Town of Sharon Planning Board

 Meeting Minutes of 1/2/08

Amended and Approved on 1/16/08

Planning Board Attendees

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

Peter O’Cain, Town Engineer, Consultant

Attendees

Alice Hui – Mandarin Taste

Meeting Initiation

The meeting was called to order at 7:38 PM by Chair Eli Hauser who reviewed the Chair’s report.

Meeting Minutes

Mr. Cohen moved to accept the minutes of 12/12/07 as amended. Ms. Price seconded the motion. The Board voted 4-0-0 in favor.

Form A’s

None.

Sign Review

Mr. O’Cain discussed the request to change the awning for Mandarin Taste located at 37 Pond Street.

Mr. Hauser stated that required vegetation had not been added to the front and side of Mandarin Taste and the associated building next door located at 31-33 Pond Street. He requested that Ms. Hui choose vegetation to make the premises look more like a village atmosphere and not industrial,, so as to comply with the Boards prior approval authorizing construction of driveways pursuant to her application under the PO Square guidelines.

Ms. Sloan commented that plowing has to be taken into consideration for the types of plantings that can be used. She suggested that burning bush not be used but evergreens would be acceptable. She also offered to consult on a volunteer basis with Ms. Hui’s landscaper to suggest appropriate greenery.

Mr. Cohen suggested that Ms. Hui come back to the Board with a plan for the landscaping once it is decided to ensure the Planning Board is satisfied. Ms. Hui agreed.

With reference to the awning replacement, Mr. Cohen moved to approve the application of Alice Hui for 37 Pond Street, Mandarin Taste Restaurant to replace the existing awning as set forth on the application; conditional upon paying the application fee. Ms. Price seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0-0 in favor of approval.

Bond Reduction

None.

Hunter’s Ridge

Public Hearing is scheduled for 1/30/09 at 7:45 PM. The legal advertising proof for the hearing was shown to the Board.

Other Business

1. Ms. Sloan suggested obtaining an old photo of PO. Square depicting the horse watering trough that appears in old Town photos from the Historical Society. She thought that perhaps a simple replica of this could be used by Brickstone for the center of Town garden area in front of their sales office. Mr. O’Cain will contact Brickstone’s Architect, Mr. Rolf Biggers.

2. Ms. Levitts will provide budget information to Mr. Cohen for a meeting with the Finance Committee.

3. Ms. Levitts will contact Roni Thaler regarding dates for Town Meeting and what information needs to be provided to her in January as pertains to the Town Meeting articles.

4. Inclusionary Housing was suggested as an article for the next Town Meeting.  Mr. Hauser said that an alternative  approach from the one used to date is that we view the IH article as an “insurance policy” for protecting against large developments over 10 units; rather than our current “production” approach of attempting to have all developments produce affordable units. There are many difficulties in attempting to have small developments produce units, and this creates considerable confusion in interpreting how to apply the article. An “insurance policy” approach greatly simplifies the discussion.

Mr. Cohen suggested looking at other towns that have passed similar bylaws. It is valuable to look at what other Towns have done.

Ms. Sloan suggested a team approach to working on this article for May.

Calendar of Events for the Planning Board

Next meeting dates: 1/16, 1/30

Meeting Adjournment

Mr. Cohen moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 PM and Ms. Price seconded the motion. The Board voted 4-0-0 in favor.