8:00 PM Continuation of
9:00 PM Continuation of Public Hearing/Penniman Knoll 40B Development
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RE: Continuation of
Present for the Applicant Mr. Hastings, applicant; Jim Rondstock, Architect; Mark Kablack, Attorney; Tom Pelzerski, Merrill Associates; Brad Seoul, Project Manager; and Don Orwig, Landscape Architect.
Judy Sneath recused this item.
This was a continuation of a hearing initiated on Thursday, October 4. The
ZBA Chairman Steve McLaughlin read the notice for the hearing, and initiated a discussion on whether it was appropriate to review a plan that appeared to show the Hersey House moved forward on the property, in contradiction to the restriction placed on the property by the Selectmen per a vote earlier in 2007. Mr. Hastings responded that the Selectmen had approved 16 units on the site, and that unless he could move the house he couldn't fit 16 units and still make a reasonable profit. Mr. Riley, Hingham Board of Selectmen, said that they had voted that the house could not move, and that if the site plan could not be resolved to their satisfaction they had the legal right to prevent the plan from going forward. Members of both boards and Mr. Hastings reviewed this issue at length before Mr. McLaughlin consented and allowed Mr. Hastings to present his revised plan.
The new plan responded to comments voiced at the previous joint hearing held on
The revised plan would rely on an extensive subsurface infiltration system, with leaching trenches to capture roof and site run-off located at various locations around the site. It does not include a detention in front of the building as the previous plan did. As with the previous plan, Mr. Hastings estimated that the traffic impacts would be minimal.
Joe Freeman asked if Mr. Hastings could provide a revised list of waivers that would be required from existing Town regulations.
Mr. Hastings noted that unless the Hersey House could be moved its value would be reduced significantly, which would, in turn reduce the profitability of the project. If the house was required to stay in its current location he might be forced to use a detention basin rather than subsurface drainage, which was significantly more expensive.
Gary Tondorf Dick held up a rendering of the plan that was submitted with the original proposal showing 22 modestly-sized units located to the rear of the Hersey House, and asked how the plan had changed so dramatically. Mr. Hastings noted that the changes were made to make the project economically viable. Sarah Corey commented that she still felt that the individual units were too large for the site.
Mr. Hastings noted that the Housing Trust had recommended this proposed configuration with the Hersey House moved forward. Mr. O'Brien, Chairman of the Hingham Housing Trust, noted at the time that they reviewed the plan they were not aware of the restriction against moving the Hersey House put in place by the Selectmen.
RE: Continuation of Public Hearing/Penniman Knoll 40B Development
Present for the applicant: Jeff Tocchio, Attorney;
The
Attorney Tocchio noted that since the application had originally been submitted, the applicant had been able to acquire a small parcel of land at the entrance to the site. This land allowed them to significantly straighten, and shorten the entry drive, improving site distances from Whiting Street, and reducing overall length from 800' to 650'. The remainder of this parcel of land was to be donated to the Town to potentially be used as a location for a public safety substation. Mr. Tocchio went on to note that John Morgan of Coler and Colantonio had reviewed the plan for traffic impacts, and found them to be minimal. With the addition of the new parcel of land the site distances at the entrance also appeared to be acceptable.
Mr. James noted that they would be seeking waivers relative to the alignment of the road, in that it was layed out in a curvilinear fashion to avoid wetlands and reduce automobile speeds. A sidewalk will be provided from
Site stormwater and roof run-off will be handled through a series of subsurface infiltration systems at various locations around the site. A small detention basin will also be located to the immediately adjacent to the "public safety lot" to hold run-off from the upper portion of the site drive.
Mr. Healey asked about the proposed amounts of cut and fill, and Mr. James responded that that it appeared to be a balanced site.
Joe Fisher asked whether the wetland delineation was up to date, and Gary James noted that it had just expired. Mr. James affirmed that the project would need Conservation Commission approval in that it would require a wetland crossing, and there were extensive wetlands on the
site. They were also working closely with the Board of Health for the approval of the onsite, private waste-water treatment plant.
Mr. Tocchio noted that it was possible for the plans to change still further based on comments from the Conservation Commission. With this in mind, Mr. McLaughlin continued the hearing to
The meeting was adjourned at
Respectfully Submitted,
Katharine Lacy
Town Planner