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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PB - 08/16/2006 Planning Board Meeting 1 of 3 August 16,2006 COHASSET PLANNING BOARD MINUTES DATE: WEDNESDAY,AUGUST 16,2006 TIME: 7:00 PM PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL—SELECTMEN'S OFFICE 41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET,MA 02025 Board Members Present: Alfred Moore, Chairman Peter J. Pratt,Vice Chairman Stuart Ivimey, Clerk Mike Westcott Board Members Absent: Robert Sturdy Recording Secretary Present: Jo-Ann M. Pilczak MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT: 7:03 P.M. (Member Westcott arrived at 7:30 P.M.) 7:00 P.M. PLANNING BOARD SPECIAL INTEREST TOPIC Member Pratt had several items to address. • Traffic light permitting process for Scituate Hill Subdivision—engaged with Mass Highway right now—may still take 6-8 months to permit this with Mass Highway. Chief Hussey wants to recommend reduced traffic speeds along certain portions of Rt. 3A. • Rails &Trails feasibility study-Pratt has seen great support from neighboring towns to move forward and recommend to the transportation secretary and MBTA an interconnected system of bike trails and pedestrian access for the Greenbush communities. 7:15 P.M. PETER BAYTARIAN,OX PASTAURE LANE—CORRECTION TO LOT RELEASE FORM - New release form with correction signed. 7:20 P.M. FORM A APPLICATIONS Attorney Richard Henderson represented all four Form A's. • PORTION OF WHITE FARM OFF JERUSALEM RD., APP: WILLIAM MORGAN, OWNER: FRANK&DONALD WHITE, date stamped: 08/09/06 MOTION: by Member Pratt to approve the Form A as presented. SECOND: Member Ivimey VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES • 42 ATLANTIC AVE., OWNER/APPL: PETER CUNDALL,ANN STENBECK,date stamped: 08/09/06 MOTION: by Member Pratt to approve the Form A as presented. SECOND: Member Ivimey VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES • 422 KING STREET, OWNER/APPL: DONNA DONOVAN, date stamped: 08/09/06 MOTION: by Member Ivimey to approve the Form A as presented. SECOND: Member Pratt VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES • 724/728 JERUSALEM ROAD,APPL: STEVEN CIFRINO, OWNER: JAMES &ANNE CIFRINO, date stamped: 08/09/06 MOTION: by Member Pratt to approve the Form A as presented. SECOND: Member Ivimey VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES 7:45 P.M. LEGGAT McCALL—CEDARMERE UPDATE Leggat McCall representatives in attendance: Mahmood Malihi,Principal;Virginia Messinger. Multiple prospects have moved through site but no one signed P & S. Leggat McCall has paused construction and marketing due to slowing of sales market. Leggat McCall stressed that they have a large incentive to complete this project based upon their considerable investment but that they do Planning Board Meeting 2 of 3 August 16,2006 not want to jump out of the gate without having answers and plans to address many questions. Leggat McCall also stated for the record that their institutional(financial)partner is still in partnership. Issues discussed: • One issue with site is sewage treatment plant. To get that system operational, a certain critical mass of residents must be at the site. Right now,there is not the velocity or number of people to make Leggat McCall comfortable with signing on dotted line, get sewage treatment functioning and delivering the homes. They are currently determining how they can operate that plant and,what interim solutions they have to satisfy the needs of the initial occupants before they achieve the critical mass(that number has not yet been determined.) They want to do things correctly before residents are on site. • Permit giving prioritization to construction of affordable units has impact as affordable units are a loss lead. They would prefer to have market rate available first to help fund the affordable. Member Pratt thought this could be addressed with affordability committees. LRestrictive language on the age respective zoning, specifically the time children can stay(2 week restriction), caused some prospects to hesitate in going forward. Leggat McCall feels the over 55 language is more restrictive than other Towns. Member Moore suggested that changes might have to go to Town Meeting as the age restrictions were bylaws,not regulations but that this was probably not insurmountable at Town Meeting. Moore also suggested that enforcement should be through Homeowners' Agreement not with Building Commissioner. Town Meeting is scheduled for Dec. 6`h,warrant submission deadline is Oct. 19. • Member Pratt also mentioned that abutters and Town are not happy with condition of site. Waivers were given to go into buffer zone—asked if buffers could be restored. Malihi noted that Leggat McCall has just had discussion with ConComm and will be starting site work to stabilize the area and comply with ConComm conditions—will be coordinated with John Modzelewski,Civil Designs and Building Inspector Egan. Planning Board would like this dealt with prior to winter. Leggat McCall—on record—committed to securing area before winter and will present plans incorporating everyone's comments prior to proceeding. Plan to begin stabilization of site within next month. • Glenn Pratt and Stephen May, Cohasset Water Commission stated concern about not having received any fees for the project and Water Dept. has put long range plans into action based on receiving these fees. The Water Dept. does not have phased fee schedule although he will discuss this with the Water Commission. Also stressed concern about no way to get water to the site in the event of a fire—only one working hydrant at back end of site. Even thought the two existing structures do not have occupancy permits and are not occupied, a fire on site would still be a safety issue for fire department. Planning Board Administrator to send letter to Capt. Trask asking for the Fire Dept.'s input on this matter. Water Commission would like to be kept in the loop. Mike Westcott to form separate Planning Board subcommittee to work with Leggat McCall to address stabilization of entry, infrastructure. To include ConComm,John Modzelewski,Fire Dept.,Bob Egan,other interested Boards. 