Town of Sharon Planning Board
Meeting Minutes of 4/2814/10
Amended and Approved on 5/12/10
Amended and Approved 4/28/10
Meeting was held at the Sharon Community Center
Planning Board Attendees
|
Paul Lauenstein, Chair |
Susan Price, Vice Chair |
|
Eli Hauser |
Amanda Sloan |
|
David Milowe, Clerk |
Peter O’Cain, Town Engineer - absent |
Attendees
|
None |
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
Chair Report
The meeting was called to
order at 7:430 PM
by Chair Paul Lauenstein and the Chair’s Report was read. The Board discussed
the final invoice from Land Strategies Group, LLC in the amount of $2,753.60
for work performed as related to P.O. Square rezoning and
renderings. Ms. Price moved to pay Land Strategies, $2,000 of the invoiced
amount because they had performed the majority
of the requested work. Mr. Hauser seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0-0
in favor. A balance of $753.60 remains.
Meeting Minutes
A review of the
3/24 minutes was postponed until the meeting of 4/28.
Ms. Price moved to approve the meeting minutes of 3/24/10 as amended. Ms. Sloan seconded the motion. The Board voted 4-0-0 in favor.
Ms. Price moved to approve the meeting minutes of 4/14/10 as amended. Mr. Hauser seconded the motion. The Board voted 3-0-1 in favor. Ms. Sloan abstained from voting because she was not present for the 4/14/10 meeting.
Form A
None
Fee Modifications
Peter O’Cain reported
that fees for his services have not been changed since 2001. His proposal for
increase will bring the fees up to date. Mr. O’Cain was doing a lot of work for
developers and was not charging for his services. For example, the proposal is
now structured so that there is a fee for a second submission review request.
Mr. Milowe stated that these proposed fees now more appropriately value Mr.
O’Cain’s services.
The Board reviewed
the fee changes and made some minor edits. Mr. O’Cain will update the
fees/language appropriately and circulate a final copy. He will also confer
with Attorney Gelerman regarding the language.
Ms. Price moved to
approve the changes to section 2.5 and 3.3.2 as recommended by Town Engineer,
Peter O’Cain. Mr. Milowe seconded the motion. The Board voted 4-0-0 in favor
of this motion.
Public Hearing –
Proposed Zoning Use Language Change
At
8 PM Clerk David Milowe read the Public Hearing announcement as appeared in the
Sharon Advocate. “To see if the Town shall amend the Zoning By-Laws of the
Town of Sharon as follows:
By
amending Section 2313 “Other Permitted Principal Uses” by adding a new section
c. In the Rural 2 District only, indoor/outdoor recreation facilities on land
owned by a municipal body, other than land under the control of the Sharon
Conservation Commission. Provided however, such use is permitted only on a
parcel consisting of two or more acres and which parcel is adjacent to existing
municipal recreation or park uses. Parcels separated by a road shall be
considered adjacent for purposes of this subsection c”, or to take any other
action relative thereto.
Chair Lauenstein
stated that this initiative was initiated by the Board of Selectmen rather than
the Planning Board.
Ed Keenan, 32
Gunhouse Road, who is on the Sacred Heart Reuse Committee, said the Committee
was charged by the Selectmen to look at two parcels on East Foxboro Street to
determine what can be done. Mr. Keenan stated that the Committee is looking to
add a recreational use to this property, particularly one which contains a
swimming pool. An RFP will be sent out to about 25 applicants stated Mr.
Keenan. The Town will receive property tax for a minimum of 10 years and a
maximum of a 20 year lease. By October, the Committee will have interviewed all
applicants and they will provide their suggestions to the Board of Selectmen.
Peter O’Cain
stated that the purpose of tonight’s meeting is to discuss the zoning by-law
change. Sacred Heart is in Rural District 2 and recreational use is not
currently allowed. The zoning change would apply to all parcels in Rural 2.
Mr. Keenan
commented that the within the survey of Town residents, which was done as part
of the Open Space and Recreation Plan, the number one request was for a pool.
He also stated that a fire/police municipal building could be placed on the
land instead.
Mr. Sweet of 90
Cedar Street asked that if the zoning change is made, would it be consistent
for all other parcels. Mr. Lauenstein replied that we need to review the fact
that this change would affect other properties. Mr. O’Cain stated that it is
Town-owned land so we decide what happens there.
