7:00 PM Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Task Force Members Present: Susan Murphy, Hingham Planning Board; John Riley, Selectmen; Ben Wilcox, HDIC; Alan Perrault, Harbor Development Committee; Peter Fee, Trustees of the Hingham Bathing Beach; Katy Lacy, Town Planner, Ken Corson Acting Harbormaster.
Review Minutes of January 6, 2010
It was moved, seconded, and SO VOTED to approve the minutes of January 6.
Member Updates/Recent Correspondence
Ms. Murphy responded to recent correspondence from resident Tom Patch regarding the intent, composition and protocol of the Harbor Task Force.
John Riley stated that the Selectmen would be discussing the possibility of putting forth a General Warrant article to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a lease with Nick Bonn, the owner of the property at 3 Otis, to lease up to 19 parking spaces.
Acting Harbormaster Ken Corson presented a draft of the mooring optimization plan prepared by the consultant working on the overall dredging project, CLE. The plan shows approximately 230 non-slip type mooring areas in the inner Harbor, including two for large (45’) boats. This plan will be posted on the Town website for further public input.
Susan Murphy and Ken Corson reported that the Harbormaster had met with the Selectmen to discuss the proposed changes in Fees and Harbor Regulations. The draft regulations will also be posted on the Town website for public response.
Proposed Hingham Harbor Overlay District
The remainder of the meeting was spent discussing a proposed amendment to the Zoning By-law to create a Hingham Harbor Overlay District. Ms. Murphy explained the process for amending the Zoning By-law, as well as how an Overlay District would work. The goal behind the amendment would be to provide for uses and/or intensities that would be appropriate for the parcels zoned as Official and Open Space and located in the proposed Overlay District, without affecting the numerous other Official and Open parcels all over Town. The primary example was a marina, which is currently prohibited in Official and Open Space, but could be an appropriate use for Town-owned property in the Harbor
Numerous residents attended the hearing, and expressed concern that any changes to the status quo in the Harbor could be detrimental to the character and functionality of the Harbor area. HTF members explained that the goal of the discussion was to seek input on proposed changes that would serve the best interests of the whole town, and certainly not to dictate what should or should not happen.
Ms. Murphy stated that the next meeting of the Harbor Task Force would be done jointly with the Planning Board on February 1 at 8:00 PM, the scheduled time for the public hearing on the proposed Hingham Harbor Overlay District.
The Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 PM.
Respectfully Submitted, Katy Lacy