Town of Sharon Planning Board

Meeting Minutes for June 28th, 2006

Amended and Approved 7/12/06

 

Planning Board Attendees

Eli Hauser - Chair

Paul Lauenstein

Arnold Cohen – Vice Chair

Peter O’Cain – Assistant Town Engineer

Amanda Sloan - Clerk

 

Wayne Bradley

 

 

Meeting Initiation

Meeting was called to order at 7:45 pm by Chair Eli Hauser.

 

Meeting discussion:

 

v      Administrative Assistant - Rachelle Levitts, candidate for the Planning Board Administrative Assistant position, was interviewed at the meeting. She passed out her resume. Mr. Hauser reviewed the tasks and she was given the opportunity to ask questions. The paperwork has been filed re: her working for us while also working for Sharon Schools.

 

·         Form A:  Cabral family land on Johnson Drive in Sharon and Walpole. Redivision of lots. Mr. O’Cain has worked with applicant to make lots comply. Moved, seconded and voted to approve, 5-0-0. Mr. O’Cain will take paperwork to Town Clerk.

 

·         Sign Review---did not appear.

 

·         Chair’s Report:  Mr. Hauser opened the mail.

 

·         Pine Woods: The letter from the Planning Board recommending non-approval has been sent to the ZBA. Mr. Cohen will develop a further comment letter addressing the requested waivers from the subdivision regulations and zoning bylaws incorporating two more points, which are a) as noted by the attorney from Mass Audubon, approval from Mass Housing had not been received, possibly invalidating the Pine Woods application; b) Pine Woods plans for Everett Street violates the Scenic Roads language in Sharon By-laws.

 

Two town citizens at the meeting distributed the Scenic Roads language. Ms. Cheyer pointed out that ConCom and BOH each have to hold separate hearings on their issues re: Pine Woods; Planning Board should hold a separate one on the Scenic Roads. It was pointed out that Planning Board has rarely denied a permit on the Scenic issue----what protection would we have (i.e. what teeth does this by-law actually have?) Can we stop a 40-B on these grounds? Ms. Cheyer suggests you simply send a letter that says, “We do not approve.”

 

It was agreed that Mr. Cohen will make the point about Scenic Roads in his letter without discussing what the consequences for violation might be.

 

Mr. Martin, of the Historic Commission, was at the meeting and provided input on the Scenic Roads issue re: Pine Woods. It was suggested that a temporary injunction be sought. Mr. O’Cain said he has a meeting with the Pine Woods attorney on Friday---could we get a letter to him by then? Probably not.

 

Sequence of action re: Pine Woods: check with ZBA---is the Pine Woods application still active?

If so, temporary injunction to be considered

 

·         Incorrectly posted meeting: Mr. Hauser read Mr. Cohen’s letter from the DA. Mr. Cohen had a phone call with the DA to explain the situation.

 

·         Hearings: Mr. O’Cain needs to schedule road approval hearings for September. How does this conflict with hearings regarding TM articles? Planning Board will move all hearings on TM articles to August 23rd, 2006.

 

·         Administrative Assistant: Voted to offer the position to Rachelle Levitts, 5-0-0. Mr. Lauenstein will contact her.

 

·         TM Articles:

 

1.      Shape factor: discussion of grandfathering question. Mr. Lauenstein suggested:

·         Pick out some lots in Sharon and see if they work with the numbers we are discussing. He is concerned we will scare off some people.

·         Call Planning Board’s in other communities and find out what problems, if any they’ve had. Mr. Lauenstein will divvy up towns and distribute list for us to contact.

·         Mr. O’Cain will look for examples of lots that illustrate the need for the new bylaw.

·         We will develop talking points for town meeting---why irregularly shaped lots cause problems.

 

2.      Inclusionary Zoning: It was suggested we develop language for Fall TM on this. It was suggested that at tonight’s meeting we have a general discussion since not everyone is up on the material yet. The most important outcome of this general discussion was that we decided to wait until we understand what is being proposed at Rattlesnake Hill to understand how urgently we need to move forward on inclusionary zoning.

 

·         Discussion of anticipated change regarding 40-B, once the town reaches its required percentage and is certified. Someone needs to call DHCD to find out, if a development files before we are certified, but is not approved, and we are then certified, can it then be blocked? What is the sequence here?

 

·         Glenview Village letter: Mr. Bradley distributed his letter to the ZBA commenting on the 40B application for Glendale Village, off Glendale Rd. Suggested edits were provided to Mr. Bradley. Mr. O’Cain has commented on the waiver requests already. Voted 5-0-0 for Mr. Bradley to send the letter with edits.

 

·         Eisenhower Extension: Mr. Shockett has requested a waiver for asphalt sidewalks rather than the concrete called for by the approved subdivision plan. It was voted 5-0-0 to ask Mr. Shockett to come back in to have a discussion with him. If we allow asphalt sidewalks (which are stylistically the norm elsewhere in this neighborhood) would he donate street trees, plantings, or storm water structures?

 

·         Standing Building Committee: Voted 5-0-0 to appoint Gina Maniscalco as our representative to Standing Building Committee.

 

Future Meetings

July 12th, 2006, 7:30 pm, Town Hall, Lower Level

 

Meeting Adjournment

      Moved to adjourn meeting at 10:30pm; passed unanimously.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Amanda Sloan, Clerk (Draft)

Rachelle F. Levitts, Administrative Assistant (Final)