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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PB - 02/26/2019 Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 1 of 3 February 6,2019 COHASSET PLANNING BOARD MINUTES DATE: TUESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2019 TIME: 7:00 PM PLACE: WILLCUTT COMMONS 91 SOHIER STREET, COHASSET,MA 02025 Board Members Present: Clark H. Brewer, Chairman (CB) Michael Dickey, Vice-Chairman (MD) Brian Frazier(BF) Amy Glasmeier(AG) Paul Grady(PG) Board Member Absent: Member, Eric Potter(EP) Recording Secretary Present: Jennifer Brennan Oram 7:00 P.M. Chairman Brewer called the meeting to order. 7:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING—Article XX Special Permits in Waterfront Business (WB) District—The Planning Board will be conducting a hearing to consider a zoning use change in the WB Distict Harriman Materials and documents submitted, utilized at this meeting (On file in Planning Board Office): ➢ Public Hearing Notice ➢ Harriman Power Point Presentation Chairman Brewer read the Public Hearing notice aloud. He explained that there were copies of the proposed language available at the front table for audience members to pick up. They will let Harriman review their power point presentation and then the Board will speak and ask any questions they may have and then public comment will be taken. Emily Ennis and Steve Cecil are here in attendance from Harriman. Emily Ennis of Harriman Associates reviewed her power point presentation. She reviewed the area that would be impacted by the use change. There are four parcels in the WB district that would be directly affected. The important thing to know is that this is not a Zoning Change,but a major tweak that would allow for Residential Use in this area via Special Permit application process through the Planning Board. There are Design Standards in place for the VB district. The hope is to add a chapter to those that would be used in the WB district. They also need to determine the allowed dimensional standards in this area. Ms. Ennis ran through the timeline they have to work with to get this to be on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Chairman Brewer stated the Board can add an additional meeting if need be. At the meeting of February 20th, Mr. Cecil will be back and will present the proposed numbers for that area Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 2 of 3 February 6,2019 (FAR, height etc.). He stated that it is very important that when these figures are established, Chapter 91 has to be considered. Member Glasmeier stated to the audience that it should be known that Harriman is a very well-established firm and they have done many Harbor Plans. Mr. Cecil,who is an Urban Designer, added that they have been working on the Cohasset Harbor Plan and with the Harbor Committee for a long time. He is confident with their knowledge of the Harbor area. It's also a small harbor, so a proposed use change like this is easy for them to get their hands around. There was then a discussion on the Design Guideline. Mr. Hugh Kelly, of 15 Border Street, said that he appreciates all of the work from everyone. He thinks this is a simple move forward and that he sees a lot of benefits to getting this approved. The hotel has been an abject failure. He thinks moving forward with the zoning article is in the best interest of the community. Mr. Fran Collins of South Main Street stated that he did not have any concerns about the Cohasset Harbor Inn. His concerns are with the other three properties and this change resulting in the Harbor being surrounded by a lot of tall homes. This happened in Portland, ME and he cautioned that the Board/Town needs to be careful. A change like this should be for the best interest in the Town not for a Developer. Next Steps. Chairman Brewer said that the next meeting is February 20ffi. If Harriman could bring some of the modeling, that should help move the ball forward. Member Glasmeier asked if Harriman could bring its Urban Design Team. Mr. Cecil stated that they need work together, publicly, to create rules that will create quality for people and keep it simple. This should be for the community and not necessarily a tourist destination. They will work with all parties, the Planning Board, the Town and the Developer. This is an accelerated process. After further conversation: MOTION: By Member Frazier to Continue the Hearing to February 20, 2019 SECOND: Vice-Chairman Dickey VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB, MD, BF, AG & PG) 7:45 P.M. Harbor Plan Update Director of Planning, Peter Matchak, stated the draft plan is complete and up online for people to review and provide input. Comments can be emailed to CohassetHarborPlankCohassetma.org. 8:00 P.M. Master Plan Update Mr. Matchak stated that the Master Plan is moving forward. They have draft chapters and each subcommittee is working on their own chapters. The project is on time and they hope to have a full draft soon. The Land Use is the biggest chapter and they are still waiting on the Executive Summary, but both of these sections are in process. There will be a Public Forum on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at Willcutt Commons. It would be great if the entire Planning Board could attend. They will be giving a report to Town Meeting. Once the Master Plan is complete, they need to establish a Master Plan Implementation Committee. Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 3 of 3 February 6,2019 8:10 P.M. Regional Sewer Discussion Update Mr. Matchak updated the Board. Last year the Towns of Cohasset, Hull and Scituate received a grant to look at the implementation of Regional Sewer. He reviewed the figures. North Scituate needs it desperately. At some point Cohasset has to make a decision if they wish to partake. The cost to Cohasset would be approximately 43 Million dollars. A lot still has to be looked at, but Scituate needs It quickly. 8:25PM Nichols Road—Scenic Road Violation Mr. Matchak reviewed how trees were mistakenly cut down at 100 Nichols Road. One tree was in the right of way and the other two were on the property. The one in the Right of Way is protected by the Scenic Road Bylaw. The developer was extremely unhappy that the mistake occurred and reached out to the Planning Office the day it happened. He will replace the trees as soon as it makes sense to plant trees. The Board discussed a fine. They will fine the Developer, but will need to determine how much that will be for. The trees cut down on the property will also need to be replaced as they were part of the approved Site Plan. ADMINISTRATION MOTION: By Member Frazier to approve the minutes of January 9, and January 23, 2019 SECOND: Member Glasmeier VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB, MD, EP, BF & AG) ADJOURMENT MOTION: By Vice Chairman Dickey to adjourn the meeting at 9:OOPM SECOND: Member Potter VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB, MD, BF, AG & PG) NEXT PLANNING BOARD MEETING: February 20, 2019