HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PB - 04/13/2005 Planning Board Meeting 1 of 3
April 13,2005
COHASSET PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
DATE: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13,2005
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL—BASEMENT MEETING ROOM
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET,MA 02025
Board Members Present: Alfred Moore, Chairman
Peter J. Pratt,Vice Chairman
Stuart Ivimey, Clerk
Mike Westcott
Robert H. Sturdy
Board Members Absent:
Recording Secretary Present: Jo-Ann M. Pilczak
Town Planner Present: Elizabeth B. Harrington
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT: 7:05 P.M.
7:05 P.M. BILL GAUSE,NEW OWNER—CEDARMERE, INTRODUCTIONS -Bill Gause, Leggett
McCall introduced himself&Legget McCall—Boston based commercial&residential multifamily real estate
developer. Approved plans not to be changed. Construction underway by summer. LIP application approved.
7:30 P.M. FORM A'S -There were no Form A filings
7:35 P.M. OX PASTURE LANE SUBDIVISION—REVIEW OF SCHEDULE FOR
COMPLETION OF PUNCHLIST ITEMS &MODIFICATION TO APPROVAL Peter Baytarian and
Attorney Robert Galvin present. Baytarian submitted a schedule that highlighted all completed work. He
anticipated paving all sections on or before 05/20/05. Town Engineer Modzelewski will be contacted at specific
points for inspection. Town Planner will examine schedule and make sure all punchlist items are covered.
MOTION: by Member Ivimey to accept suggested motion presented in Town Planner Harrington's
03/16/05 Memo re: Minor Modification to Condition of Approval reading as follows:
To modify the"Wheelwright Estates Definitive Subdivision,Beechwood Street,Cohasset, List of
Conditions"or"Exhibit A"to the decision for Conditional Approval of the Wheelwright Estates
Definitive Subdivision dated September 14,2000 by adding the following new conditions numbered
11 and 12 as follows:
11. Completion by the owner,Mr.Peter Baytarian,Trustee,Ox Pasture Lane Realty Trust,of all
punchlist items no later than June 15,2005,including but not limited to all items listed in a
consolidated memorandum dated December 15,2004 and signed by Liz Harrington,Town
Planner.
12. The owner,or any successor in title,shall repair any damage due to ongoing construction within
the Subdivision,up to and including the issuance of the final occupancy permit,to the ways
including Ox Pasture Lane(the subdivision road),Common Drive A and Common Drive B. At
the request of the Board,the Board's engineer and/or its agent will determine whether roadway
damage is more than cosmetic and requires repair at the expense of the developer.
These additional conditions of approval became necessary upon the applicant's failure to complete
the construction of ways within the Subdivision in a timely manner.
Planning Board Meeting 2 of 3
April 13,2005
Said modifications are deemed by the Board to be minor.Consistent with an opinion dated March 9,
2005 and signed by J.Richard Hucksam,Assistant Town Counsel(attached) review of these minor
modifications do not require a public hearing.
SECOND: by Member Pratt
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION APPROVED
8:00 P.M. ZBA RECOMMENDATIONS Building Commissioner Bob Egan in attendance.
• 38 ATLANTIC AVENUE, SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION, APP: PETER& CAROL
BROWN, date stamped: 04/13/05. Peter and Carol Brown, and,James Sandell in attendance. Applicants
seek to increase the height of existing structure. The increase in height will not obstruct abutters' views.
MOTION: by Member Sturdy to recommend that the ZBA approve this special permit application.
SECOND: by Member Pratt
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION APPROVED
• 171 ATLANTIC AVENUE, SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION, APP: F.G.JR. &LISA T.
BEMIS, date stamped: 04/06/05. Applicants seek to reconstruct/enlarge garage at 171 Atlantic Ave.
MOTION: by Member Sturdy to recommend that the ZBA approve either option presented by the
applicant in this application for a special permit.
SECOND: by Member Pratt
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION APPROVED
• 138 ATLANTIC AVENUE, SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION,APP: ROBERT WILLMS &
JENNIFER SCHNEPF, date stamped: 04/12/05. Applicants seek to remove/relocate garage.
