TOWN OF SHARON

PLANNING BOARD

 

Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning Board held on May 11, 2005, at 7:30 p.m., in the Town Offices.

 

                     PRESENT:   SAMUEL SOLOMON, CHAIR

                                        REGINA MANISCALCO, VICE CHAIR

                                        ARNOLD COHEN, CLERK

                                        ELI HAUSER

                                        PETER O’CAIN, ASST. TOWN ENGINEER

 

Business Transacted:

 

I.            Meeting called to order.  The Minutes of the April 13, 2005, and April 27, 2005, meetings were reviewed and accepted with corrections.

 

FORM A PLANS

Mr. O’Cain wanted to give the Board a heads up on a plan that will be coming before the Board, as he thought it was something the Board may want to consult with Town Counsel on.  The lot was on Cedar Street.  It was one large lot with four homes on it.  The applicant did not have plans to build anything on the lots, but wanted to make each house be on its own lot.  Mr. Solomon said that just because the houses were on one lot, subdividing doesn’t exempt the new lots from current zoning.

 

II.                                        31-33 POND STREET

 

The applicant had reworked the plan for the front of the premises pursuant to the Board’s recommendations at the last meeting.  There will be two 9x18 parking spots with the remainder of the area on both sides of the walkway being plantings. 

 

 

                                                          ___________________________

                                                                     Administrative Assistant

Minutes of Meeting                               Page Two                               May 11, 2005

 

Mr. Cohen then moved to approve two 10x18’ parking spots that must be located within the first 13’ on either side of the walkway to the house.  The remaining land on the side of the building to the rear of the house must have vegetation coverage with bushes on the left side and a weeping cherry tree (or other tree acceptable to the Tree Warden) with bushes on the right side.  Seconded by Ms. Maniscalco and unanimously voted.

 

III.       MORSE STREET EXTENSION

 

David Oberlander, the applicant’s engineer, met with the Board to review this subdivision.  Mr. Oberlander explained that there were two sets of plans submitted:  the conventional subdivision (which complied with the Board’s Rules and Regulations), and a waiver plan, which is what they really wanted to build. 

 

The waiver plan showed a shared driveway for two existing homes and two new homes, which is what the Board had requested.  Originally the two existing homes had access directly onto Morse Street, but the Board had requested that they come off the new street instead.  They were hoping to build an 18’ roadway, with no sidewalks, no tree plan and no street lights.  The new street would remain a private way.

 

Mr. Solomon said that the applicant may need one street light at the street entrance, which is a standard Board requirement for these private ways.  If there is a street light across from this new street, then they may not have to put one at the street entrance.  Also, granite curbing is required at the entrance to the subdivision for safety purposes.  Mr. O’Cain added that the applicant would have to transition the sidewalk with a handicap ramp. 

 

The Board would be holding the public hearing on this subdivision at its next meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes of Meeting                                      Page Three                                    May 11, 2005

 

IV.     OTHER BUSINESS

 

---Mr. Solomon informed the Board that he had received a letter from the Board of Health.  The Planning Board was invited to the Board of Health meeting on May16 to discuss the joint septic system concept for the down town area as it relates to water issues.  These discussions would also include the Wilbur School.

 

 

---Mr. Ray Samuel of South Walpole Street.  Mr. Samuel came to meet with the Board to discuss potentially dividing his lot into two lots under the Form A process.  The lot consisted of approximately 3.3 acres on South Walpole Street and is in a water protection zone.  The problem was that although his address was South Walpole Street, he technically did not have frontage on either Old Post Road or South Walpole Street.  He was sandwiched between two lots but his access was off So. Walpole Street.  The passage he is off of is completely passable and is currently serving two properties. 

 

Mr. Cohen said that based on the information provided here, the Board could not approve this as a Form A plan.  He suggested Mr. Samuel consult an attorney to look at it.

 

---Mr. Hauser informed the Board that the final draft of the housing production plan was just about complete.  He wanted to thank Peter and April of the Engineering Department for their help on this project.  Mr. Hauser indicated that he now wanted to transition over to the business inventory this summer as requested by the Board of Selectmen.  He would like to get a list of business proposals in the Town over the last five years.

 

---Mr. Hauser wanted to acknowledge Mr. Solomon for the ten years he spent on the Board, whose term was ending, for his tremendous leadership and commitment not just to the Board but to the Town.  Mr. Cohen concurred, stating that he had been on the Board for a long time also and that Mr. Solomon has been one of the best Board members he has seen during his terms on the Board.  Mr. Cohen said that he will certainly miss Mr. Solomon and that the other Board members would now have to work extra hard.

 

 

Minutes of Meeting                          Page Four                              May 11, 2005

 

 

IV.           There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned

          at 9:30 p.m.