, including using RGFA
v. GFA and other stronger language to give applicants clearer guidelines for filing a Large Home Review;
while also making the review process clearer to the abutters of the property that has filed for a Large
Home Review. Mr. Mike Stevens of 35 Rust Way asked the Board about what the Board would be
measuring for square footage. He stated it's all about the massing of the structure, and asked if garages
and attics would be included. Maryann Murphy of 35 Cedar Lane also asked about garages. Chairman
Brewer state they would include garages if they are attached. There was then an extensive conversation
about measurement the Board should recommend—RGFA v. GFA. Chairman Brewer stated that the
Building Commissioner suggested the Board use the Mass of the structure. Member Potter suggested the
Board use RFGA. After further discussion, the Board agreed to continue the public hearing.
MOTION: By Member Potter to continue the public hearing on Large Home Review to March
21, 2018.
SECOND: Member Glasmeier
VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB, EP and AG)
Article 24: Zonin2 Bylaw Amendment Article for Prohibition of Marijuana Establishments
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Cohasset Zoning Bylaw to prohibit marijuana
establishments in all zoning districts by amending the Table of Use Regulations in Section 4.2 of the
Zoning Bylaw to insert at the end of the Table of Use Regulations a new provision and a new
subsection 15 to Section 4.3.
The Board briefly discusses this proposed amendment. There was no public comment.
MOTION: By Member Potter to recommend this Zoning Bylaw Amendment to Town Meeting.
SECOND: Member Glasmeier
VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB,EP and AG)
Article 25: Zonin2 Bylaw Amendment Article to Extend Temporary Moratorium
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Cohasset Zoning Bylaw to extend the temporary
moratorium on marijuana establishments by six months through December 31, 2018.
Chairman Brewer explained that if the prohibition of Marijuana Establishments fails at Town Meeting,
this article will move forward. If the prohibition is passed, this article will most likely be indefinitely
postponed. There was no public comment.
MOTION: By Member Frazier recommend this Zoning Bylaw Amendment to Town Meeting.
SECOND: Member Glasmeier
VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB, BF and AG)
Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 3 of 3
March 7,2018
8:OOPM 8 JAMES LANE—PROPOSED MODIFICATION
Project Manager, Paul Sullivan, distributed updated plans to the Board. All of the residents of 8 James
Lane have been shown the updated plans for the final building and all of them like the design. They have
reduced the pitch of the building based on input from John Modelewski at the Board's previous meeting.
They have reduced the height by almost 2 feet. They are looking to change the height of the first floor to
make the basement usable. They will be on Town sewer. They then showed a prepared video of what the
structure would look like from the street and above.
The Board then discussed whether this request would constitute a minor or major modification. A major
would require advertising and notification of abutters. Member Potter thinks it's a minor modification
and Member Glasmeier agrees.
MOTION: By Chairman Brewer that the requested modification is minor and the applicants
should comply with all of the requests by John Modelewski and the Board.
SECOND: Member Glasmeier
VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB, BF and AG)
• PUBLIC COMMENT (5 MINUTES MAXIMUM) - None
• TOPICS NOT RASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF
THE MEETING - None
MOTION: By Member Potter to adjourn 9:05 P.M.
SECOND: Member Glasmeier
VOTE: 3 — 0 MOTION CARRIES
NEXT PLANNING BOARD MEETING: MARCH 28, 2017 AT 7:00 PM
MINUTES APPROVED: May 16, 2018