HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PB - 01/01/2007 (21) Planning Board Meeting 1 of 3
June 20,2007
COHASSET PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
DATE: WEDNESDAY,JUNE 20, 2007
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL— SELECTMEN'S OFFICE
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET,MA 02025
Board Members Present: Alfred Moore, Chairman
William Good,Vice Chair
Stuart Ivimey, Clerk
Robert Sturdy
Mike Westcott
Board Members Absent:
Recording Secretary Present: Jo-Ann M. Pilczak
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT: 7:05 P.M.
7:05 P.M. BEECHWOOD ST.PARCEL FORM A& COMMON DRIVEWAY APPLICATION,
APPLICANT: COHASSET LAND FOUNDATION, date stamped: 06/06/07 (21 decision deadline: 06/26/07)
Member Westcott recused. 40 acre parcel of land divided into 6 lots. Lot 1 has no frontage and to be combined
with Vedante Center land. Lots 2,3,4 have frontage on Norman Todd Rd. and will be developed. Lot 5 is , 6 acres
and to be retained by CLF. Lot 6 is 21 acres to be turned remain Cohasset Land Trust. Land is south of Norman
Todd Road,west of So. Main St.,parallel to the railroad line and east of Rt. 3A. Access to Lots 2,3 and 4 (for
residences and Lots 5,6 to be by common drive and utility easement. 50' frontage allows Form A approval.
Member Sturdy required"is to be combined"changed to"is hereby combined". Member Moore noted that the
drive must be built to minimum subdivision standards. Width of road starts at 20' and tapers to 18' with 5' wide
shoulders on either side of road. Two catch basins to collect storm water runoff. 30' turnaround to allow access by
emergency vehicles.Board wants letter from Capt. Trask approving the turnaround as acceptable for use by
emergency vehicles. Utilities underground up to cul-de-sac. Water to be looped from Norman Todd Rd. to cul-de-
sac via easement. Water Dept.wants 6"main for the 3 houses.Board wants letter from Fire Dept. stating that a 6"
main is adequate. Hydrant at neck of turn around.
MOTION: by Member Good to approve the Form A subject to wording change to "is hereby combined..."
SECOND: Member Ivimey
VOTE: 4—0 MOTION CARRIES
Mylars to be signed once mylar with wording change is brought to Planning Board Office.
Member Ivimey concerned about drainage onto Norman Todd Rd. John Modzelewski noted that the drainage is
going to the isolated wetland to the town system which is probably under designed and suggests changing flow to
the other side of the driveway which has a huge wetland area. CLF willing to make change. Reviewed 12
comments in John Modzelewski June 18,2007 letter to Board:
#1: Resolved on Form A which was approved
#2: OK—no impact on what is being proposed
#3: OK-they will comply
#4: OK—as discussed earlier in meeting applicant will change direction of the drainage
#5: have>250' sight distances in either direction. Will require minimal clearing of brush in the right of way.
Applicant will get clearance from Con Comm for this clearing.
#6: discussed earlier in meeting
#7: Applicant will get letter from Fire Dept. stating that 6"main is adequate for flow.
#8: HDPE pipe is common and OK for private drive as long as it is in stock when needed
#9: easements are on Form A plan
#10: Regs.require 15' radius curb roundings—applicant has 20'. Applicant will increase to 25
Planning Board Meeting 2 of 3
June 20,2007
#11: Road is not crowned but is super elevated as discussed
#12: OK
Some discussion about Homeowners' Association to cover maintenance etc. and that it should be sent to Town
Counsel to review. CLF wants to agree to Homeowners' doc but do at later time so as not to make property less
marketable if Homeowners' is attached to it prior to the sale—not prepared to write a Homeowners' at this time and
would like to present letter stating they agree to a condo doc and will prepare condo doc in future.Member Ivimey
and CLF to discuss the homeowners'association.
Continue common drive discussion to July 11, 2007 meeting.
8:00 P.M. 16-22 DEPOT COURT SITE PLAN REVIEW DECISION REVIEW AND
APPROVAL OWNER/APPL.: R. BROWN, (21 day deadline to file decision=06/26/07)
Planning Board Administrator explained few changes recommended by John Cavanaro—clerical changes already
implemented, two conditions were redundant—one has been removed. Cavanaro also questioned whether
condition re: Fire Dept. approval regarding vehicular access or lack thereof to rear of building was necessary—
Board wanted this condition to remain.
MOTION: by Member Sturdy to file the decision as verbally amended
SECOND: Member Good
VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES
8:05 P.M. AEC PROPOSED WIND TURBINE BYLAW DISCUSSION AEC members Mike Bliss,Mimi
White and Rod Hobson in attendance. AEC asked for advice as to how to add this into an article as an overlay
district. Max. height of the turbines is 350'. Offshore turbines are much taller—if that is a thought in the future.
