Scheduled:
7:00 PM 31 Derby Street Site Plan Review in Association with
Special Permit A2 for 10 Seat, Sit-Down/Take-Out Bakery at 31 Derby Street
7:30 PM Request to Modify Subdivision Plans to Relocate Sidewalk Baker Hill Dr.
8:00 PM Discussion of Proposed Subdivisions: 987 Main Street and 61 Fearing Rd.
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Present: Planning Board Members: Paul Healey, Susan Murphy, and Gary Tondorf-Dick. Also present was Planner Katharine Lacy.
7:00 PM 31 Derby Street
Kasey Thibeault came before the Board seeking Site Plan Approval relative to a tenant fit up of a two-story, 1600 s.f. building at 31 Derby Street in Business District B to accommodate a retail bakery selling baked goods and coffee. The building is owned by Rader Properties. The facility, which was used previously as a dress shop, will include a small commercial kitchen, service and display counters, and a seating area with ten seats. A small business office and storage area will be located on the second floor. There are six striped parking spaces in front of the building and a paved area for eighteen additional spaces to the rear of the building. Existing curb cuts lead into the eastern and western sides of the parking lot from Derby Street. The Applicant has been working with the Board of Health on minor improvements to the existing septic system.
Board members reviewed the projects in accordance with the Site Plan Approval criteria set forth in Section I-I of the Zoning By-Law, and determined that, as proposed, it would have no negative impacts on abutters, adjacent roadways or the surrounding area. It was moved, seconded and SO VOTED by all present to approve the Site Plan for 31 Derby Street with no conditions, and recommend that the ZBA grant the Special Permit A2 for the proposed restaurant use.
7:30 PM Relocate Sidewalk at Baker Hill Drive
Dave Gooley of Intoccia Construction came before the Board to request a modification of the approved Subdivision Plans for Baker Hill Drive to relocate the proposed sidewalk. This suggested originated from Nick Lanney, the Town’s inspecting engineer, who was also present at the hearing. As originally designed, the length of the sidewalk from the bridge at station 11+50 to the end of the road was set back approximately 25’ from the edge of the roadway to the centerline of the sidewalk. Due to the slope of the land on the north side of the roadway, the sidewalk would be significantly higher than the roadway, and posed a risk for kids on bikes or strollers that could slip off and down the hill. The Applicant was proposing to locate the sidewalk so that the edge of the sidewalk was 4.5 feet from the edge of the paved roadway, and separated by a grass strip, with street trees located on the uphill side (to the north) of the sidewalk.
Board members discussed whether this proposed change would have any impact on subsurface utilities in this area, or area drainage. Both Dave Gooley and Nick Lanney indicated that there would be no negative impacts. Board members requested that the Applicant provide them with a revised roadway detail showing the relocated sidewalk that could be attached to the modification as a formal revision to the plans.
It was moved, seconded and SO VOTED to approve a minor modification to the approved plans for the Baker Hill Subdivision to allow for the relocation of approximately 2000 linear feet of sidewalk from Station 11+50 to Station 31+50 so that the edge of the sidewalk is separated from the edge of roadway by a 4-5’ grass strip. This approval is subject to the condition that that the applicant will provide the Board with a plan and section showing the revised sidewalk location.
8:00 PM Proposed Subdivisions at 987 Main Street and 61 Fearing Road
Engineer Gary James of James Engineering came before the Board for a preliminary discussion of two residential subdivisions being proposed by developer Jerry Rankin. The first would create a single new lot behind the existing house at 987 Main Street. The applicant plans to cut the roadway into the property at the current location of the driveway curb-cut for 987 Main Street so as not to create a new opening out onto Main Street. The roadway would then run back into the property for a length sufficient to create frontage for the existing house lot and new house lot to the rear. It did not appear that any waivers from the Town’s subdivision requirements would be necessary.
The other preliminary plan would divide a single lot on Fearing Road into a single Form A lot with the subdivision roadway accessing two new house lots to the rear. The roadway for this property would require a significant number of waivers. Board members indicated that they would prefer to see one new lot created, and noted that the three-lot configuration looked out of character for this neighborhood.
Old/New Business
The Board voted to approve the minutes of August 3, 2009.
Form A, Sharp Street
Steve Horsefall, Land Surveyor, Kelly Engineering Group, came before the Board on behalf of the Applicant. The purpose of this plan is to divide the property shown on Land Court Plan 41188A, which straddles the Hingham/Rockland Town line, into lots D and C, and to combine a small adjacent parcel (existing Lot B) to Lot D. When complete, Lot C will be a buildable lot with frontage in Hingham, and Lot D will be a buildable lot with frontage in Rockland. Board members expressed concern that there was a strip of wetlands all along the frontage for Lot C on Sharp Street which would prevent vital access over the lot frontage. Mr. Horsefall explained that there was a wetlands crossing approved by the Conservation Commission several years ago but the approval had expired.
It was moved, seconded and SO VOTED to endorse the plan entitled “Weymouth Street/Sharp Street, Rockland and Hingham MA, Approval Not Required Plan” prepared by Kelly Engineering Group, Inc. 0 Campanelli Drive, Braintree MA 02184” and dated 01-30-08 with revisions through 7/21/09.
Form A, Main at Blaisdell
The Board reviewed a Form A plan involving a land swap between the owners of the property at 998 Main Street and an abutting property at 25 Blaisdell Road. The plan would result in the creation of a new lot with frontage on Blaisdell Road, and the addition of land to the existing property at 25 Blaisdell Road.
It was moved, seconded and SO VOTED to endorse the Approval Not Required Plan entitled “Plan of Land on Blaisdell Road Hingham MA” dated July 30, 2009 and prepared by Neil J. Murphy Associates, Cohasset MA.