Town of
Meeting Minutes of
Amended and
Approved on
Planning Board Attendees
|
Paul
Lauenstein, Chair |
Susan
Price, Vice Chair |
|
Eli
Hauser |
Amanda
Sloan |
|
David
Milowe, Clerk |
|
Peter
O’Cain, Town Engineer, Consultant
Attendees
|
Phil
Macchi |
Jerrold
Boxerman - |
|
Dan
Merrikin |
Deb
Piazza - |
|
Donnell
Murphy |
Mr. and Mrs. Klayman - 29
Eisenhower |
|
Michael
Pierce - |
Peter
Savage - |
|
Edward
Lyons - Architect for Bella Estates |
James
Freedman - 31 Eisenhower |
|
Bob
Shelmerdine - Attorney for Bella Estates |
Tom
Houston - PFPC |
|
Jon
Shocket - |
|
|
Steve
Kelley - |
Chris
Regnier - Brickstone |
Chair Report
The meeting was called to
order at
Light Industrial
District Review
Attorney Macchi began the discussion
by stating that in September, 2008 he had come before the Board to propose
additional uses for the light industrial areas. He said he mirrored the changes
to what is allowed in
Tom Houston provided the
Board with a sixteen page document comparing the current language for the Light
Industrial District as compared to the proposed language by highlighting the
changes clearly in color. He stated that the document does not change the
current provisions of the aquifer protection district which would need a
special permit process for impervious materials.
Light Industrial
District Public Hearing
The Public Hearing began at
Mr. Lauenstein asked what
provisions were in place as relates to hazardous chemicals. Mr. Houston said
that the aquifer protection district prohibits hazardous chemical uses in amounts
greater than household uses and in the part not covered by water
in the resource protection district; hazardous materials could be used within
the buildings but not discharged into the ground. The laws are very
restrictive. The DEP has oversight of everything discharged into the ground.
Mr. Lauenstein then asked what would happen if a company wanted to produce
anthrax. Mr. Macchi said that BIO-4 businesses are not permitted in
Ms. Price moved to close the
Public Hearing at
Ms. Price moved to support
the proposal to change the uses and impervious coverage of the Light Industrial
District and recommended approval at Town Meeting. Mr. Milowe seconded the
motion. The Board voted 5-0-0 in favor. Tom Houston agreed to draft a letter on
behalf of Mr. Lauenstein so as to provide confirmation of the Planning Board’s
vote for this issue.
Mr. Lauenstein began the
hearing by stating that he wanted Town Engineer, Mr. O’Cain, to review the
punch list he had developed for
The first item on the punch
list discussed the grass strip between the sidewalk and the roadway needing to
have an infiltration trench constructed and be loamed and seeded. Thirty trees
were to be planted in the grass strip; money was to be placed in the tree fund
for future plantings and twenty five shrubs planted in the cul-de-sac. Mr.
O’Cain began by stating that he met with Tree Warden, Kevin Weber, who advised
against planting trees in the narrow grass strip along Eisenhower Extension
because there are electrical and cable lines just three feet below the
surface. Mr. Weber suggested putting trees on the house side of the
sidewalk and that $275 be donated to a tree fund for planting elsewhere. Mr.
Shocket, the developer, interjected that the trench was dug along the sidewalk
and the island is ready for landscaping.
Ms. Sloan stated she agreed
with the Tree Warden. Ms. Price said she agrees with trees being planted on the
neighbor’s side of the sidewalk so as to avoid the utilities and interfering
with the sidewalk pavement but is bothered that sidewalks were installed with
the wrong grass strip width. Mr. Hauser commented that he was frustrated with
the design which was approved but came out wrong and indicated his
dissatisfaction with the project management. Mr. Lauenstein said that a
decision needs to be made for item #1 ultimately as a vote to recommend that
the Town accept the road as a town way. He suggested it could be subject to conditions.
Mr. O’Cain said that state law requires the Planning Board to give the
Selectmen their decision and added conditions if required.
Mr. O’Cain said that he or
Mr. Shocket needs to determine what neighbors want trees planted.
Ms. Sloan agreed that the
grass strip would not hold the trees but wants to see vegetation between the
homes and street.
Peter Savage,
Ms. Price said to leave the
decision to the homeowners as to whether they want the trees in the strip or on
the other side of the sidewalk. She thinks the cul-de-sac sidewalks should be
redone.
David Klayman,
Ms. Sloan suggested that the
homeowner’s wish of uniformity can be achieved and drew a diagram on the board
for their viewing. She stated that for the health of the trees they should not
be planted in the narrow strip.
James Freedman of
The other items discussed
included item #2 in which all ten survey bounds needed to be installed. Mr.
Shocket said that would be completed the next day.
Item #3 discussed an
as-built. Mr. Shocket said he spoke with Mr. O’Cain
about this.
Item #4 required four street
lights to be installed and one streetlight provided to the DPW for future use.
Mr. Shocket said this was completed. The neighbors questioned why they
couldn’t choose a different style of street light. Mr. O’Cain explained
that it had to meet the Town’s standard because the parts are ordered
for that light.
Item #5 discussed the
existing double catch basin in the cul-de-sac which has an improper frame that
needs to be replaced. Mr. Shocket said this would be completed by the end of
the week.
Item #6 required all water
curb stops must meet existing grade and all marker stakes must be removed. Mr.
Shocket said the markers were removed.
