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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - PB - 03/24/2004 Planning Board Meeting 1 of 2 March 24, 2004 COHASSET PLANNING BOARD MINUTES DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 24,2004 TIME: 7:00 PM PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL-BASEMENT MEETING RM 41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET,MA 02025 Board Members Present: Alfred S. Moore, Chairman Peter J. Pratt Robert H. Sturdy William Good Board Members Absent: Recording Secretary Present: Town Planner Present: Elizabeth B. Harrington MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT: 7:00 PM 7:00 PM TOWN PLANNER REPORT Planner Harrington reviews items that require attention of the next meeting,April 7,2004,including two new site plan applications for Graham Waste and the Mill River Boatyard. Also included is a request to Town Counsel for its comments on the amended procedures for the Senior Multi-family Residence Overlay District(SMROD). 7:15 PM TOWN MEETING WARRANT DISCUSSION The Board continues its discussion of the various zoning articles submitted for ATM 04. The first item is Article 7—Large Home Site Plan Review. Member Sturdy discusses the removal of the reference to Section 12.6.3 of the Zoning Bylaw. This is the section of the Bylaw that deals with the application and review requirements for commercial Site Plan Review. Without this reference you eliminate all the procedures, timelines and submission requirements. Sturdy thinks there are too many changes late in the game. Member Pratt voices his concern that this review process not be over-burdensome to the average home owner. What is now being proposed is a voluntary review process where the Board merely sends its comments to the building inspector and the decision is not binding on the issuance of the building permit. The discussion on this article is continued to the end of the meeting as it requires additional attention. The next is Article 8—Demolition Delay. Town Counsel has ruled that this may not proceed as a General Bylaw. It will likely be withdrawn but if it does go forward,the Board discusses its positions MOTION: By Member Pratt to support Article 8 as presented SECOND: By Member Good VOTE: 2-2 The next is Article 9—Political Signs—the Board re-confirms its unanimous support for this article as reviewed at the Zoning public hearing. Member Moore will present the Board's report on this article at Town Meeting. The next is Article 10—Sunset Provision for SMROD bylaw. The Board discusses the changes that now allow for a town-sponsored project to be exempted from the sunset provision of the Bylaw. Members Sturdy and Moore reiterate their thoughts that no change to the existing 20%cap ensures that any town-project is safeguarded while not precluding other, acceptable proposals coming forward in future if other planned projects do not come to fruition. The Board confirms its majority vote against Article 10. Member Pratt is the dissenting voice, confirming his desire to correct misinformation provided at STM 03 when the definition of multi-family Planning Board Meeting 2 of 2 March 24, 2004 dwellings was thought to include two-family and more dwellings in a single building,thereby increasing the number of existing multi-family dwellings as counting toward the 20%cap. The Board returns to its discussion of Article 7 -Large Home Review. With the elimination of a reference to Section 12.6.3,the Board discusses a modified procedure for application and review. Member Sturdy suggests that two permanent survey monuments be located on the plan and on site to verify issues such as property lines, setbacks, coverage and etc. The Board can waive this requirement if deemed appropriate, i.e. a minor addition to a large home that does not closely approach and setbacks or lot lines. The changes discussed this evening will require Town Counsel review to ensure that they are acceptable and within the scope of the advertised article on this topic. Changes will be sent to Counsel in the morning. The Board will convene before Town Meeting and discuss its report to Town Meeting,primarily its vote on the amended bylaw. NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, April 7, 2004 7:00 PM MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:00 PM MINUTES APPROVED: DATE: