TOWN OF SHARON
Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning Board held on September 22, 2004, at 8:00 p.m., in the Town Offices.
PRESENT: SAMUEL SOLOMON, CHAIR
REGINA MANISCALCO, VICE CHAIR
ARNOLD COHEN, CLERK
NADINE OSTROW
ELI HAUSER
PETER O’CAIN, ASST. TOWN ENGINEER
Business transacted:
I. Meeting called to order. The Minutes of the September 8, 2004, meeting were reviewed and accepted with corrections.
FORM A PLANS
None.
SIGN REVIEW
None.
II. SIGN COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
Mr. Solomon said that the Board of Selectmen asked the Planning Board’s opinion on the possible dissolution of the Sign Committee. The Sign Committee is responsible for reviewing signs that are not in the Post Office Square area. However, the Committee almost never meets and there is only one person actively on the Committee.
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Administrative Assistant
Minutes of Meeting Page Two September 22, 2004
The Board had no problem with dissolving this Committee if it is inactive. However, it also wants to make sure that the sign review for Post Office Square does not change and that the Planning Board continues to be the reviewing Board for signs in the Square. Mr. Solomon will send a letter to this effect to the Selectmen.
III. ZONING CHANGES - MUOD
Ms. Maniscalco said that she felt the main issue that hadn’t been resolved was building height. Mr. Solomon agreed and added that a 50’ height would have to be allowable to be able to build a four story building, and that is not allowed by the Town’s regulations. He added that one way to address this issue would be to have the architectural façade higher.
Mr. Hauser agreed stating that he did not want to see a flat roof.
The other issue was setbacks. Mr. O’Cain indicated that the zero foot setback was still in effect in this article. Ms. Maniscalco didn’t have a problem with that, as she said the Board was looking to increase the foot traffic in the Square. Mr. Hauser said that he would like to see 5-8’ setbacks, using Newbury Street in Boston as an example.
Mr. Cohen then moved to recommend approval of this article to Town Meeting, seconded by Ms. Maniscalco and unanimously voted.
IV. LAKE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS
The Board interviewed Mike Goldstein as a possible candidate for the Lake Management Committee. Mr. Goldstein said that he had lived in
Sharon for 11 years, that he was a member of the Massapoag Yacht Club.
Minutes of Meeting Page Three September 22, 2004
Mr. Cohen asked if Mr. Goldstein had any particular thoughts about this committee. Mr. Goldstein answered that there was nothing specific at this time. During the last few years, the Lake level has been good, so that has not been an issue. One of the things Mr. Goldstein does think needs to be looked at is the weed problem, the introduction of more and more foreign bodies into the Lake. He does not pretend to be an expert, but is willing to do the research needed to address these issues.
The other candidate was Mark Altabet. He was recommended by Mr. Hauser. He has lives in Sharon since 1986 and he is a professor of marine biology. Mr. Cohen said that just looking at Mr. Altabet’s credentials, it appears that he would be more than appealing to the Board as one of its appointees. Mr. Altabet’s background was discussed relative to his appointment to this Committee.
Mr. Solomon thanked Mr. Goldstein and Mr. Altabet for coming in to meet with the Planning Board and informed them that the Board would be making its decision as to appointees within the next few weeks.
CAPITAL OUTLAY COMMITTEE
Mr. Solomon explained that the Board has two spots on the Capital Outlay Committee – one is usually a Planning Board member and the other is an appointee. Mr. Solomon explained that he had held the Board’s spot for the last several years but could not serve on that Committee any longer. Therefore, one of the other Board members would have to take his spot, and the Board would also need to appoint another person as well. After discussion, it was determined that Mr. Hauser would be the primary representative from the Board and Ms. Maniscalco would be his alternate when he was not able to attend the meetings. Mr. Cohen nominated Mr. Hauser to serve as the Board’s representative to the Capital Outlay Committee, with Ms. Maniscalco serving as his alternate. Seconded by Ms. Ostrow and unanimously voted.
Minutes of Meeting Page Four September 22, 2004
V. DICUSSION WITH MR. WAYNE GODLIN
Mr. Godlin first wanted to ask a zoning question regarding the Sharon Teen Center. If the Teen Center were to find a house that would fit their needs, were there any zoning restrictions from putting such a facility in a residential area? Mr. Solomon answered that this would not be a Planning Board issue, but that Mr. Godlin should consult with the Zoning Board of Appeal on this issue, as it might involve a variance.
The other issue Mr. Godlin wanted to discuss was the Hunter’s Ridge subdivision. He said that he had read the by-laws very extensively and wasn’t sure if the Special Permit governed the entire Section 4300 or just a subsection of that, in particular Section 4360? Mr. Solomon answered that just 4360, as 4300 is the traditional by-law and 4360 is the CSD part of it. Mr. Godlin indicated that there are some inconsistencies between the two. Ms. Maniscalco said that the Board may have missed some steps in writing the CSD and asked Mr. Godlin to submit those inconsistencies to the Board prior to the public hearing on this subdivision.
Mr. Godlin added that in meetings with the neighborhood and the developer, the developer has hinted that if this subdivision does not get the go ahead, they will then submit a 40B filing. He feels it is inappropriate for a developer to be making these types of threats to the neighborhood.
Mr. Solomon answered that a developer can really do anything with his property that he wants, so long as it is within the law. Mr. Cohen didn’t really see anything wrong with the developer saying this, as that is his right. All the developers now want to build 40B’s because they can make more money on it than a conventional subdivision. Mr. Cohen further stated that the Planning Board has tried to be ahead of these types of filings, with one example being
Minutes of Meeting Page Five September 22, 2004
South Main Street. The Board tried to rezone it to commercial and everyone in the neighborhood was against it. Now the owners are seriously thinking of building 500 homes on that property instead.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
---LAKE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE – Mr. Solomon asked what the Board’s preference was regarding the appointments to this Committee. He felt that replacing the two people who had served on this Committee for many years with the two gentlemen that were interviewed tonight would bring something new into the mix. Ms. Maniscalco thought the two new men would bring a good balance to the Committee. The other Board members agreed.
Ms. Maniscalco moved to appoint Mr. Goldstein and Mr. Altabet as the Board’s representatives to the Lake Management Committee, seconded by Ms. Ostrow and unanimously voted.
VII. There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.