TOWN OF SHARON
PLANNING BOARD

Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning Board held on June 16, 2004, at 7:30 p.m., at the Sharon High School Library.

		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 June 2, 2004, meeting were reviewed and accepted with corrections. 

FORM A PLANS
140 & 146 Billings St., Owners D. Loeb, D. Piltch, G. Kay and K. Merolla.  This was a land swap to meet lot size per the Board’s Rules and Regulations.  All being in order, Mr. Cohen moved to approve the plan, seconded by Ms. Ostrow and unanimously approved.

SIGN REVIEW
None.

II.	PUBLIC HEARING – EO 418
Ms. Maniscalco explained that the Planning Board had hired Larissa Brown as its consultant for the purpose of assisting the Board in comprising its report under the Massachusetts Executive Order 418.  This was an executive order issued about four years ago which funded long range planning in communities, dealing with four areas:  economic development, open space preservation and natural resources, transportation and housing.
		
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						        Administrative Assistant

Minutes of Meeting                                  Page Two                   June 16, 2004

Ms. Brown has been working with the Board in compiling and reporting on these areas.  Ms. Maniscalco then invited Ms. Brown to present her report.

Ms. Brown explained that the final document, which had to be filed with the State by June 30, is a guidance document – it is not a law or a zoning change.  This particular plan contains some of the elements of what would be contained in a full master plan, but not all.  It is more of a vision statement; a statement of the assets and liabilities of the Town.  It includes a housing analysis and recommendations, suggestions for economic development, and recommendations on open space and natural resource preservation.  The report includes a series of maps, which are a part of the plan.  

As part of this process, the Board held a series of public meetings, as well as the Board having its own meetings to discuss all of these issues as well as the public’s input, and to prepare the draft of this plan.  Part of the purpose of this meeting is to get final input and recommendations from the public before the plan is finalized.  

Ms. Brown then went on to summarize what will be in the report, a copy of her summary being attached to these minutes and made a part hereof.  

At the end of her summary, Ms. Brown explained that what was discussed this evening are just the basic ideas of the plan.  More detailed recommendations can be found in the report.  However, the purpose of tonight’s meeting is to get final input from Town residents, as the Board is coming to the end of its planning and the report needs to be finalized and at the State by the 30th of June.  She again said that this plan is intended to 


Minutes of Meeting                         Page Three                        June 16, 2004

be a policy guide.  When you are looking at a particular development proposal or doing something with land use, this plan can help the Town think through the issues and make decisions to reach the goals identified here.

Mr. Bailey, Glendale Road, said that his final impression of the plan is a positive one – this will be a useful tool.  He hoped that the Board will be able to get the Board of Selectmen on board also.  He had a few suggested changes which he would give the Board in writing.  

Ms. Segal of Linden Road, asked about the Town’s industrial commission in regard to the economic development issue.  Ms. Brown answered that the industrial commission is no longer active.  Also, its name implies that it is focused on industrial development.  The proposed economic development committee would have a wider mission than the industrial commission.  The Planning Board usually has a lot of work to do dealing with specific projects, whereas the economic development commission could make sure that someone from the Town had a relationship with the developers; could begin to look at the potential for attracting businesses to Sharon.  In a way, their work would be carried out before the project reaches the Planning Board. 

Mr. Maitland of Coach Lane asked why Ward’s Berry Farm was not included as a working farm?  Ms. Brown answered that it was an oversight and would correct that.

After further discussion, the Board thanked everyone in attendance for their time and input, as well as Larissa Brown for all her hard work.





Minutes of Meeting                            Page Four                 June 16, 2004

III.  OTHER BUSINESS

---Sureties – PINE GROVE SUBDIVISION.  Per Mr. O’Cain’s memorandum, Ms. Maniscalco moved to approve $45,000.00 as the amount of the surety, seconded by Ms. Ostrow and unanimously voted.   

Mr. Cohen moved to accept the surety subject to the receipt of two signed withdrawal slips being provided to Mr. O’Cain.  Seconded by Ms. Maniscalco, and unanimously voted.

Ms. Ostrow moved to release the lots in the Pine Grove Subdivision, conditional upon the signed withdrawal slips being provided to Mr. O’Cain.  Seconded by Mr. Cohen and unanimously voted.  

GOLDENWOOD – Per Mr. O’Cain’s memorandum and all work being completed, Mr. Cohen moved to reduce the surety for this subdivision to $0 from $2,300.   Seconded by Ms. Maniscalco and unanimously voted.

---LAND SWAP DISCUSSION – Mr. Hauser identified fifteen lots of Conservation Commission land that might have access from a roadway.  These lots now needed to be assessed for acreage, suitability for development and environmental value.  Mr. O’Cain was asked to follow up with GIS data.  Ms. Maniscalco was to provide housing needs in terms of elderly, Town and affordable goals.

III.	There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m.