Minutes January 25, 2010
Regular Meeting
Planning Board Agenda for Monday, January 25, 2010
Planning Board Agenda for Monday, January 25, 2010 7:00 Site Plan Review, 20 Derby Street (Old Colony Montessori)
8:00 Public Hearings on Proposed Amendments to the Zoning By-Law
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Present: Planning Board Members, Chair, Judy Sneath, Clerk, Paul Healey, Sarah Corey, and Gary Tondorf-Dick. Also present was Planner Katharine Lacy.
7:00 Site Plan Review, Old Colony Montessori School
Kelley Killen, Coler and Colantonio spoke on behalf of the applicant.
The applicant proposes to construct a 1,370 s.f. building addition to the existing Montessori School at 20 Derby Street, including a 12’ wide, 500 foot long access driveway leading from Gardner Street to the existing parking area. The new driveway will be access-only, and is intended to alleviate the current queuing problem on Derby Street/Recreation Park Drive by allowing cars to queue directly on-site. The project will also result in an additional 7 parking spaces (in addition to the existing spaces).
The access driveway on Gardner Street will be located to the south of the crest on Gardner Street, and north of the dog-leg turn. There is no lighting proposed for the driveway. The existing house on Gardner Street will be demolished, and there is a possibility that a portion of the Gardner Street lot will be used for overflow parking. The Police have reviewed the proposal, and have requested a sign posted at the Derby Street entrance permitting right hand turns out ONLY.
The project is currently before the Conservation Commission, as much of the site is within their jurisdiction, and the applicant is obligated to meet all Stormwater Management Standards. They are planning to install two subsurface leaching basins; one on the south side and one near Derby Street at the front of the property. Much of the southern portion of the lot on Gardner Street will need to be cleared to create the driveway and drainage system. Board members instructed the applicant to include provisions for screening to mitigate impacts on abutting properties.
The plans show a significant amount of new paving on the eastern portion of the site in the “no-touch” zone. Changes suggested by the Con Com may result in modifications to the Site Plan in this area in particular.
Soozen Tribuna, also representing the school, explained that there are 63 families at the school representing approximately 50 trips in an out each day. Students arrive between 8:15 and 8:45, and leave between 3:00 PM and 3:20 PM. There is a pre-school program that lets out at 11:45 AM. Board members noted that the school may want to look at a staggered schedule to prevent conflicts with the Hingham Public School bus schedule.
Abutters expressed concerns about the proposed expansion, including potential impacts in traffic and traffic conflicts on Gardner Street; negative impacts on the residential character of Gardner Street; the potential for cut-through traffic and the need for the site to be cleaned up. They also expressed concern that the school was planning to expand further. Board members explained that the school was a protected use under the Dover Amendment, but that they could control the scope and mass of the development, and ensure mitigation of negative impacts.
The hearing was continued to February 8 at 7:30. The Applicant was advised to revise the plan to include 1) proposed screening, 2) traffic controls on the site driveway to prevent cut-through; 3) potential overflow parking areas; 4) signage at entry and exit points.
7:30 Continuation of Zoning Hearings
The Board discussed, and voted to recommend that Town Meeting approve the following 2 articles:
ARTICLE 11: Will the Town amend the Zoning By-Law of the Town of Hingham, adopted March 10, 1941, as heretofore amended, as follows:
At Section V-A (2), after the first sentence ending in “..as specified below.”, insert the following new sentence “Providing fewer or more parking spaces than required by this Section V-A requires a Special Permit A3.”
Or act on anything related thereto?
ARTICLE 12: Will the Town amend the Zoning By-Law of the Town of Hingham, adopted March 10, 1941, as heretofore amended, as follows:
At Section I-I, 4 (i) add the following sentence: “All lighting shall be designed in accordance with the guidelines of the Illuminating Engineering Society of America.”
Or act on anything related thereto?
ARTICLE 5 AND 8: Board members continued the exercise started last week of going through each use, and deciding if any changes are warranted in the Office Park, Industrial, Industrial Park or Limited Industrial Districts.
Old/New Business:
The Board approved the Minutes of January 21, 2010
The Meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Katharine T. Lacy, Town Planner