MOTION: by Member Sturdy to recommend that the ZBA approve this application for a special permit.
SECOND: by Member Westcott
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION APPROVED
8:40 P.M. ADMINISTRATION
• VOTE TO APPROVE/ACCEPT 03/02/05,03/09/05,03/23/05 MINUTES
MOTION: by Member Ivimey to accept 03/02/05, 03/09/05,03/23/05 minutes
SECOND: by Member Westcott
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION APPROVED
• SO. SHORE COALITION SUBREGIONAL AREA STUDY&TIP UPDATE
Deals with Rt. 3A improvements, signalization etc. Cohasset has no other official requests with the State except
for small sidewalk strip at St. Stephen's Church. Must be in the TIP—Selectmen must reappoint a rep to MAPC
who can approach MAPC and present priorities such as the Rt. 3A traffic issues. Member Sturdy felt the
Planning Board should be in charge of this. Member Ivimey stressed that Cohasset must get onto TIP and get
the focus back on Rt. 3A. Member Westcott felt this can be done via the context of the Master Plan.
• PLANNING BOARD OFFICE CLOSURE,WEEK OF APRIL 18In—Planning Board Administrator
updated Board of coverage and contingency plans during week of April 18th
• UPDATE ON MAY AND JUNE MEETINGS—Tentative agendas and necessary public hearings were
reviewed. May 4th meeting will not have quorum. May 4th meeting be rescheduled to May I Ith. Administrator
will reschedule,notify applicants and try to retrieve public hearing notices before they are mailed and published.
• REORGANIZATION OF PLANNING BOARD
MOTION: by Member Ivimey to nominate Member Moore to continue as Chairman
SECOND: by Member Pratt
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION APPROVED
MOTION: by Member Ivimey to nominate Member Pratt to continue as Vice Chairman
SECOND: by Member Westcott
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION APPROVED
Planning Board Meeting 3 of 3
April 13,2005
MOTION: by Member Pratt to nominate Member Ivimey to continue as Clerk
SECOND: by Member Sturdy
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION APPROVED
Planning Board Administrator will distribute memo to Town Manager, and all departments and boards
announcing reorganization.
• COOK ESTATE—Discussion centered on the Planning Board's opinion that the only way the Cook Estate
project can continue is on town sewer and that Cedarmere and Avalon are already in line. Member Pratt felt that
is is time for the Planning Board to stand up and repeat that continuing with the Cook Estate could decimate the
schools and the town services. Member Moore stated that the Cook land is beautiful and should be accessible to
the Townspeople as a park. Further,he stated that the property won't perk and is not worth the original value.
He proposed that the Trustees be approached to renegotiate the price so the Town can purchase the land using
Town monies and CPC funding. The existing estate could be used as a cultural center leaving the rest of the
land as open space for the time being. The Town could then slow down for an indefinite period of time and
really examine/determine how the land could best be used. Member Westcott noted that there is a sizeable
constituency for truly affordable housing—people in the middle income bracket cannot afford Cedarmere but
don't qualify for truly affordable housing and that in the future perhaps some portion of the land could be used
for this type of housing. Member Pratt noted that Member Moore's suggestions fit the legacy of the Cook
Estate. Member Moore suggested that all members of the Planning Board attend the next Selectmen's meeting
to present these ideas as time is of the essence in terms of the impending decision for the Selectmen. Member
Westcott suggested that although there should be a discussion about the role of the Selectmen and Planning
Board regarding Cook,the focus at this time should be on the Cook Estate because of the urgency. Member
Westcott will draft and circulate to the Planning Board a recommendation to be presented to the Selectmen.
Planning Board Administrator will request that the Planning Board be put on the next Selectmen's agenda.
MOTION: by Member Ivimey to adjourn
SECOND: by Member Westcott
VOTE: 5-0 MOTION APPROVED
MEETING ADJOURNED AT: 10:10 P.M.
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, April 26,2005 at 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES APPROVED:
DATE: