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Minutes Monday, April 9, 2007
Regular Meeting
Planning Board Agenda for Monday, April 9, 2007

Scheduled:
7:00 PM Board of Appeals and Planning Board - Continuation of Hearings
Samuels & Associates, 349 Lincoln Street
Major Amendment to the existing Mixed-Use Special Permit and Site Plan Review at the Hingham Shipyard

Old/New Business
   Minutes and Bills
   Gardner Woods Subdivision - Request to modify lot releases

Central Meeting Room North and South     

Present: Planning Board Members, Susan Murphy, Chair, Paul Healey, Clerk, Sarah Corey, and
Judy Sneath.  Also present was Planner Katharine Lacy. 

RE:  Board of Appeals and Planning Board - Continuation of Hearings
Samuels & Associates, 349 Lincoln Street, Major Amendment to the existing Mixed-Use Special Permit and Site Plan Review at the Hingham Shipyard

This was a continuation of the joint ZBA/Planning Board Public Hearing on the proposed plans put forth by Samuels Associates to modify the Mixed Use Special Permit for the Shipyard, originally granted to Sea Chain Marine in 2003. 

Present for the Applicant: Leslie Cohen and Joel Sklar, Samuels Associates; David Manfredi, Elkus Manfredi; Ed Hodges, DiMella Shaffer; Jeffery Tocchio and Kelly McCarthy, Drohan, Hughes, Tocchio and Morgan; Cynthia Hodges, Halvorsen Associates Landscape Architects

Ms. Murphy and Steve McLaughlin opened the public meeting at 7:10 P.M. at the Hingham Town Hall. 

David Manfredi initiated the presentations. The applicants provided a scale model of the portion of the Shipyard that Samuels planned to develop, as well as elevations of each individual building. 

Ms. Cynthia Smith, Landscape Architect with Halvorson Associates, provided an overview of the plans for street trees, parks and open space within the development. Street trees of an appropriate variety for this climate and setting will be planted along Shipyard Drive from its intersection with 3A to the Ferry Terminal, eventually creating a canopy effect. The roundabout at Shipyard Drive and Essington will most likely be mounded up, and planted with decorative trees and shrubs. The waterfront park will include planted gardens, a bocce court, and an informal amphitheatre space with a stage and lawn seating. The plaza area between the cinema and Building I will be planted with trees, and will include areas for outdoor dining and seating. The parking areas will include 1 tree per 10 parking spaces are required by the By-Law, all of which will be located around the perimeter of the lots. 

Tod McGrath asked for additional information about the landscape treatment along the edge of 3A. Ms. Smith responded that they were planning on berming up the edge of the property and planting it with trees to screen the parking lots from the roadway.

Ms. Murphy noted that the vegetative screening shown on the plans along 3A does not include a curb cut at Eastern Yacht. Ms. Smith said that this would be corrected on later iterations of the plan.  

Paul Healey pointed out that the Shipyard was a very difficult climate for vegetation, and asked what kind of trees would be included, and whether irrigation would be provided.  Ms. Smith said that they had selected trees carefully for salt and wind tolerance. She also noted that younger trees would be guyed to ensure that they grew straight despite the wind. She confirmed that the site would be fully irrigated, and that tree grates would be provided where appropriate. 

Ms. Corey pointed out that the zoning by-law requires that trees used to meet the off street parking requirements must be at least 3" in caliper. She asked what kind of trees would be planted on the streets. Ms. Smith responded that they might use all one species, but that it was safer to alternate trees on a block by block basis to prevent decimation by a blight such as that which hit the Chestnut trees. 

Susan Murphy asked whether there was a more detailed landscape plan showing the actual types of plants and caliper sizes, etc. Ms. Cohen explained that they were in the plan set that was recently submitted, and agreed to provide 11 x 17 versions of the landscape plans for the board to review. 

Steve Heikin asked what kind of paving was planned for the plaza area. Ms. Smith said that this had not been fully resolved, but that unit pavers were the most likely. He also asked for more details about foundation type plantings immediately around the buildings. 

Paul Healey asked how trees and plants would be maintained, and Joel Sklar replied that they would have a professional maintenance company employed. Sarah asked if trees would be replaced as needed and he answered in the affirmative. 

Susan Murphy asked for more information about the amphitheatre. Leslie Cohen responded that the surface for the stage had not yet been selected, but that there would be utilities available for sound, lighting, etc. 

Gary Tondorf-Dick asked whether there could be more planted islands in the parking lots. Leslie Cohen responded that there could be, but that would result in less parking. Gary also asked whether it was possible to use paving that did not generate as much heat as asphalt. Judy Sneath asked if would be possible to utilize some of the more recent green technology such as rain gardens, porous pavement, and infiltration in the parking areas. Leslie responded that they were using Vortechnics and the like to fully filter all run-off. Joes Sklar commented that he felt that surface heat from the asphalt was not a big issue in this climate. 

Victor Popp expressed concern about access and screening of dumpster and loading areas behind buildings B, H, and H.  Ms. Lacy was to follow up with Jeff Dirk on the access issue. 

David Manfredi presented an overview of the project architecture. He noted that in figuring out the theme for the architecture they had looked at marina architecture, institutional architecture, and village styles. He noted that the revised plans reflected the board's comments that the building looks more substantial. He provided elevations of each of the proposed buildings A-O. 

Ed Hodges of Dimella Shaffer provided a description of the residential buildings. He noted that the Residential South and Middle Buildings would have storefront or office uses on the lower floors, to keep the street lively. Residential North would be all residential, with a restaurant on the western end. He explained that they wanted to distinguish the style of the residential buildings from the other buildings to ensure that visitors did not wander up too close thinking that they were more stores or offices. 

In general, Board members indicated that the plans represented a big improvement from the last iteration. Several Board members expressed discomfort with the look of the residential buildings, saying that they were too "retro" and reflected 1970s styles. In particular, they did not like the flat roofs on the residential buildings. 

John Riley pointed out that there is a significant change in elevation from 3A down to the water, and expressed concern that rooftop mechanical devices would be visible from 3A. Rooftop mechanicals should be screened on all buildings, not just building A.

Judy Sneath noted that that the elevation of the "lighthouse" building (O) to the north (facing the ferry terminal) needs improvement. 

Sarah Corey and Paul Healey noted that there were too many buildings with flat roofs as one approached the water. Mr. Manfredi said that they would take a look at this, and consider adding a gable or roof features to one or more of the buildings on the northern portion of the site. 

OLD NEW BUSINESS

Minutes

It was moved, seconded, and SO VOTED, unanimously, by those present to accept the minutes of March 29, 2007 and April 2, 2007.

RE:  Gardner Woods

In a Certificate of Action dated June 15, 2005, the Planning Board voted to release Lots 2, 3 and 4. The applicant has requested the release of Lot 1 in lieu of Lot 4.

It was moved, seconded, and SO VOTED, unanimously, by those present to modify the Certificate of Action  for Gardner Woods dated June 15, 2005 to allow the release of Lots 1, 2 and 3 at Gardner Woods Subdivision from the Form E Covenant dated May 31, 2005 and filed at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds in Book 31673, Page 307, and shown on plan 05-981, contingent on the provision of a bond or surety in the amount of $51,000, and vacate the release of Lot 4.

The meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Katharine Lacy