8:15 P.M. ESTATES AT CASTLE HILL—UPDATE ON APPLICATION PROGRESS- Applicant not in attendance so agenda item not addressed. Planning Board Administrator to send letter informing them that public hearing will continue on September 13, 2006 as extension deadline is September 27,2006. 8:16 P.M. HIGHLAND ESTATES - Not on agenda.. Peter Pratt brought this topic up stating that he does not believe the road is a construction road,but is a permanent road that violates permit. Member Moore stated that the Board should follow up on although Building Inspector does not think it is in violation of permit. Pratt wants the road closed off, sealed and revegetated and is concerned about adverse possession. Planning Board Administrator to send letter to principles of Highland Estates, Manor Way and Estates at Castle Hill(and attorneys)asking them to attend 09/13/06 Planning Board meeting to discuss. 8:20 P.M. ZBA RECOMMENDATION • 149 KING STREET,APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL PERMIT FOR A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY. Peter Pratt recused due to potential conflict of interest with a client. Application is for addition of attachments to existing tower. Glenn Pratt and Stephen May,representing Water Dept. expressed concern about potential interference with radio communications and microwave antennas that control remote monitoring gauges on the department water tanks etc. Member Pratt recommended that the Water Dept. send a certified letter to the applicant expressing their questions and concerns about interference with Water Department equipment and request a radio frequency interference study. MOTION: by Member Ivimey to recommend that the ZBA approve his special permit and that the ZBA be aware of and attentive to the concerns expressed by the Water Department. Planning Board Meeting 3 of 3 August 16,2006 SECOND: Member Westcott VOTE: 3—0 (Member Pratt abstained) MOTION CARRIES • 48 STOCKBRIDGE STREET, SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION,APP: MATHEW&ANNA SMITH, date stamped: 08/15/06. In general the Planning Board felt this application was improvement to the property. The plans did not involve expansion of the footprint, non-conformity not increased. MOTION: by Member Westcott to recommend that the ZBA approve this special permit application. SECOND: Member Pratt VOTE: 4—0 MOTION CARRIES 8:25 P.M. ADMINISTRATION • VOTE TO ACCEPT JULY 26,2006 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES MOTION: by Member Westcott to accept July 26,2006 minutes SECOND: Member Ivimey VOTE: 4—0 MOTION CARRIES • BEACH STREET- several members of the Board have received complaints about the construction stoppage and subsequent condition of the work site on Beach Street. Several vehicles that have been sitting on the site for months. Planning Board Administrator to send memo to Building Inspector requesting that he look into this and let the Board know what the recourse is for dealing with the unsightly and potentially dangerous condition of this site. • DISCUSSION—LHR-ENFORCMENT OF CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL MOTION: by Member Westcott to adopt the Large Home Review Checklist as Large Home Review Rules &Regulations which must be complete at the time of application for application to be accepted. SECOND: Member Ivimey VOTE: 4—0 MOTION CARRIES • 82 BORDER STREET BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION DISCUSSION-The Board was not able to definitely determine that the plans were only for repairs and not modifications. If modifications—the Board would want a Site Plan Review filed. Unfortunately Charles Ford, Construction Manger, was not in attendance at the meeting to address questions. Planning Board Administrator to send memo to Building Inspector requesting that he and Mr. Ford attend next Planning Board meeting on September 13, 2006 to address questions and requesting delay issuing a building permit until meeting. • ZONING AND STRUCTURES SUCH AS WIND TURBINES/TOWERS—Member Westcott raised the issue of towers,wind turbine towers and zoning issues. Specifically,what happens when the Alternative Energy Committee looks at various locations in town in terms of site reviews,zoning issues, applications to put towers on residential property. Member Westcott suggested that a thorough review of the bylaws is required to see how they come into play regarding these alternative energy towers. Westcott will invite Alternative Energy Committee and Economic Development Committee to a Planning Board Meeting for an open discussion. MOTION: by Member Ivimey to adjourn SECOND: Member Pratt VOTE: 4—0 MOTION CARRIES MEETING ADJOURNED AT: 8:45 P.M. NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2006, AT 7:00 P.M. MINUTES APPROVED: Stuart Ivimey,Clerk DATE: September 13, 2006 (Minutes approved at September 13,2006 Planning Board Meeting)