HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PB - 11/20/2019 Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 1 of 3
November 20,2019
COHASSET PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
DATE: WEDNESDAY,November 20,2019
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL—BASMENT MEETING ROOM TOWNHALL
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE,COHASSET,MA 02025
Board Members Present: Clark Brewer, Chairman(CB)
Erik Potter,Vice-Chairman(EP)
Brian Frazier,Member(BF)
Paul Grady,Member(PG)
Paul Colleary,Associate Member(PC)
Members Absent: Amy Glasmeier, Clerk(AG)
Town Staff Present: Lauren Lind,Planning Director
Jennifer Oram,Assistant Director, Planning, Permits&Insp.
Chairman Clark Brewer called the meeting called to order at: 7:OOP.M.
PUBLIC FORUM—Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Forum with Anne Herbst, Senior
Environmental Planner at Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
Documents used for this hearing(on file in the Planning Board office):
)0. Presentation prepared and given by Anne Herbst
Ms. Herbst addressed the Board. She reviewed the process the Town has been undertaking for this, its third
Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Town has completed many projects and has an impressive list of ongoing and
future projects. She then gave an overview of what the Town has undertaken,what is being worked on and
where the Town is in the approval process of this most recent Hazard Mitigation Plan. The next steps will be to
have the Board of Selectmen adopt the plan,then it goes to the State. Once in place,the plan unlocks another
funding stream available to the Town.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING—Pursuant to&300-5.4 of the Cohasset Zoning Bylaw for an
application for A Large House Review,filed by Sally Weston Association. The subiect property is 130
Nichols Road. The RGFA is 8,581 square feet(Continued from October 2,2019).
People present for this application:
Attorney Walter Sullivan and Sally Weston
Documents used for this hearing(on file in the Planning Board office)
➢ Landscape Plan
➢ Revised Site Plan addressing items from the approved Stormwater Plan
➢ Lighting Cut Sheets
➢ Mean grade calculations
➢ Board Member's signed Chapter 39 Section 23D Forms
Board members who missed a meeting on this application were asked to sign the Town's Chapter 39 Section
23D Form for the record.
Attorney Sullivan addressed the Board. The Board has received the items it requested; a more thorough
landscape plan and cut sheets for lighting fixtures. There were questions regarding height;they submitted
information to the Board on that as well.
Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 2 of 3
November 20,2019
Landscape Architect, Sean Papich reviewed the plan. There will be low level sconce lighting. There were some
questions at the previous hearing regarding fences and trees which he reviewed. There will be some field
changes as the plan develops. The two large Beech Trees will stay intact,they will remove some relatively
Cedar Trees. They intent to keep the driveway the same but enlarge the parking court located in the same area it
is located presently. There will be terraces, a pool and a tennis court. As part of the Stormwater Permit,the
leeching will be under the tennis court. There will be evergreens for the neighbors to provide screening. There
is a large Locust Tree but he noted that that is located on the neighbor's property. There will be a fence around
the pool; it will be 4-6 feet in height. In terms of lighting,there will be lighting along the edge of beds and the
terraces. It would be downward facing lights, it would be very subtle. They have not discussed the lighting for
the tennis court;the only up-lighting would be for ornamental trees. There was then a discussion amongst the
Board members about how much they need on the plan and when the landscape plan would be done during a
large project such as this. Vice-Chairman Potter the Board is more concerned about screening in relation to the
neighbors. Chairman Brewer said it would make sense for the owner to come in if there are major changes,but
anything minor the building inspector would look at that.
Chairman Brewer asked if anyone in the audience wished to speak. Marcia Comeau of 120 Nichols Road asked
about the screening trees they would be using and how tall they would get. Mr. Papich said they would be using
the Green Giant which is 12' — 14' at the time they are planted and they grow at a slower rate than other
screening trees. Chairman Brewer asked if the applicants had a communication plan with the neighbors.
Attorney Sullivan said their contractor is very good at communicating with the abutters. Chairman Brewer
stated that communication is key. Robert Troy of 150 Nichols Road asked what the highest point of the house
is from the ground level. Ms. Weston stated it 35'.4 inches at the top of the ridge,but they can go to 40'.
Chairman Brewer explained that the Cohasset Bylaws measure to the mid-point from pre-construction grade.
That measurement for this house is 33'. 6 inches at that point and so the house's height meets zoning.
Chairman Brewer stated that this is very large home,but the plan is well done,the landscape plan is very good.
He thinks it's a very successful package. Member Frazier stated the thought this was thoughtful and well
designed. After some further discussion:
MOTION: Vice Chairman Potter moved to approve this LHR for 130 Nichols Road
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB,EP,BF,PG&PC)
Review/Vote—Harbor Village Business District Overlay Design Guidelines
Documents used for this hearing(on file in the Planning Board office)
➢ Draft Design Guidelines
Planning Director,Lauren Lind,reviewed the proposed edits she would make to the Design Guidelines which
would now address design guidelines in both the village and the harbor.
MOTION: Vice-Chairman Potter moved to approve the editing and updating of the Village and
Harbor Design Guidelines
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB,EP,BF, PG & PC)
Discuss Potential Zoning Articles for Annual Town Meeting 2020
Ms. Lind and Ms. Oram reviewed suggestions for Zoning Amendments for Annual Town Meeting. The Board
agreed to move all forward to the next phase except for the Large House Review. After some discussion,the
Board agreed that the Large House Review Bylaw was changed in 2018 and they would like to give it more time
before they go back to the citizens.
Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 3 of 3
November 20,2019
There will be a meeting with the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Zoning Advisory Committee on Wednesday,
January 22,2020 to discuss all the proposed zoning amendments. That same night,there will be ANR training.
Planning Board Member Comments
Chairman Brewer stated that he had attended the Harbor Committee Meeting on Monday,the 18th of November
at Willcutt Commons. The Board of Selectmen are trying to ensure that everyone is aware of what is in the
Harbor Plan. The Town's consultants,Harriman Associates, are trying come up with a square footage number
for the water dependent area. Currently that number is left blank and marked as XX. Member Frazier thinks it
should be a percentage and that would allow for flexibility. After much discussion, it was agreed to suggest
25%at the discretion of the Planning Board. Ms. Lind then reviewed the timeline of filing this to CZM and
other approvals. After further discussion:
MOTION: Member Frazier moved to suggest 25% at the discretion of the Planning Board for this
Figure.
SECOND: Vice Chairman Potter
VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB,EP,BF,PG& PC)
Approval of Minutes
MOTION: Vice-Chairman Potter to approve the minutes of October 23,2019
SECOND: Member Frazier
VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB, EP,BF,PG&PC)
MOTION: Member Frazier to adjourn the meeting at 8:23PM
SECOND: Vice Chairman Potter
VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES (CB,EP,BF,PG & PC)
NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY,December 11,2019 AT 7:00 P.M.