HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PB - 01/01/2010 - Planning Board Meeting Minutes 2010 (13) Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 1 of 2
May 5,2010
COHASSET TOWN MINUTES
DATE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 5,2010
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL— BASEMENT MEETING ROOM
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE, COHASSET,MA 02025
Board Members Present: Alfred S. Moore,Jr.—Chairman
Stuart W. Ivimey,Vice Chair
Clark H. Brewer
Board Members Absent: Jean Healey-Dippold, Clerk
Charles A. Samuelson
Recording Secretary Present: Jo-Ann M.Pilczak, Town Administrator
Meeting called to order at: 7:10 P.M.
7:10 P.M. HERITAGE LANE UPDATE—Anthony Nader called—stuck in traffic—will arrive late.
7:10 P.M. Form A #916—34 ATLANTIC AVE. &46 ELM CT.—JIM MAGNER-Form A was endorsed on
August 12,2008. Registry lost mylar. Magner is having new mylar printed which Board will need to endorse.
MOTION: By Member Brewer to endorse the new mylar to replace the lost one endorsed on 08/12/08.
SECOND: Member Ivimey
VOTE: 3 -0 MOTION CARRIES
7:15 P.M. ANDREW WILLARD,AEC—SUMMARY OF FIRST PUBLIC MEETING ON THE WIND
TURBINE BYLAW AEC members in attendance; Andrew Willard, Conrad Langenhagen, Rod Hobson. Held
first public meeting on April 27—ran about 2.5 hours. Had presentation by representative from UMASS
Renewable Energy Center followed by discussion regarding height and setbacks. Next meeting to be held on May
12 to discuss noise, economics, flicker and other.
General things that came up: UMASS now has fatal flaw that they look for - 3X hub height to nearest residential
structure mitigates some noise issues that people have raised. Compared Cohasset to updated state draft bylaw
and other towns to get benchmark of where Cohasset is at compared to other towns.
• Height: state as no specific height listed in the draft bylaw—up to the individual town to determine max.
allowed height. Heights varied significantly from town to town. Most attendees felt Cohasset's height limit was
excessive and would like to see it lowered.
• Exemptions: Some towns allow exemptions for various reasons—State does not list exemptions. Residents felt
allowing exemptions for the bylaw was not a latitude they want given to the Board—public wants a clearly
defined maximum without any latitude.
• Setbacks: between height and setback, development is really boxed in. Right now, Cohasset has a setback of 1X
to residential property lines. The State recommend 1X from bldgs. and roads, 3X from residential structures and
1.5X from property lines. So State is saying that even in an industrial environment, turbines still cannot land on
buildings even if they are the turbine owner's buildings. State setback is not just protecting buildings,but the
rights of the employees and public within those buildings. Attendees at the meeting felt Cohasset should move
closer to State guidelines. Member Ivimey thought the reasons behind State setback guideline should be fully
investigated before any changes are made to our bylaw—make sure there is scientific reason for the state setback
guideline and not just political reasons for example.
Question did come up as to whether the fall zone for a turbine can become a no build zone for the life of the turbine.
Member Moore felt height was the keystone issue to the whole topic in that everything else(noise, flicker)is
impacted by how high the turbine is. Moore added that the AEC and the Board may be spinning their wheels
without a definitive answer from the Town as to whether the Town really wants turbine(s) or not. If the Town
really doesn't want turbine(s), there is no reason to change the bylaw, everyone should stop spending time
considering height and setbacks and the Town should just move on without turbines.
AEC plans to begin work on bylaw wording ideas after the second public meeting on may 12.
Planning Board Meeting APPROVED MINUTES 2of 2
May 5,2010
7:50 P.M. HERITAGE LANE UPDATE Applicant/owner Anthony Nader and Town Engineer, John
Modzelewski in attendance. Modzelewski visited the site before the meeting,noting:
• Top course needs to be in place
• Loan and seed on shoulders needs to be done
• Bounds to be placed
• Street trees are not planted
• As-builts need to be submitted
• Issue of pole versus underground utilities
Modzelewski noted that the drainage seems to be working,but still needs to be noted on as-builts.
Member Moore does not think the pole at the entrance of the property is an earth shattering issue and that the Board
could say that it is fine the way it is and be done with it. This can be voted on at a later date.
Modzelewski ran down the 43 conditions on the Conditions of Approval Status Summary Chart:
Completed and OK: 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 18, 19,20,21,22, 23, 24,26,27,28,29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,41
On-Going: 6, 12, 13, 25, 38 and 42 (both will have to be added to Homeowners when subdivision if complete)
Not Complete:
#7: new construction schedule to be submitted to Planning Board Office
#8: ways are not complete-Nader to submit letter to Planning Board requesting extension of the Definitive
Subdivision approval
#15: Nader to obtain letter from Capt. Trask regarding hydrant locations
#17: Crosswalk connecting Heritage Lane to sidewalk across Beechwood St. to be painted
#35, 36 and 37: plantings need to be completed and disturbed areas stabilized
#39: drainage structures need to be completed and inspected by John Modzelewski
#40: catch basins and detention basins must be cleaned at end of construction.
#42: snow removal responsibility must be added to Homeowner's Assoc.
#43: Nader will remove sign
Planning Board Administrator to summarize the above. Nader to return in 6 months for next update.
7:30 P.M. ADMINISTRATION
• VOTE TO APPROVE APRIL 21,2010 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION: By Member Brewer to approve the April 21,2010 minutes
SECOND: Member Ivimey
VOTE: 3-0 MOTION CARRIES
• SET JUNE MEETING DATES - June 9 and June 23
• LEED FOR NEIGBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR-DISCUSSION - hold discussion until all
members are in attendance.
• SCITUATE HILL COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION DISCUSSION-approved 04/12/06. Administrator to
contact Rob Schwandt to come to May 19, 2010 Planning Board Meeting for update.
• 226 CJC HWY/ROSANO-Member Ivimey wants to be sure that some kind of barrier or fence is going to be
installed to prevent vehicles from entering or exiting Rosano's property via Rosano Lane. Administrator to discuss
with Bob Egan and have this checked on.
MOTION: By Member Ivimey to adjourn at 9:00 P.M.
SECOND: Member Brewer
VOTE: 3-0 MOTION CARRIES
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010 AT 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES APPROVED: JEAN HEALEY DIPPOLD
DATE: JUNE 9, 2010