Not having municipal light plant is not advantageous to the Town the way it is for Hull and Hingham because any
electricity generated that is not used on site is then bought by the National Grid for$0.04 which is then sold back to
the Town for$0.15—so it is not as economically beneficial to the Town. However, Senator Morrissey has a bill
before the State Senate that would alleviate this issue. It is a net metering bill—a meter that would read both ways
—so,when more energy is put into the grid than is taken out, a credit is given to the Town. Conversely,if more
energy is taken out than is put into the grid,the Town has to pay for it. The reason for the bill is to solve the issue of
a town not having a municipal light plant. Without the plan suggested in this bill,the logical place for a wind
turbine would be the high school so that all generated energy would be used. If this bill passes,the transfer facility
might be logical location for the turbine,running the energy into the Grid and receiving credit for the energy. The
Board suggested not including residential in the bylaw at this time but to write another residential bylaw to submit
at another town meeting. Committee to update the bylaw and convert to electronic form so it can be forwarded to
Town Counsel for review.
MOTION: by Member Moore to write letter to BOS asking them to support Senate Bill No. 1961.
SECOND: Member Sturdy
VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES
8:30 P.M. MARIA PLANTE: DISCUSSION—796/798 JERUSALEM RD.RIGHT OF WAY Mr. and
Mrs. Plante in attendance. The Plantes explained that a right of way between properties has vanished from one set
of record plans to next set of record plans. Subsequently,new owners of neighboring property contend that the
property is private property and are not allowing use to those who have the use of the right of way. The Plantes
note that the right of way is clearly defined in their deed. Member Moore explained that if the right of way is in
their deed, it becomes a legal matter of enforcement if they are being harassed by neighbors. The Board,while
sympathetic, suggest that the Plantes make a complaint in Court and get cease and desist against harassment.
8:55 P.M. 226 CJC HWY. JOSEPH ROSANO Mr. Rosano and Neil Murphy in attendance. Explained that
they are concerned about the $7500 in engineering and legal deposits required for a site plan review. Also
concerned about traffic study requirement. Parties who have easements to use Crocker Lane have refused to give
up the easements.
MOTION: by Member Sturdy to reduce engineering fee to$500,waive legal fees(unless Town Counsel
services are needed—Rosano will have to pay fee at that time)and,waive the traffic study requirement for
the time being
SECOND: Member Good
VOTE: 4- 1 MOTION CARRIES
Planning Board Meeting 3 of 3
June 20,2007
Member Sturdy noted that by not paying the full engineering deposit,the applicant runs the risk of slowing down
progress on this site plan review as all work will stop on this application once the$500 engineering deposit is
reached and will not continue until more funds are deposited in the engineering deposit account. Board also
suggested that applicant review traffic study conducted by Rizzo Assoc. for Crocker II Realty's Commercial
Subdivision on CJC Hwy. Rosano will borrow copy from Planning Board Office.
9:15 P.M. ADMINISTRATION
• VOTE TO ACCEPT JUNE 6,2007 MINUTES
MOTION: by Member Sturdy to accept June 6,2007 minutes
SECOND: Member Westcott
VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES
• JOSEPH'S HARDWARE STATUS OF SITE PLAN REVIEW APPROVAL
MOTION: by Member Sturdy to extend the Site Plan Review approval expiration deadline by 90 days,to
September 17,2007.
SECOND: Member Westcott
VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES
• UPDATE ON WATER/FIRE DEPT. CONCERNS AT HIGHLAND ESTATES(HERITAGE LANE)
All Heritage Lane lines have been cleared—Water Dept. and Fire Dept. are satisfied with those lines. Stratford
Terrace lines to be cleared next week.
• SET MEETING DATES FOR AUGUST—August 8 and August 29.
9:30 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION. by Member Ivimey to go into Executive Session to discuss legal matters and pending litigations.
SECOND: by Member Sturdy
POLL: Member Ivimey—yes, Member Sturdy—yes, Member Moore—yes,Member Good—yes
Member Westcott-yes
VOTE: 5 —0 MOTION CARRIES
Planning Board entered Executive Session until 9:45 PM to discuss legal matters and pending litigations.
MOTION. by Member Ivimey to adjourn Executive Session and to resume open session.
SECOND: Member Sturdy
POLL: Member Ivimey—yes, Member Sturdy—yes, Member Moore—yes, Member Good—yes,
Member Westcott-yes
VOTE: 5—0 MOTION CARRIES
EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNED AT: 9:45 P.M.
MOTION: by Member Ivimey to adjourn
SECOND: Member Sturdy
VOTE: MOTION CARRIES
MEETING ADJOURNED AT: 9:47 P.M.
NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, JULY 11,2007 AT 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES APPROVED: STUART IVIMEY, CLERK
DATE: JULY 11,2007