Scheduled: 
 7:00 Gardner Terrace Request for Extension of Time of Completion
 7:15 Baker Hill Drive Request for Extension of Time of Completion and Update
 7:45 Boston Golf  Site Plan Review
 8:30 Old/New Business
        
Present: Planning Board Members, Sarah Corey, Chair, Judy Sneath, Clerk, Paul Healey, Susan
Murphy, and Gary Tondorf-Dick.  Also present was Planner Katharine Lacy.

RE:  Gardner Terrace Request for Extension of Time of Completion and Release of Lot 2
Ferd Lucas came before the before the Board on behalf of applicant Rosano Davis, to request an extension of the time of completion for the three-lot Gardner Terrace Subdivision to June 1, 2009.  This project was approved on November 15, 2004, and has been extended several times, though the last extension expired in November 2007. Mr. Lucas also requested the release of Lot 3 (lots 1 and 2 are already built and sold). Ms. Lacy reported that there is a bond in place for $55,000, and that Paul Brogna recently updated the Cost-to-Complete at $48,000. She also reported that there have been some complaints about the length of time that the project has gone on, as well as the large amount of gravel that was being crushed on site. Mr. Lucas indicated that all rock crushing was complete, but admitted that there were large piles of gravel and loam on the site. There has also been concern on the part of one of the residents on Gardner Terrace about the potential for an additional lot to be created between the existing Lot at 160 Gardner Terrace and Lot 3.   Lucas explained that the applicant had purchased 160 Gardner Street, and the plan was to demolish the existing house and build a new one. In terms of dividing the lot, he was not sure exactly what was planned, but indicated that the lot would certainly not be divided until such time that the road was accepted. Mr. Lacy pointed out that the septic restrictions (1200 sf of lot are per bedroom) would limit the bedroom count on the combined lots to 4-5, which might discourage the creation of a new lot.

Ms. Lacy asked that the applicant provide evidence that the bond would remain in effect for the duration of the period of the extension.

It was moved, seconded, and SO VOTED to extend the period for completion for the Gardner Terrace Subdivision to June 1, 2009, and to approve the release of Lot 3, contingent upon the provision of evidence that the bond would remain in effect for the duration of the period of the extension.

RE:  Baker Hill Drive: Request for Extension of Time of Completion and Update
Jeff Tocchio and Dave Gooley came before the Board on behalf of Intoccia Construction to request an extension for the time of completion of Baker Hill Drive to June 1, 2009.

Mr. Tocchio reported that the project was progressing despite slow sales due to the slump in the economy. He noted that the Town now holds bonds totaling $461,889 for the first 3000 feet of roadway.  Additionally, Lots 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 18, 29 have not yet been released. Dave Gooley reported that work planned for the upcoming months included installation of the guard rails where needed along the roadway, and installation of the sidewalk and streetlights up to approximately Station 18+00. Additionally, they were planning on adding a leveling course from Fottler Road to the bridge.

Gary Tondorf-Dick asked several questions about how the drainage on the site worked, and Mr. Tocchio provided him with a brief background summary of the project going back to the project's design and engineering phase.

Ms. Lacy reported that there were ongoing issues with erosion controls on various individual lots. IN particular the house being built by Jay Ellis has caused erosion to wash on to the roadway.  Mr. Gooley responded that he had only a limited ability to respond on someone else's private property, and noted that any help that the Town could provide in terms of forcing compliance would be greatly appreciated.

It was moved, seconded, and SO VOTED to extend the period of completion for Baker Hill Drive to June 1, 2009.

RE:  Boston Golf Site Plan Review in Association with Application for Special Permit A2
Sarah Stearns and Robert C. Pescatore of the Boston
The applicant, represented by Sarah Stearns and Robert Pescatore of the Boston Golf Club, came before the Board to request a modification to the February 2003 Special Permit A2 for the club complex to include a 6,000 s.f. building office space, caddy lunch room, and golf cart storage. The building will be located across from the existing clubhouse building, and will be accessed by the main driveway leading into the site from Old County Road. The ZBA hearing for this project is next Thursday, May 22.

Ms. Stearns explained that office space was originally part of the original clubhouse design, but was removed to reduce the overall size of the building. This space is now needed near the club-house building. Additionally, since the club has opened, they have identified some necessary operational changes, including the need for an indoor waiting/lunch area for the caddies, and an indoor golf cart storage area. The club was proposed and permitted as a "non-cart" course, but due to the size of the course and the distance from the club to the first hole, they now offer the players and their caddy a ride via the Cushing Street underpass to the first hole to start their game. The cart is then returned to the clubhouse area, and the golfers proceed on foot. IN response to these needs, the new building will include 1600 s.f. of office space, 4000 sf of cart storage and a small lunch/waiting room.

Parking will be provided in a 21-space, paved parking lot located to the east of the new administrative building. The number of spaces provided complies with the number required by Hingham's off-street parking regulations for the uses proposed for the building.

Septic service for the new building will be combined with the existing Title V wastewater disposal system utilized by the clubhouse, and currently has excess capacity. Power and water will also be supplied through a connection to the clubhouse.