Item #7 Mr. Shocket said the work
will be done next week.
Item #8 stated that the
previous developer was required to plant twelve trees at the former end of the
cul-de-sac. Mr. Shocket said he would plant the trees or put the money in the
tree fund.
Mr. Lauenstein suggested
postponing the acceptance of the street until next Town Meeting. Mr. Shocket
said he does not want to be responsible for plowing the street this winter. Mr.
Lauenstein stated there are too many loose ends to make a decision. Specific resolution
is not going to be reached tonight. He suggested Kevin Weber go to the area and
discuss his thoughts with the homeowners.
Ms. Sloan moved to recommend
postponing the Street Acceptance of Eisenhower Drive Extension until May, Town
Meeting. Mr. Milowe seconded the motion. After discussion, the Board voted
0-5-0 and the motion was defeated.
Ms. Price moved to accept
the roadway subject to conditions 1-8 as listed on Peter O’Cain’s October 14th
punch list and that the developer work with the Tree Warden and property owners
on location of the street trees and also the sidewalk in the cul-de-sac to be
rebuilt as shown on the approved plan. Mr. Milowe seconded the motion and the
Board voted 4-0-1 (Ms. Sloan abstained).
Ms. Price suggested that
issues #9-11 be discussed at an upcoming Planning Board Meeting.
Mr. Hauser moved to close
the Public Hearing and Mr. Milowe seconded the motion. The Board voted 5-0-0 in
favor of closing the Hearing.
Bella Estates
Ed Lyons of Falcon
Associates, Architect, Inc., landscape architect for Bella Estates) and Bob
Shelmerdine, Attorney for Mr. Intoccia were present for this discussion.
Mr. Lyons brought a revised
landscape plan to the meeting. He commented that the parking for the trail head
area as discussed at the last meeting is being worked on by Gallagher
Engineers. The stone wall discussed at the last meeting, he said, is also an
engineering issue. The individual abutters’ fence needs will also be dealt with
on an individual basis.
The new plan he showed to
the Board contained more specifics with various types of varieties of
plantings. The detention area he pointed out now has a chain link fence on the
concrete wall and screening plants. Mr. Lauenstein commented that he was
pleased with the additional detail. There are now 705 trees and shrubs included
in the plan with many to be planted on the buffer zones and slopes. Mr.
Shelmerdine commented that he still needs to work out details with resident Mr.
Israel Yaar.
Mr. Shelmerdine said he is looking
for written feedback from the Planning Board on the new plan.
Ms. Sloan stated that for an
official submittal of the plan, it needs to be stamped and would like it
available to the abutters at the library or on line.
Ms. Sloan moved to approve
the landscaping plan as submitted to the Board on
Brickstone
Ms. Sloan provided the Board
with a visual display she prepared of what the Brickstone land could
potentially look like, indicating different building heights and how mature
trees could look lost against tall buildings. She also showed how 88 homes or a
40B development would look on the properties. She said that Rattle Snake
Hill is made of bedrock; big and small boulders dropped by glaciers. Each
development proposed sits on bedrock. Each development proposed is in the
middle of the habitat. Each development proposed is in the middle of water features.
These other developments proposed by Brickstone are not easy to build. She
stated she is pushing for no-build on the property. She stated that in her
opinion the high rise is a bad risk and the other two options are not
buildable.
Ms. Price moved to recommend
to Town Meeting the acceptance of Article #3 regarding the fire station
article. Mr. Milowe seconded the motion and the Board voted 3-0-2 (Sloan and
Lauenstein abstained). The motion passed.
Ms. Price commented that
regarding the height article, it is improved because the nursing home is put
into the building clusters. She is not happy with the amended definition in the
article since she feels it could be written more accurately. She noted that the
property is already zoned for Senior Living Overlay and the article would keep
control of the absolute height and work within the topography.
Mr. Hauser agrees that there
will be incremental improvements through this article because the Town picks up
six more acres of green land.
Mr. Milowe commented that he
likes the additional land and that the nursing home was moved into the cluster.
Mr. Lauenstein said that he
opposed the project from the beginning. He stated that this is irresponsible of
the Town to allow new developments to be built that do not address the carbon
dioxide issue. This development will need to be mitigated by future
generations. He suggested that certified buildings do not
generate CO2. Mr. Lauenstein said that John Twohig, Attorney for Brickstone,
stated at the May 2007 Town Meeting that they would not push a 40B forward if
the SLOD zoning was approved and they are now doing so. He said he cannot live
with himself to vote in favor of this.
Steve Kelly,
Mr. Lauenstein said that the
developer declined
Chris Regnier, Attorney for
Brickstone, commented that the project will go through MEPA and the greenhouse
gas production will be studied.
Ms. Sloan commented that she
does site planning everyday for a living and has never seen a project without
visualizations. She said that people are grasping at straws to see what this
project will look like. She challenged the developer to come up with a vision
board.
Ms. Price moved to recommend
to Town Meeting to approve Article 1 for the proposed zoning change to
Brickstone. Mr. Milowe seconded the motion and the Board voted
Form A’s/Sign Reviews
None.
Meeting Minutes
A review of the 9/16 and
9/30 meeting minutes was deferred until the next
meeting.
Other
At the next meeting discuss Brickstone’s
two new proposals and the Charter Commission.
Adjournment
Mr. Hauser moved to close
the Planning Board meeting at