7:00 PM 987 Main Street Application for Definitive Subdivision Approval
8:00 PM Continuation of Zoning Hearings
Unscheduled: Old/New Business
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Present: Planning Board Members, Paul Healey, Sarah Corey, Judy Sneath, and Gary Tondorf-Dick. Also present was Planner Katharine Lacy.
7:00 PM 987 Main Street Application for Definitive Subdivision Approval
Present for the Applicant: Michael Greehan, Owner, and Gary James, James Engineering
Present for the Board: John Chessia, Chessia Engineering.
An earlier application for the same project was heard by the Board during the summer and fall of 2010, but did not receive final approval. The Board issued a denial dated October 20, 2010 stating the specific reasons for denial. This was the second hearing relative to the new application; the first one occurred on February 12, 2011.
At the last hearing the Applicant had described the proposal to develop a two-lot subdivision on a two-acre parcel of land located at 987 Main Street. The site is currently developed with an existing historic dwelling and two small outbuildings. The front portion of the property, including the existing house, is located in a Local Historic District. It is proposed to create a new subdivision roadway into the site from Main Street and develop an additional house lot at the back of the parcel.
Mr. Healey explained that the Applicant submitted a “by-right” proposal for the creation of a subdivision roadway that would require no waivers from the Planning Board Subdivision Regulations, as well as a preferred alternative that would require 7-8 waivers from such regulations. At the last meeting The Board charged Mr. Chessia with determined whether the proposed “as-of-right” plan could actually be feasibly constructed. In a letter to the Board dated March 24, Mr. Chessia reviewed the by-right submittal, and concluded that the roadway could, indeed, be build with no major technical waivers from the Subdivision Regulations.
Mr. Chessia presented his findings in person at the meeting. Mr. Healey asked Board members if they had any questions about Mr. Chessia’s findings, and if they would be ready to vote that the proposed subdivision could be built with no waivers. There was a long discussion about whether there actually was enough room on the site to accommodate the roadway and two, 30,000 square foot house lots in conformance with Residence District B. Ultimately Board members concurred, unanimously, with this finding.
At that point Chairman Healey suggested that the Board turn their attention to the “preferred plan” that would require various waivers from the Subdivision Regulations. According to the Applicant the proposed waivers were intended to be mutually beneficial to them and the Town, in that a smaller roadway that looked more like a shared driveway would fit better within the surrounding character of Main Street. Ms. Corey noted that she had thought a lot about it and had determined that it would not be in the Town’s best interested to grant the requested waivers, in that it would allow the property owner to build additional bedrooms and thus reap additional profits. Ms. Sneath referred to a letter received from Andrea Young, Historical Administrator expressing concern about the potential impacts of a new subdivision roadway at this location and, in particular, the “by-right” roadway, and urging the Board to grant whatever waivers would best accomplish that result. The hearing was continued to April 4, 2011 at 7:30 PM. At that time the Board will make a decision as to whether they will continue the discussion of the requested waivers, and, if so, make a determination as to which waivers to grant.
7:45 PM Continuation of Zoning Hearings
Articles 7, 8, 9 and 10 relative to the Hersey House
The Selectmen have put forth a proposed amendment to the Zoning By-law to change the zoning at the Hersey House from Official and Open Space to Residence A. Initially there were four possible re-zoning scenarios put forth by the Selectmen for the property, in order to accommodate whatever responses they received from the RFP for the disposition of the property. At this point the Selectmen have determined that the best proposal was the one put forth by Mr. McDowell to convert the property into a single family residence. The other three zoning articles will be withdrawn by the Selectmen at their next meeting on March 31, 2011.
It was moved, seconded and SO VOTED to recommend that Town Meeting act favorably on the following amendment to the Zoning By-Law:
“Will the Town amend the Zoning By-Law in the Zoning Map Part A, as heretofore amended, by removing from Official and Open Space and including in Residence District A, a parcel of land on North Street shown on Assessors’ Map 60, Lot 143.”
Old/New Business
The Board voted to approve minutes of March 21, 2011.
Proposed 40B for Recreation Park Drive
The Town has received notice of an application for Site Eligibility from MHFA for a 180-unit housing development (Mainly 1-2 bedroom units) proposed for land at the end of Recreation Park Drive. One set of plans were submitted to the Selectmen. Comments are due at MHFA on April 23, and there will be a site visit on April 5 at10:00 AM (I will attend, and all “local boards” are also invited.)
Cranberry Lane
Ms. Lacy reported that the Selectmen will be meeting on Thursday March 31at 7:45 PM to discuss the warrant article to request the laying out and acceptance of Cranberry Lane. The residents of Cranberry/Rosewood will be there. The Planning Board voted to recommend acceptance in 2007/2008 subject to the removal of a decorative wall in the right-of-way put in place by the homeowner at the lot at the corner of French and Cranberry (the house pre-dated the subdivision and fronts on French Street, with a side entrance on Cranberry). Since that time the roadway has deteriorated a bit; even if the wall is removed he DPW has identified several issues and is concerned about taking ownership of a roadway that is already in less than perfect condition. Board Members concurred with DPW’s concerns, but noted that it did not seem completely fair to penalize the homeowners for a problem that they did not cause. Board Members expressed support for the acceptance of the roadway if the decorative wall is removed.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Katharine T. Lacy, Town Planner