Minutes Monday, June 30, 2008
Regular Meeting
Planning Board Agenda for Monday, June 30, 2008
7:00 PM Goal Setting Meeting for FY 2009
8:00 PM 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: Goal Setting Meeting for FY 2009
Using a process developed by Phil Edmundson, former Hingham Selectmen, the Board spent the first hour of the meeting identifying goals for FY 2009. Each board member listed five issues that they would like to pursue, for a total of 25 goals (some overlapping). They then each identified their top five priorities by ranking them 5-1 (with five being the highest priority).
The Board identified the following goals, shown ranked by priority.
1. Municipal Harbor Plan
2. Revise Downtown Off-Street Parking Regulations, including Valet Parking
3. Create Maximum Lot Coverage Limits for Residential Districts
3. Review Business Zones for Compliance with Economic Development Goals
3. Initiate Master Plan Update
4. Noise and Light Limits
5. Design Review Guidelines
5. Regulations for Houseboats
5. Index to Zoning By-Law
5. Regulations for Houseboats
5. Expand Opportunities for Accessory Apartments
6. Define Terms in Zoning By-Law
RE: Old/New Business:
Minutes
It was moved, seconded, and SO VOTED, unanimously, by those present to approve the minutes of June 16, 2008.
Vote to Close Certain Accounts
It was moved, seconded, and SO VOTED, unanimously, by those present to close the following accounts, which are no longer active.
Balance Account #
1. 74 Abington Street zero 8646
2. Black Rock Golf $3,286.50 8767
3. Foundry Falls $16.72 8712
4. Stephens Way zero 8714
5. 1150 Main Street zero 8643
6. Springwood Drive zero 8722
7. Lily Pond Lane $60.17 8615
Report on Shipyard Historical Monumentation Plan (Paul Healey)
Paul Healey reported that on June 18, he, Gary Tondorf-Dick and Katy Lacy met with Leslie Cohen, Whitney Perkins and Rich Sweitek to visit the gatehouse, and review the proposed interpretive plans for the Shipyard. Following this visit, Leslie Cohen of Samuels Associates has requested that, based on a recommendation from Paul and Gary, that the Board will vote to approve the monumentation plan so that they can proceed with price estimates and implementation.
The Board reviewed the status of Condition A-11 of the amended Hingham Shipyard Permit regarding the Historical Monumentation Plan, which reads as follows:
“The Shipyard Owners shall finalize and submit for approval an Historical Monumentation Plan consistent with the proposed Historical Monumentation Plan dated 5/9/07 submitted with the Samuels Project Plans, provided, however, that (a) the proposed number of historic panels shown on such plans has been approved and (b) such final plan shall also include the preservation and public display of the Shipyard “eagle”, “gatehouse” and “E” flag (or replica thereof) and flagpole. Implementation of the plan by the Land Owners shall occur prior to the issuance of permanent certificates of occupancy for more than one-half of the residential units and 75% of the commercial square footage in the Shipyard Project as follows: (a) the six waterfront walkway displays shall be implemented, and maintained in perpetuity, by the Property Owners Association and (b) the remaining historical monumentation shall be implemented and maintained by the individual Land Owner within each Land Owner’s site.”
The Board identified the following outstanding issues to be resolved before the Board could officially approve the plan in accordance with the aforementioned condition:
1. Historic Panels
Planning Board members Gary Tondorf-Dick and Paul Healey reported that they had met with members of Samuels’ interpretive team on June 18, 2008 to review the Historic Monumentation Plan, and found it to be extremely well-done. Both have been pleased with the responsiveness of the interpretive team, but noted that the content of the panels and related text were not final. The Board would like Samuels to provide final drafts of the panels (digital versions are fine) showing the flowed-in narrative and final images.
2. Eagle
The Eagle is currently in the possession of the Department of Recreation and Conservation and on display immediately inside the entrance to the DCR building at the Shipyard. The Board is aware that Samuel’s initial attempts to acquire the Eagle have not been successful due to DCR’s reluctance to lose possession of it. Please update the Board as to actual ownership of the Eagle and the efforts made and/or discussions to date with DCR with respect to the possession of the Eagle. As the permit requires preservation and public display of the Eagle within the Shipyard Project, including the location where it will be displayed on the final plan, the ultimate fate of the Eagle requires more information. The involvement of Hingham’s state legislators should be considered if necessary to facilitate discussions with DCR.
3. Gatehouse
The permit refers to “restoration” of the gatehouse. Based on the site visit on 6/18/08, the Planning Board recognizes that full restoration of the original gatehouse would be costly and concurs with the plans to replicate the gatehouse, incorporating selected historic components, at a location north of Building K on the corner of Shipyard Drive and Essington, as previously represented to the Board. To assist with the replication plans, Mr. Tondorf-Dick has prepared a list of the elements of the proposed replication discussed at the site visit. Please let the Board know if the development team’s notes from the site visit at the gatehouse differ.
4) Flagpole
The Board reviewed the constraints relative to the placement of 50’ flagpoles in the roundabout in place of the 30’ flagpoles contemplated by Samuels. In addition, the historic documentation showing the placement of a flagpole on either side of the gatehouse was noted. Based on observations by the Board members of 50’ flagpoles displaying the American flag at properties abutting the Shipyard, the Board concurred with the findings of Mr. Healey and Ms. Sneath that 50’ is an appropriate height for a flagpole based the size and scale of the Shipyard project and agreed that it would be an appropriate alternative to locate the 50’ flagpole near the gatehouse.
However, it was also noted that the size of the E “flag” (which is in fact a banner) may not be appropriate for a second 50’ pole. The Board requests that two 30’ flagpoles (one with the E Flag, and another of the applicant’s choice) also be placed flanking the northeast and southwest sides of the gatehouse. Such a 3 flagpole display can be found at the entrance to the office development at 75 Sgt. William B. Terry Drive.
Update on Site Visit to the Lincoln Building (Gary)
Gary Tondorf-Dick presented findings from the 6/23/08 Site Visit to the Lincoln Building with the Historical Commission. Mr. Tondorf-Dick expressed the opinion that it seemed viable to preserve the exterior of the building, along with selected interior components, and refurbish and bring up to code the interior of the building. At this point, the next step is for Historical Commission (based on input from their consultant) to make a formal recommendation to TLC (the owners) to either preserve the building exterior, or to demolish and rebuild (including historical components which can be re-used), and TLC to develop a plan for the building. The Historical Commission has the authority to implement the Demolition Delay By-Law if TLC wants to demolish the structure against the recommendation of the Commission, which would have the effect of placing a six-month waiting period before the building could be demolished.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Katharine Lacy
Town Planner