Gary Tondorf-Dick pointed out that the proposed 21-space parking area was located over a fairly high water table, and asked how run-off/drainage from the paved parking lot would be treated to remove sand, oil, and contaminants prior to infiltration. Ms. Stearns responded that there would be catch basins located in the parking lot, and referred to the design details included in the submittal for the leaching pits and infiltration units associated with these basins. Gary went on to ask how run-off from the grass overflow area previously permitted for the club house was treated, and Ms. Stearn responded that she was not sure, but could make sure that provisions were in place for proper infiltration by the time of the ZBA hearing.

Judy Sneath asked several questions about how the number of parking spaces was determined, and whether perhaps the applicant was providing too much paved parking. Sarah Corey reiterated this concern. Ms. Stearns replied that the 21 spaces seemed accurate based on use patterns to date. Board members asked about the use of the overflow parking lot, and Ms. Stearns noted that it was only used for "members" events, which could total up to 72 people.

Sarah Corey asked whether they could look into the use of a pervious paving material for the parking lot. She also asked whether it would be possible to remove the chain link fence along the property boundary on Cushing Street. Ms. Stearns responded that the fence has been a requirement of the Town as a safety precaution, as there is a steep drop down into the site on the southern side of Cushing Street.

Paul Healey asked whether the applicant planned to put up additional buildings on the site in the future. Mr. Healey and Ms. Corey made note of the fact that the limiting factor as far as this development was concerned was the entry drive into the site from Old County Road, which is a quiet residential neighborhood. Ms. Stearns indicated that at this point it did not seem likely. Ms. Corey expressed her concern that the project was changing from what was originally presented to the town. Ms. Stearn agreed that the new building was a change, but pointed out that the Clubhouse building had been reduced in size from 12,000 sf to 9,000 sf, so the 6,000 admin building represented only a 3000 sf increase in building area.

As a part of this modification request, the applicant is also seeking to eliminate the Form A Lot created in 2006 for the construction of the small, club-owned cottage (17 Old County Road). At the time that the cottage was built, the Form A lot was created simply to expedite permitting for the cottage by avoiding a public hearing to modify the Special Permit for the whole club. Now that they are proceeding with this other modification (the administration building) the applicant would like to "clean up" the separate lot lines by merging the Form A lot into the surrounding club lot.

Paul Healey expressed concern that he was not fully cognizant of what the impacts might be of removing this lot line. Other Board members noted that they felt that it would actually be a good thing, in that the lot could not be sold individually. Mr. Healey asked whether the club was considering the addition of other similar guest cottages, and Ms. Stearns responded that they weren't at this point but she could not rule it out. She added that if a plan were developed for additional cottages, it would be presented to the Board as part of a master plan, and would not happen for at least 5-10 years.

It was moved, seconded and SO VOTED to approve the Site Plan showing modifications to the 2003 Special Permit A2 for the Boston Golf Club, including the addition of the new administration building, subject to the following conditions:

1. The applicant shall use a pervious paving material for the construction for the new 21-space paved parking area. Provisions will be made for the appropriate treatment of potential contaminants in site run-off prior to infiltration.
2. The applicant will provide information to the ZBA verifying that infiltration from the grassed overflow parking area is also being handled appropriately and in accordance with Massachusetts State Stormwater Standards.

In addition to the two binding modifications, the Board made the following recommendation:

1. The applicant shall make every effort to remove the chain link fence along Cushing Street, replacing with either a more attractive fence or no fence at all.
2. No additional building permits shall be issued until the applicant has created a long-term master plan for the site approved by the Planning Board.

RE:  Covenant Release for Commerce Road and Prospect Court
Ms. Lacy reported that during the summer of 2007 she had initiated the process of getting a few of the private roadways that were basically complete "off the books". In accordance with the process set forth in the Rules and Regs and Chapter 41, Section 81U of the Massachusetts General Laws, all Town departments were notified, and the Town's consulting engineer, Paul Brogna, was sent out to do a final inspection. At the end of this process in the fall of 2007, Mr. Brogna issued final inspection reports indicating a few small details that still needed to be addressed, including items such as loaming and seeding that still needed to be done.  This spring Mr. Brogna re-inspected these roadways, and found that both were "in substantial compliance" with the approved plan, and the Board can release them from their covenant. This can be done in accordance with Chapter 41 Section 81U of the Mass General Laws, which states that "If the planning board determines that said construction or installation has been completed, it shall release the interest of the town in such bond and return the bond or the deposit to the person who furnished the same, or release the covenant by appropriate instrument, duly acknowledged, which may be recorded."

It was moved, seconded and SO VOTED, upon evidence of satisfactory performance in accordance with the approved plans, to release the Subdivision known as Prospect Court from the covenant signed by Leonello E. Pelligrini and dated June 22, 1994, and recorded with the endorsed subdivision plans.

It was moved, seconded and SO VOTED, upon evidence of satisfactory performance in accordance with the approved plans, to release the Subdivision known as Commerce Road extension from the covenant signed by John H. Spur, and dated July 24, 2004, and recorded with the endorsed subdivision plans.

Old/New Business
1. Board members VOTED to approve the minutes of May 5, 2008.
2. Board members signed the signature page for submittal to the Town Clerk, Attorney General        and Registry of Deeds.

The meeting adjourned at 10:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Katharine T. Lacy