HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PB - 01/01/2007 (11) Planning Board Meeting 1 of 2
February 13,2007
COHASSET PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
DATE: WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY 13,2007
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
Robert Sturdy
Board Members Absent: Mike Westcott
Recording Secretary Present: Jo-Ann M. Pilczak
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT: 7:05 P.M.
7:05 P.M. MANOR WAY- 215 SO.MAIN STREET,DEFINITIVE SUBDIVISION,PUBLIC HEARING,
APP/OWNER: KING TAYLOR COHASSET LLC Member Ivimey read public hearing advertisement and
clarifies the reason,purpose and limits of this public hearing and noted that the Board has chosen to take the most
extensive course of action in dealing with this,that being a public hearing with full public notice. In attendance:
Attorney Walter Sullivan representing King Taylor Cohasset LLC (applicant); Dave Calhoun,King Taylor
Cohasset LLC; Attorney Bruce Issadore representing the Deligiannidis; and,Mr. and Mrs.Deligiannidis. Attorney
Sullivan agreed with the process decided upon by the Planning Board. Attorney Issadore did not have an opinion
one way or another. Member Moore explained that the court is seeking clarification of the role that Castle Hill
provides relative to the Manor Way Subdivision,the adequacy of Castle Road and (as with the Rattner v. Tisbury
case)the impact the Manor Way Subdivision would have on the public safety of other trails,roads, cartpaths etc,
including Castle Road. Member Moore noted that during the hearing process,the Board made it abundantly clear
that in no way would Castle Road be access to the Manor Way Subdivision and that the access to the Subdivision
was entirely predicated on the right of way through Cedarmere. Member Ivimey explained that the court remanded
the question back to the Planning Board for considering the adequacy of the access afforded by Castle Road and
whether or not to impose or grant,if lawfully appropriate, a waiver of the Boards Rules &Regs. or conditions
concerning Castle Road and improvements or changes to its present condition that the Board may or may not
require. Abutter Marie Buckley,217 So. Main St. spoke to the condition of Castle Road as being a long driveway,
1 car wide,through wetlands with RR tracks and signals(she also questioned the recent presence of surveyors)that
she feels is not adequate for use. Moore again reiterated that at the Manor Way Subdivision approval,the only
approved access if through Manor Way Circle and that this unpaved cartpath(Castle Rd.)would in no way be part
of the subdivision other than as a potential emergency access with no thought of enlarging or expanding it for other
uses. Member Sturdy noted that the Manor Way Homeowners' Association does not have the right to grant
easements etc. over the cartpath and that all utilities, access etc.were granted through Cedarmere and,that
neighboring subdivisions are forbidden from expanding the road to King Taylor LLC property line or changing it
from how it exists today. Sturdy also noted that the length and grade etc. of this road do not meet subdivision
standards and do not make it suitable for becoming a subdivision road and that in fact the Subdivision Rules&
Regulations prohibit the Board from considering anything but a subdivision road as the standard. Sturdy expressed
the opinion that the Board had spent an inordinate amount of time in considering this roadway during the initial
approval process for the Manor Way Subdivision. Abutter, Susan Kent, 3 Mendel Road felt the Board had met its
obligations in determining that Castle Road did not have adequate frontage and safe passage. Attorney Sullivan
noted that the only parties who have a right to use the cartpath are the owners of the land—King Taylor, and the
Deligiannidis by virtue of a deeded right of way only as far as their driveway and not as far as Manor Way.
According to Sullivan,the Rattner decision was substantially different as Rattner had two parallel ways to the
subdivision and the question related to the impact on the Rattner way by subdivision traffic. Deligiannidis concered
that there will be an overload of traffic on the cartpath by the Manor Way subdivision by which he will be damaged
and have a right infringed. Cohasset Planning Board files are full of documents(including the specificity of a
Planning Board Meeting 2 of 2
February 13,2007
supplemental locus of the ways within a'/4 mile) and evidence that show this was dealt with in almost every
meeting during the Manor Way subdivision approval process and Sullivan suggests that because of this,the
Cohasset Planning Board applied the Rattner test whether they knew it or not. Sullivan drafted a suggested
response to the Remand Order. Member Sturdy stated that in Tisbury, it is permissible to have a subdivision road
off a dirt road while it is not permissible in Cohasset. Sullivan noted that the Homeowners' Association clearly
outlines the responsibilities for maintenance of the cartpath for safe ingress and egress and can only be amended by
the Homeowners with the advice and consent of the Planning Board. Attorney Issadore suggested that lot 1 has
been released without Manor Way being built and, could use Castle Road independent of the construction of the
rest of the subdivision. Sturdy noted that Lot 1 can continue to use the paved road through Cedarmere as it always
has. Issadore felt that Board is not being asked to bring the road up to subdivision standards but they are being
asked under Rattner to make is safe and passable for use by the subdivision owners and the Deligiannidis. Sullivan
disagreed stating that the Board was not being asked to make a determination to make the road safe but is being
asked to make a determination as to whether it is adequate and if there is an infringement on the Deligiannidis right
by any increased use of the road that may occur. Sullivan noted that there is no Lot 1 at the moment, only one large
lot with one house on it with this long driveway—Castle Road. Calhoun noted that prior to his purchase,the
cartpath was not passable from Manor Way to the Deligniannidis property— road was cleared after purchase. For
the record,Issadore noted that the right of way of ownership and easement right is significantly wider than what is
currently cleared and that the Deligiannidis rights on the easement go further than Sullivan has indicated and that he
takes opposition to that being mentioned at this time as he feels it is a separate title matter. Cynthia Dedes,207 So.
Main St. commented on deteriorated condition(parts falling onto her property)of Castle Road.
MOTION: by Member Sturdy to close the public hearing
SECOND: Member Ivimey
VOTE: 4-0 MOTION CARRIES
MOTION: by Member Sturdy to take matter under advisement until 02/28/07 Planning Board meeting.
SECOND: Member Ivimey
VOTE: 4-0 MOTION CARRIES
Response to the remand order must be filed with the Town Clerk by March 9, 2007.
8:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATION Contact Nader re: future meeting to discuss the underground utility situation.
8:10 P.M. AMENDMENT OF WATER RESOURCE DISTRICT ATM WARRANT ARTICLE,
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING John McNabb present to represent article. McNabb distributed new version
of the article based upon his meeting with the Water Commission. New version is substantially different than
version discussed at last meeting, imposing significantly fewer restrictions. New version addresses only two (2)
changes required by the DEP—storage of deicing chemicals and storage of animal manure.
MOTION: by Member Pratt to recommend approval of the Water Commission article as presented in
John McNabb's 02/12/07 letter to the Planning Board.
SECOND: Member Ivimey
VOTE: 3- 1 MOTION CARRIES
8:40 P.M. ZONING ARTICLES 13, 14, 15 FOR MARCH 31,2007 ATM Planning Board Administrator
distributed Articles 13, 14, 15 with edits made based upon 02/07/07 Planning Board Public Hearing. Article 14
also has Town Counsel changes. Board will review and return comments by 02/21/07.
MOTION: by Member Sturdy to adjourn
SECOND: Member Pratt
VOTE: 4-0 MOTION CARRIES
MEETING ADJOURNED AT: 8:50 P.M.
NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28,2007 AT 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES APPROVED: STUART IVIMEY, CLERK
DATE: FEBRUARY 28,2007