HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PB - 01/01/2008 - Planning Board Meeting Minutes 2008 (13) Planning Board Meeting 1 of 3
March 10,2008
COHASSET PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
DATE: MONDAY, MARCH 10,2008
TIME: 6:45 PM
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL— BASEMENT MEETING ROOM
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET,MA 02025
Board Members Present: Alfred Moore, Chairman
William Good,Vice Chair
Stuart Ivimey, Clerk
Mike Westcott
Robert Sturdy
Board Members Absent:
Recording Secretary Present: Jo-Ann M. Pilczak
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT: 6:55 P.M.
6:55 P.M. CONT' D PUBLIC HEARING, ATM WARRANT ARTICLE 20: INCLUSIONARY ZONING
Tom Callahan,HPC,withdrew the article and will resubmit for Fall STM
MOTION: by Member Westcott to accept the withdrawal of this article until Fall STM
SECOND: Member Ivimey
VOTE: 3—0 MOTION CARRIES (Members Good and Sturdy had not yet arrived at meeting)
7:00 P.M. TEMPLAR HOUSE—INFORMAL DISCUSSION Attorney Richard Henderson,Owner John
Esserian and Development Consultant Joe Marino in attendance to represent this property discussion. Structure
was constructed in 1880 and is an old,outdated building in need of renovation. Mr. Esserian has owned for 39 yrs.
Currently grandfathered use as 13 rental apartment units. 16-18 parking spaces on site. Ever increasing costs of
utilities etc., and intensive upkeep and care of this building means it can no longer be economically run. Owner is
in process of determining whether to: renovate and convert from rental to condo ownership; demolish and rebuild
as town houses; or,demolish and rebuild with same use. Owner is aware that Conservation Comm. must be
involved as the site is on Strait's Pond and is aware of abutter's views, sightlines. Is also sensitive to transition of
current tenants. Member Moore noted that it is not really a question of what the owner is entitled to as the
grandfather pre-existing non-conforming use allows apartments and still has the option to build a single family
home if he would prefer. However,Moore noted that contribution (to some degree) to affordability of housing is
always a good thing for the town. Clark Brewer,Housing Partnership Committee,noted that the HP would like to
explore options with the owner and developer. Member Westcott would like to see public and private conversation
about how to keep the site somewhat affordable while meeting the owner's needs. Member Sturdy also noted that
if not stated in the deed,units might be affordable but still not counted by the State.
7:25 P.M. STORMWATER BYLAW—STORMWATER COMMITTEE Marty Nee, Chairman of Cohasset
Stormwater Committee in attendance to represent the bylaw.Nee explained that the Town has to come into
compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act. SWC also felt they needed to develop regulations that exceed the
Clean Water Act to regulate development going forward.Nee stated that BOS is looking at millions of dollars over
next few years to remediate drainage and the SWC feels something has to be done to stop it from happening again
in the future. Nee explained the details of the bylaw including the fact that: this bylaw can be handled with the
existing bureaucracy;would be regulated by ConComm; would be paid for by applicant via fees; does not increase
taxes; does have some flexibility for the homeowner who just wants to add a small project like a garage or small
addition to their home. Member Sturdy does not like to have applicants ping pong between multiple boards for
reviews. Sturdy also stated that this is a duplication of efforts as the Planning Board deals with drainage for
subdivisions and site plans and that developers can handle the burden of addition engineering costs but that it is a
burden on the individual homeowners. Member Moore agreed stating that the individual homeowner who just
wants to add a familyroom addition is hurt by this much regulation and cost of having to go before multiple boards.
Members Ivimey and Westcott felt strongly that the pollution from and quantity of runoff into the harbor should be