Town of Sharon Planning Board

Meeting Minutes of 8/15/07

Amended and Approved on September 19^th, 2007

Planning Board Attendees

Eli Hauser – Chair	Paul Lauenstein
Arnold Cohen – Vice Chair	Amanda Sloan  - Absent
Susan Price – Clerk

Peter O’Cain, Assistant Town Engineer, Consultant

Attendees

Jon Shockett

Meeting Initiation

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM by Chair, Eli Hauser who read the Chair’s Report.

Bonds

1. Mr. Jon Shockett came before the Board to request that the Board issue a release of the $112,000 cash bond for the Eisenhower Extension that is held at Rockland Trust in a tripartite agreement. He wants approval on condition that the funds are not withdrawn without the approval of the Town Treasurer as the Town is a signatory on this account.

Mr. Cohen moved with respect to Eisenhower Extension Subdivision where in lieu of the bond the developer entered into a tripartite agreement with Rockland Trust, Rockland Trust be released from the agreement on the condition that verification is satisfactory to Todd Hassett, Town Treasurer as provided by Rockland Trust that representation made on 8/15/07 letter is correct. Mrs. Price seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0-0 in favor.

Signs

2.   None to report.

Meeting Minutes

The Board reviewed the draft meeting minutes from 8/1/07. Mr. Cohen made a motion to accept the meeting minutes of 8/1/07 as amended and Mrs. Price seconded the motion. The Board voted 4-0-0 in favor.

Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw

Mr. Lauenstein reported that Tom Houston is tardy with providing the tentative first draft of the Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw. In a meeting with Mr. Houston, Mr. Lauenstein, Ms. Cheyer and Ms. Desberg felt good about the progress made but also felt tweaking of the document was needed. A meeting is scheduled for 8/28 in Mr. Houston’s office to finalize additional changes. The highlights of the document include no provision for cash or land in lieu of units; build on site, offsite or deed restricted housing and he created a spreadsheet where rounding happens for various percentages. Mr. Hauser stated to keep it simple and don’t over optimize as the topic is inherently complicated. Mr. Hauser suggested the presentation include 8-10 slides. Mr. Lauenstein stated that he was planning on attending a FinCom meeting to discuss Inclusionary Zoning.

Sharon Commons

Mrs. Price asked what the Planning Board’s role is in relation to the next steps for Sharon Commons.  Mr. O’Cain stated that the ZBA is the authority but he will review the zoning bylaws to determine if the Planning Board needs to do anything else. Mr. Cohen thought that Sharon Commons needed to come to the Planning Board but Mr. O’Cain will determine this.

Lot Shape Bylaw

Mr. O’Cain provided the Planning Board with a list of 81 lots that were Form A’s from the past four years. He said that 32% failed by using the shape factor calculation. Mr. O’Cain said he would get the CAD drawings on the plans that Mrs. Price wants to show at Town Meeting.  He will recalculate and come back to the Board with new numbers.

Mrs. Price provided the Board with drafts of the proposed lot shape amendments for discussion. A significant discussion ensued regarding the appropriate language to use within the proposed bylaw for clarity. Mr. Cohen suggested removing the language regarding the Planning Board having the authority to modify the requirement of the bylaw.  Mr. O’Cain suggested adding a requirement that calculations and tables of all dimensional requirements be provided on the subdivision plan. Mr. Hauser said it is not an overly stringent article. Mrs. Price discussed referencing towns that have shape factors, circles or dumbbells to include in the presentation. Mr. O’Cain said he will reconfigure the calculations.

43D

Presentation of 43D is scheduled for September 5^th.

Other Business

The next Planning Board meeting is scheduled for September 5^th.

Mr. Cohen moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 PM and Mrs. Price seconded the motion. The Board voted 4-0-0 in favor.