Anne Bingham, 78A
Cedar Street, said she wants favorable redevelopment. She thinks the language
needs revision to ensure appropriate controls are in place for the building.
She wants the restrictions to be clear. She wants a definition of
indoor/outdoor. She also stated there is nothing about density in the language
and she wants clarity on the parking issues.
Jeff Sweet stated
he echoes Ms. Bingham’s comments. He wants to ensure the language does not open
up to any uses that would be regretted later. He would welcome a change to
Sacred Heart.
Mr. O’Cain stated
that there would need to be a site plan review by the Zoning Board so parking
would be considered in this scenario.
Chair Lauenstein
was not comfortable with the vagueness of the broadness of the indoor/outdoor
language vagueness.
Ms. Price moved to
close the Public Hearing and Mr. Milowe seconded the motion. The Board voted
4-0-0 in favor of closing the Public Hearing.
The Board began
their discussion on this topic. Mr. Milowe and Ms. Price said they were fine
with the language. Mr. Hauser commented that the plan would need site plan
review; he is comfortable that controls are in place as relates to parking. Mr.
Lauenstein commented he would like a better definition of indoor/outdoor
recreational facilities to avoid unintended consequences such as water slides
or paint ball.
Mr. Hauser also
commented that he is unsure if you can have a for profit business in the
existing zoning and would like the definition of indoor/outdoor expanded. He
suggested Town Engineer O’Cain confer with Attorney Gelerman.
Ms. Price moved to
recommend approval of the Zoning Amendment to Section 2313 to Town Meeting as
written. Mr. Milowe seconded the motion and the Board voted 3-01 (Mr.
Lauenstein abstained).
Sacred Heart Property
The Board discussed the property and its potential uses as well as Attorney Gelerman’s response to previous asked questions. Attorney Gelerman had stated that the property could be used as a business for profit and that any RFP chosen would need a site plan review which would control indoor/outdoor recreational uses such as paintball etc. The Town owns the land. There are checks and balances within the review process to protect the Town’s interests.
Paul Lauenstein said he supports making use of the site of the abandoned Sacred Heart building for a community swimming pool, but he expressed concern that the proposed zoning change was too vague with respect to the proposed uses, opening the door to unintended consequences. He also expressed concern that the proposal included four separate parcels of land, rather than just the parcel with the Sacred Heart building, the purported objective of the rezoning.
Susan
Price moved to
recommend approval of the zoning change article to Town Meeting. Mr. Milowe
seconded the motion. TThe
Board voted to suppto
support ort the
zoning change article, 3-0-1 (Paul Lauenstein
abstained).
SignsHousing
Production Plan
Jennifer Raitt,
Chief Housing Planner at MAPC will
speak to the Board
on 6/2/10. Via an
email,
she had reported to the Board that the HPP expires at the end of the year. There
are currently no funds available to help the Town
with this project.
As the plan needs to
be updated, she could be hired to assist. The Board
discussed a letter sent to Attorney Gelerman from Kyla Bennett, Director of New
England PEER, regarding the removal of signs from people’s properties. Mr.
O’Cain stated that when signs went up in opposition to Brickstone, they were
taken down by the DPW or Building Inspector because they were deemed to be on
Town property. He said many signs were nailed to trees on scenic roads and
noted that none were removed until after Town Meeting. Most Towns have rules
regarding placement of signs written in to their by-laws, Sharon does not. If
signs were removed from personal property that was not the intent. Mr. O’Cain
will ask Attorney Gelerman if the Planning Board has any actionable items
regarding this issue. Ms. Price said she would speak to a Town employee from
Walpole who is working on its sign by-laws and find out how Walpole handled
political signs.
Other Business
·Mr. O’Cain said he has never received an actual
approved subdivision
plan for Bella Estates.
·Ms. Price said she forwarded changes to the Post
Office Square Zoning to Land Strategies after the last meeting and was waiting
for their reply.
Next meeting dates
5/12, 6/2, 6/16
Adjournment
Ms. Price moved to adjourn
the Planning Board meeting at 8:309:45
PM. Msr. SloanMilowe
seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0-0 in favor.